Previous conviction to bar Statkevich from elections

The Central Elections Commission will not have Mikola Statkevich of European Coalition registered as a candidate the parliament due to his previous convictions, CEC Secretary Mikalai Lazavik told the European Radio for Belarus.

Lazavik: “Statkevich was even upset that his nomination group was registered. He said: “On which grounds? I was convicted”. He was told that his nomination group – not candidate Statkevich – was registered. When he applies for registration as a candidate, he will be rejected because of previous convictions”.

However, Mikola Statkevich remains defiant to get registered. The European Radio for Belarus reached him on the phone when he was submitting his signatures.

Statkevich: “I am filing my application in order to get a written rejection. Afterwards, I will be able to go to court and appeal this decision. Under the Constitution, I am entitled to running for parliament. Under the Electoral Code, I am not. But the Constitution overrides the Electoral Code”.

Mikhail Pastukhov, former judge of the Constitutional Court of Belarus, has confirmed to the European Radio for Belarus that the Constitution has no provision to ban a formerly convicted person from taking part in elections. However, he noted that in this case the Constitution is supplemented by the Electoral Code, which does has such a provision.

At the same time, Mikhail Pastukhou noted that this provision in the Electoral Code could be indeed questioned in terms of compatibility with the Constitution. If Statkevich succeeds, it will the first case of this kind.

Photo: Radio Svaboda