Vitebsk streets now host picket lines for voter signature collection

October 6, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The first picket lines for collecting signatures to nominate candidates for the President of Belarus have appeared on the streets of Vitebsk, a BELTA correspondent reports. Despite the fact that in Vitebsk no decision has been made to define places prohibited for picketing for the purpose of collecting voters' signatures, and initiative groups can work without restrictions, picket lines have so far been set up at a busy intersection on Freedom Square. Signatures are being collected here in support of three candidates. As reported by the Department of Organizational and Personnel Work of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, work is currently underway in the region to form precinct election commissions. There are 28 territorial commissions for the election of the President of Belarus operating in the region, including 1 regional commission, 21 district commissions, 3 city commissions operating in cities of regional subordination, and three district commissions in Vitebsk. A total of 364 people work in the commissions. More than half of them represent public associations and political parties, 27.7% were nominated by citizens through signature collection, and 19.8% by work collectives. The commissions include members of the Belarusian Left Party "A Just World", the Communist Party of Belarus, the Liberal Democratic Party, the United Civil Party, and the Republican Party of Labor and Justice. More than 60% of the commission members are women, and young people under 30 account for 9.1%. -0-