“After I refused to sign, there was a rumor that I was drunk at work”
The Human Rights Center "Viasna" received yesterday an email with the following question:
“Tell me, please, can an initiative group come to the company, occupy an office and start collecting signatures during working hours? If there is any document regulating such moments, could you give me a link or the title of the document. Thanks you.”
“No, it cannot,” says the lawyers. “Such actions violate Part 10, Art. 61 of the Electoral Code: “The participation of the administration of the organization in the collection of signatures, as well as coercion in the process of collecting signatures and reward to voters for signatures are not allowed. Failure to do so may be grounds for refusal or cancellation of the decision on registration of the candidate for the President of the Republic of Belarus.”
After the human rights defenders asked to tell about the incident, they received an answer:
“It’s in Brest, the Brest Electromechanical Plant. Yesterday (July 27), it was announced that all employees who had a passport must sign for the incumbent. The initiative group was located in the department of personnel from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Those who did not have an ID, had to bring it to the following day. Heads of departments were instructed to list those who refused to sign. So it goes...
And interestingly enough, after I refused to sign, there was a rumor at the plant that one day I went out to work in a state of intoxication. Coincidence? I do not think so)))))”
The woman did not mind that this information was announced in the media, but at the moment asked not to disclose her name.