Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections

Observation of the presidential election is carried out by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center “Viasna” in the framework of the campaign “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections”.

SUMMARY

• 55 applications were submitted to the CEC to request the registration of groups formed to nominate future presidential candidates, which is an all-time record in the history of Belarusian presidential elections;
• in contrast to previous elections, this year, there were only 7 days to apply for the registration of nomination groups, which to some extent complicated the efforts of those who intended to run for President;
• one of the contenders, a well-known blogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski, was arrested and thus deprived of the opportunity to apply for the registration of his nomination group;
• CEC meetings were livestreamed, while observers were allowed to attend the sittings, which can be noted as a positive practice aimed at ensuring publicity in the activities of the commission during the COVID-19 pandemic;
• 15 nomination groups were registered to put forward presidential candidates: Aliaksandr Lukashenka, Aleh Haidukevich, Yury Hantsevich, Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh, Natallia Kisel, Viktar Babaryka, Valery Tsepkala, Siarhei Cherachen, Volha Kavalkova, Hanna Kanapatskaya, Andrei Dzmitryeu, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Aliaksandr Tabolich, Yury Hubarevich, and Mikalai Kazlou, which is 27% of the total number of submitted applications;
• the numerous refusals to register nomination groups citing violations of voluntary participation in elections are evidence of the Central Election Commission’s manipulations with provisions of the Electoral Code, which violates the principle of equality of candidates;
• the Supreme Court’s consideration of appeals filed to challenge the decisions testifies to the ineffectiveness of this remedy for election campaign participants.