Nominees try to sue Central Elections Commission over rejected registration
20 out of 98 nominees from the United Pro-Democracy Forces (UDF) were denied registration as MP candidates mostly because they had allegedly submitted invalid signatures in nomination lists. How can contenders prove that the signatures are valid?
Mikalai Lazavik from the Central Elections Commission explains to the European Radio for Belarus what contenders should do in this situation.
“If the Central Elections Commission confirms a decision of a local elections commission to deny registration over invalid signatures, Supreme Court should be the next instance. I can’t say exactly how the Supreme Court will ascertain the truth, but every court has its own procedure defined by the laws…”, he said.
Lazavik maintains it makes no sense to try to prove anything to the Central Elections Commission even if graphic experts prove that all the signatures described as invalid are valid, in fact. The decision of the Central Elections Commission will remain in force until it is altered by the Supreme Court.
The Central Elections Commission’s official knows very well that any motion to file a complaint with the Supreme Court will delay time. Even if the court decision is affirmative, a candidate will simply have not enough time to take part in the election campaign. But Lazavik says the nominees have no other way around.
Yuras Karetnikau from the Belarusian Popular Front decided to follow this way after he was denied registration on the grounds of invalid signatures. To begin with, he appealed the local elections commission’s decision in the Central Elections Commission. Although voters confirmed their signatures were valid, the Central Elections Commission denied registration to the opposition nominee.
“On Saturday, I filed my complaint to the last instance – the Supreme Court – where this decision can be appealed. Today at 1500 the Supreme Court will hear my case. I asked people who signatures were declared invalid to come and confirm in court that they put their signature and the date with their hands”, Karetnikau said.
The pro-democracy nominee has little hopes that the court will decide in his favor. But if this happens, he will still have time to take part in the election race.
“In my constituencies, I have not yet observed any campaign materials from my competitors. With God’s help and if the Supreme Court annuls the decision to deny registration, I will, in principle, make it to launch a decent campaign. There is enough time – twenty days”.
Siarhei Salash from the Belarusian Popular Front who was also denied registration because of allegedly valid signatures would like to file a complaint with court, but does not have such a possibility.
“I was going to send my complaint to the Supreme Court, but I have not received an official letter from the Central Elections Commission so that I could file my case. I am now going to call the Central Elections Commission to find out if they have sent a notice or not. This is an abnormal situation, because they have not availed me with an opportunity to seek justice in court”, Salash said.
In the view of the politician, this is nothing but revenge from the Central Elections Commission for having caught Lidziya Yarmishyna, CEC chairperson, telling lies about and demanding to apologize for the lies.
Vintsuk Cyachorka, a deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front, has a different stance. He is not going to complain to the Supreme Court.
“I will not appeal this decision (to deny him registration); because everyone understands it is a political decision. If a political decision is taken, I will not be allowed into the race. It means I will waste my forces in vain”, Vyachorka says.
In Belarus’s modern history, the Supreme Court has never revoked decisions of the Central Elections Commission. That’s why the pro-democracy candidates have filed their complaints do not believe their appeals will be satisfied.
