More than 100 complaints from Mahilou observers ignored by CEC

Yury Novikau, a coordinator of the campaign For Fair Elections-2012, received a reply from the head of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Lidzia Yarmoshyna.

Novikau's complaints were declined by the CEC because he sent all complaints in one envelope and gave his home address as the return address. Yarmoshyna thinks it was a violation of article 4 of the Law of Belarus on Appeals by Individuals and Legal Entities.

Under the law, citizens should apply personally or via their representatives, which exercise their power on the base of legislative decrees or by a letter of attorney issued in a manner prescribed by the law.

As Yury Novikau's power to sent complaints on behalf of their citizens was not confirmed by documents, the complains cannot be considered by the CEC in accordance with article 15 of the law.

“In this case, it is impossible to appeal  to a court against the CEC decision. Only results of presidential elections can be appealed against. It is a violation of the constitutional right to a trial. It shows the imperfection of our legislative system,” Barys Bukhel comments on the situation for  the campaign “Human rights activists for fair elections”.