Early vote: commission counts 14 times more voters than observers

The early vote began in Belarus on February 13. The observation campaign Right of Choice started working at 154 polling stations yesterday.

The most common violation was improper protection of ballot boxes during the dinner break, observers noted. For instance, the room where ballot boxes were kept was not sealed in Staravilenskaya constituency #41 in Minsk (polling stations #28 and #34).Policeman Makarau broke the seal and entered the room where ballot boxes were kept in Karbyshau constituency #50 in Minsk (polling station #30). He explained his deed by the necessity to check whether the ballot boxes were protected.

Observers also counted voters on the first voting day. The biggest difference was registered in Minsk Karbyshau constituency #50 (polling station #27). Observers noticed only 10 people who came to vote yet the election committee reported the 123 people had voted – almost 14 times more.

Observers noticed only 17 voters at polling station #28 in the same constituency. However, the official report says that 58 people have voted.

4.44% of voters came to cast their ballots on February 13, the Central Election Commission reports.