MINSK, 23 August (BelTA) – A campaign period has started in Belarus on 23 August, BelTA learnt from Secretary of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Nikolai Lozovik. According to Nikolai Lozovik, some parliamentary candidates received registration certificates a day before, although in line with the election calendar, district election commissions can issue these certificates within two days after the registration. “Parliamentary candidates who received registration certificates could start campaigning literally as soon as they left the building where a session of the district election commission was held,” Nikolai Lozovik said. He added that almost all commissions conducted the registration procedure on 22 August. Mass media appearances of parliamentary candidates will start on 27 August. The day and time of media appearances of each candidate was determined by drawing lots during the registration. The CEC Secretary reminded that election campaigning, as well as participation in TV and radio debates are a voluntary thing. “If some candidates believe that other ways of campaigning are more efficient, like personal meetings, for example, and would like to take advantage of direct communication with voters, it is up to them,” Nikolai Lozovik said. Besides media time on state TV and radio, candidates will be able to publish their programs in one of the nationwide newspapers, including Zvyazda, Narodnaya Gazeta, Respublika, Belorusskaya Niva. Candidates can opt for regional or district newspapers run by a state fully or in part or newspapers where government bodies are among the founders. A hard copy and an electronic version of the text of candidate programs signed by a candidate should be submitted to a newspaper before 2 September. The campaign period of candidates to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly will conclude on 22 September. The election day is scheduled for 23 September.

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