30.07.2008 Slonim: CEC warns head of district election commission

On July 21st Slonim district election commission # 58 did not work during the whole day. Ivan Sheha, BPF member and the UDF candidate, had to complain to the Central Election Commission about that. Ivan Sheha points out:

“On July 21st, 2008 I came to Slonim election commission at 3.30 p.m. Under the election law, I was going to apply for registration of my initiative group.

I came to the building of the rayon administration, where the district election commission was located, and did not find any signs which would lead me to the commission’s room. I managed to find the office, but the doors were locked, although according to the work hours posted on the doors, the commission should have been working.

30.07.2008 Rechytsa: Observers not registered

Nonpartisan residents of Rechytsa Uladzimir Koshchanka and Vital Charniauski were nominated as observers to Rechytsa district election commission through signature collection. However, the commission refused to register them as observers and recommended to come again around August 10th.

30.07.2008 Babruisk: authorities use administrative resources for signature collection

During signature collection in Babruisk rural district a member of Ales Chyhir’s initiative group learned from a voter, how signatures for the “official” candidate Anatol Hlaz were collected.

“One of the voters who I asked for the signature in support of Ales Chyhir said they had already put their signatures for Anatol Hlaz, and did it at work”, initiative group member Andrei Padaliak says, “It turned out, the company administration collected passports from all employees, copied their passport data and showed the space where they had to put their signature”.

30.07.2008 Human rights defender undergoes personal search at border

Viktar Sazonau, Hrodna civic activist and human rights defender, had to undergo personal search at Hrodna railway station twice during one day.

On July 28th Viktar Sazonau was travelling to Bialystok, Poland, for his personal business. However, the border guards found his name in some list and sent him back to the customs officers for a check. As a result, the train was delayed 15 minutes.

30.07.2008 Krychau: Democratic activists could organize blast because of personal resentment?

According to head of crime investigation department Chupryn, deputy head of Krychau administration Siarhei Marozau believes democratic activists could organize the blast in Minsk because of personal resentment. Chupryn shared that with independent candidate Herdzey.

According to Marozau, local activists Niarouny, Herdzey, and Kudrautsau could be offended by the refusal of the local authorities to permit their picket in support of Alexander Kazulin. Marozau thinks, the activists could bear malice and explode the bomb in Minsk on July 3rd.

30.07.2008 Mahiliou region: 24 initiative groups of democratic candidates in 13 districts

24 initiative groups of pro-democratic candidates are registered in Mahiliou region. Head of the election headquarters for Mahiliou region Yury Novikau points out: “all initiative groups of all pro-democratic candidates who wanted to run in the election were registered. They have already started collecting signatures. Candidates had no problems in registering their initiative groups”. “In the beginning 28 representatives of pro-democratic parties were going to run. For various reasons some of them decided not to run”. There are 13 districts in Mahiliou region. Initiative groups of pro-democratic candidates are registered in every district. Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections

30.07.2008 Hrodna KGB persecutes democratic candidates

On July 30th about 11 a.m. Hrodna representatives of BPF Party Vadzim Saranchukou and Siarhei Antusevich (both are members of BPF Soim) received phone calls from Hrodna KGB directorate. Both were invited to come to the local department of KGB.

Vadzim saranchukou told the KGB officer who failed to introduce himself that he had no time for such a meeting until Monday. Siarhei Antusevich said he could come to the office of Hrodna KGB directorate on July 31st, at 10 a.m. Formally the BPF representatives are summoned to give explanations about Minsk blast on July 3rd. In fact, KGB is persecuting activists for their participation in the elections.

30.07.2008 The Times: Zeltser tortured in KGB jail in Belarus

A closed trial over the case of US lawyer Emanuel Zeltser has begun today in Minsk.

As British The Times writes, Emanuel Zeltser, who once testified on Capitol Hill about the Russian mob, is a key character in a wrangle over the $12billion (£6billion) fortune of a Georgian oligarch found dead at his country home in Surrey.

He was arrested after flying to Belarus and accused of possessing false documents. According to Amnesty International, he has been tortured in custody.

30.07.2008 Anatol Liabedzka: “Unfortunately, prosecutors and taxation bodies are not interested in illegal arms supplies”

Head of the United Civil Party has faced a wave of the third check of taxing authorities.

Leader of the United Civil Party was told on the phone the activity of the Belarusian Euro-Atlantic Association, headed by Anatol Liabedzka long time ago, would be checked soon. Then inspector Yauheniya Paltavets visited the party office. She had an order for carrying out a field tax inspection. The order was signed by deputy head of Minsk inspection A. Ramashevich.

30.07.2008 KGB interested in Valiantsin Stefanovich’s family

Alina, wife of human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovich, received a telephone call from KGB department in Minsk and Minsk region with a proposition to come to the KGB office for a conversation.