The Viasna Human Rights Center has learned of more than 10 searches carried out involving candidates from several factions running for the Coordination Council for the first time.
The searches are being conducted as part of a criminal case opened under Articles 361-1 (participation in an extremist formation), 356 (treason), 357 (conspiracy to seize power), and 361 (calls for sanctions) of the Criminal Code.
During the searches, relatives of the candidates were questioned. Human rights defenders also reported that pressure was exerted on some relatives in an attempt to force their family members to withdraw from their factions ahead of the elections.
The Coordination Council elections are scheduled to take place from May 11 to May 17. Earlier, the KGB designated the following electoral lists in the elections as “extremist formations”:
- “Your Voice,”
- “Nastup,”
- “Stop Being Afraid!”
- “United Civic Platform,”
- “Volia Movement,”
- “Bloc of Belarusian Political Prisoners ‘Belarusians of Action.’”
It should be noted that the KGB also designated electoral lists in the 2024 Coordination Council elections as “extremist formations.”
