February 20 at 11:00 District Election Commission handed activist campaign "Tell the Truth" Yaroslav Bernikovich Certificate candidate Hlybokaje District Council. Then, at 15:00 from the commission called with a warning that his registration shall be canceled.

Jaroslav Bernikovich says: "The reason for me as a surprise: it turns out signatures for my nomination were not collected in that village. In Hlybokaje area, said the commission, there are two villages with the same name Girstuny. One - in Korobovskoye village council, a couple of kilometers from Vysokaje, where I live. Countryside Vysokaje - this is also one area where I was going to run, and the surrounding countryside there are included. But the commission said it - not those Girstuny, and that the signatures I had to collect in Girstunah Udelovski village council. I did not even know that there is such a village, as it does not exist anymore, there are no inhabitants!"

Activist demonstrates local newspaper "Vestnik Glybochchyny" with a list of districts and localities which they contain. In Vierchniaje district number 22 there is a village Girstuny, but without specifying to which it relates village council.

"This flaw of those who prepare the elections, who divides the county. When there are two villages with the same name, it is necessary to specify exactly what is meant ! In the village is talking about the commission, no people. Even the village itself is not available on each map. and where there is going to sign, village living, I know. But in the end - 19 signatures were declared invalid. I submitted to the Commission 92 signatures instead of 75, that was a reserve. But now it turns out that I have two signatures are missing. So excuse not to register" - outraged activist.

Incidentally, Jaroslav Bernikovich going to run in the district, and in the Vitebsk regional councils. However, in the candidate registration for the regional council was denied: in one of the signature sheets was not written the word "Hlybokaje", and the entire sheet "rejected" by acknowledging all the signatures on it invalid.

Viasna Human Rights Center
Фота: Radio Liberty