Opposition candidate denied access to competitor's election rally

Pavel Prakapovich, a candidate from the opposition movement Maladaya Belarus (Young Belarus), was on April 16 not allowed to attend an election rally staged by his contender, Police Col. Alyaksandr Dzmitruk. The two candidates are running in the Baraulyany constituency near Minsk in the upcoming local elections, Artur Finkevich, Young Belarus leader, told the European Radio for Belarus. The rally was taking place in the village of Lyasny. When Pavel Prakapovich came over, police Lt. Col. who was accompanying Dzmitruk, asked the opposition candidate to "remain out on the safe side". The officer refused to present his ID. He said that Prakapovich could use information from the rally in his own election campaign.