Homieĺ: Students and teachers again forced to attend meeting with Lukashenka’s trustee
On September 25, the Homieĺ-based Turyst Hotel hosted a meeting with Siarhei Biaspalau, a trustee of presidential candidate Aliaksandr Lukashenka and editor-in-chief of the local government-run newspaper Homieĺskaja Praŭda. The meeting was held between 1 and 2 p.m. In order to secure attendance, a number of students of the Homieĺ State University were forced to appear. According to the observers, the students were supposed to be at University at the time of the meeting. Several professors were also noticed at the meeting.
“This is not campaigning, but imitation. Although the imitation reflects the essence of the Belarusian elections. I live near here, so they could have at least posted some ads about the meeting to inform the people, and voters could possibly come. But they just force students and teachers come here. No pickets in the city. On the one hand, silence, on the other hand, imitation of campaigning,” said BHC’s observer Viktar Adzinochanka.
On September 21, the Homieĺ-Raton free trade zone hosted a meeting with Chairman of the Homieĺ Regional Executive Committee, Uladzimir Dvornik, who spoke as a trustee of presidential candidate Aliaksandr Lukashenka with the rectors, professors and students of local universities. According to the participants, all the seats in the room were occupied with students and professors. Meanwhile, at the time of the meeting many students and professors were supposed to be in their universities.