Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 5 December (BelTA) - The campaign for election of deputies to local councils in Belarus is running smooth and calm, Chairperson of the Belarusian Central Election Commission Lidia Yermoshina told the media ahead of the seminar with heads and organizers of the local election campaign to the Minsk city council of deputies, BelTA has learned.

Lidia Yermoshina noted that today marks the launch of a series of nationwide seminars to discuss the work of the territorial commissions, nomination of candidates, registration of initiative groups.

“Yesterday, in fact, we formed the main election commissions for these elections, namely district commissions. There are nine of them in Minsk. The main and public stage of the elections, the nomination of candidates, is to start soon. Citizens have sent applications on registration of initiative groups. The campaign is running smoothly; no complaints have been filed. Some requests have been sent to clarify the legislation,” Lidia Yermoshina said.

In her words, it is important to train people who will be involved in the organization of the local elections. Lidia Yermoshina added that documents for the registration of initiative groups should be submitted before 14 December, inclusively.

Nomination of candidates to deputies will be running from 10 December to 8 January. The registration will be followed by the election campaign which will run until 18 February, inclusively. A citizen of Belarus, over 18 years old, with no criminal record and living within the corresponding administrative unit can run for the seat in the local council of deputies. Russian citizens who permanently live in Belarus also have the right to take part in the elections.

Elections to the local councils of deputies in Belarus are scheduled for 18 February 2018.