One of the most important stages of the presidential campaign will start in Belarus: from 21 may to 19 June the initiative group to collect signatures in support of nomination of their candidates.
Presidential elections are scheduled in Belarus on 9 August. Under current law, candidates for the presidency shall be nominated by citizens of the Republic in the presence of not less than 100 thousand signatures.
In this election, the CEC has registered 15 initiative groups, in General, the bids were submitted from 55 citizens. The largest group of support formed of incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko – it includes more than 11.4 thousand people. In the second place, the former Chairman of the Board of Belgazprombank Viktor Babariko in the group for nominating him – a little more than 8.9 thousand of the participants. The third position is the Deputy Chairman of the liberal democratic party of Belarus Oleg Gaidukevich and his group of more than 4 thousand people.
Also among the contenders for the presidency, and by results of verification of documents allowed to collect signatures, – the former head of the HTP administration and the former Ambassador of Belarus in the United States Valery Tsepkalo, acting Chairman of the United civil party Nikolai Kozlov, co-Chairman of the public Association "Tell the truth" Andrey Dmitriev, Chairman of the Belarusian social democratic "Hramada" Sergey Caraceni, Chairman of the movement "For Freedom" Yury Hubarevich, former MP Anna Konopacka, co-chair of the organizing Committee of the party "Belarusian Christian democracy," Olga kovalkova.
In addition, the CEC registered initiative group of farmer Yuri Gantsevich, pensioner Vladimir Nepomnyashchikh, Deputy Chairman of the Association of carriers "Region 8" Natalia Kissel, unemployed Svetlana Tikhanovski, as well as permanent makeup artist and tattoo Alexander Tabolich.
In Belarus to collect signatures legislation is quite liberal, it does not obligate a potential candidate to submit "autographs", which are collected uniformly across the country. For example, if you wish, you can collect 100 thousand signatures in Minsk and Gomel. However, the CEC of the Republic assured future candidates interested in the fact that they knew in all regions, and therefore they themselves must take care of your advertising and "glow" wherever possible.
the details of "subscribers"
To collect signatures in support of nomination of candidates for the highest office in Belarus has the right ��nly members of the initiative group, each of them must have a license issued by the CEC, and proof of identity.
On the front side of the signature sheet shall indicate no reductions data on place of work or service of the person proposed for nomination as a presidential candidate. Sign-up sheet shall contain the full name of the organization, which is the main place of work or service and position. If a citizen is unemployed, indicate his occupation.
Belarus to subscribe for the nomination of can adult citizens of the Republic eligible to vote. If you want you can support my "autograph" from several candidates, but only once – one and the same person.
For convenience, subsequent verification of the signature sheet shall contain signatures of voters who reside in the territory of one town of regional subordination, district, and the towns with district division – in one district.
Under the law, to collect signatures in support of nomination of presidential candidates can be anywhere where it is not prohibited by the local authorities. In each region the list of prohibited places is determined individually.
For example, in Minsk not to hold pickets for collecting signatures in October square, Independence square, Victory square, the national flag square, Station square and Yakub Kolas square. You also cannot collect signatures at a distance less than 200 meters from buildings of residence of President, Parliament, government and at a distance less than 50 meters from buildings of Republican bodies of state administration, diplomatic missions and other facilities. Banned and pickets on objects of underground, rail and air transport, bridges and overpasses, the roadway of highways, in underground pedestrian crossings. Picketing is allowed daily from 8.00 to 22.00 (same as GMT).
the subject COVID-19
In connection with a complicated epidemiological situation – the spread of coronavirus COVID-19 – during the current election campaign, collecting signatures was obliged to use protective masks and gloves. The head of the Belarusian Central election Commission Lidia Yermoshina said earlier that failure to observe this measure in the future can serve as a basis for refusal in registration as a presidential candidate, even if all the necessary 100 thousand signatures will be available.
Ms. Yarmoshyna believes that COVID-19 will have a significant impact on the collection of signatures.
"Yes, there are fewer people walking (on the streets – ed), but the masks you will find people rarely. Moreover, even in shops the closed premises — not a lot of people come in masks. That is not all preserved from the coronavirus. So to say that the population we are very frightened, sitting in the bunker and the collectors of signatures will disturb the peace, violate the epidemiological regime is not necessary. No particular epidemiological regime, and citizens are not particularly eager to observe it", – said the head of the CEC in the First national channel of the Belarusian radio.
In addition to the pickets to collect signatures in the Republic allowed at the place of residence of citizens, and to open the door to members of initiative groups, resolve themselves.
Campaigning in the nomination period in Belarus is prohibited, but legislation initiative group has the right to promote their candidate and to make available to voters materials that in some way it is characterized.
Not allowed the reward of voters, "autograph" can not be bought, to give in exchange for him some gift or to use other forms of promotion. It is also impossible to force anyone to sign for a potential presidential candidate.
At the end of the collection of signatures sheets available for inspection in the appropriate district, city or borough city Commission – depending on the region in which working member of the initiative group. Test phase "autographs" will last in Belarus until 29 June.
Then followed the registration of candidates in presidents – from 5 to 14 July. Campaigning will last from July 14 to August 8, and early voting will be organized in the country from 4 to 8 August.
