In the Vitebsk region, places prohibited for collecting signatures for candidates for deputies have been identified

July 11, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The Vitebsk City Executive Committee has determined places where picketing for the purpose of collecting voters' signatures for the nomination of candidates for deputies of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus of the fifth convocation is prohibited, the head of the ideological work department of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, Denis Glutkin, told a BELTA correspondent. In accordance with Articles 24, 61, and 65 of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Belarus, the Vitebsk City Executive Committee decided to prohibit picketing in Victory Square, Lenin Square, Freedom Square, 1000th Anniversary Square, in the Parks of Winners, Partisan Glory named after M.F. Shmeryov, as well as within 150 meters of buildings of local representative, executive and administrative bodies, consular institutions, courts, prosecutor's offices, and territories of organizations ensuring defense capability, state security, and the vital activities of the population. In addition, collectors will not be able to collect voters' signatures on the territory of healthcare organizations, at railway transport facilities, in underground pedestrian crossings, and in places where city fairs, cultural and mass events, and sports events are held. The ban will be in effect from July 15 to August 13 of the current year. Commenting on the decision, Denis Glutkin emphasized that the choice of places where picketing is prohibited is primarily due to the need to ensure public safety. The signature collection will begin on July 15, at which time the events of the "Slavianski Bazaar" arts festival will still be ongoing in the city, including at improvised concert venues – the city's streets and squares. "A huge number of spectators gather here, and it is for their convenience and safety that such restrictive measures have been introduced. At the same time, they in no way infringe upon the rights of potential candidates and their supporters," the interlocutor is confident. Information about the places where picketing is prohibited will be posted on the official website of the City Executive Committee and published in the city newspaper. All city and district executive committees of the Vitebsk region have determined places where picketing for the purpose of collecting voters' signatures for the nomination of candidates for deputies of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus of the fifth convocation is prohibited. The relevant decisions have been posted on the official websites. In most cases, executive committees have not allowed signature collection at railway transport facilities, within 50-150 meters of buildings of executive committees, courts, prosecutor's offices, territories of organizations ensuring defense capability, state security, and the vital activities of the population (public transport, water, heat, and power supply enterprises, preschool institutions, general secondary education institutions, higher education institutions, secondary vocational and vocational-technical education institutions), on the territory of healthcare organizations, and markets. Some executive committees have vetoed the presence of signature collectors in central squares. Such conditions, for example, have been put forward in Polotsk, Novopolotsk, and Postavy, in addition to Vitebsk. -0-