The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 12 Aug 2008

12.08.2008 Vitsebsk authorities prefer to form local electoral commissions in secret

On 12 August the sittings on forming of local electoral commissions were held at Vitsebsk district executive committee and at Chyhunachny district electoral committee of Vitsebsk took place.

12.08.2008 Violations of electoral laws in Vitsebsk

According to part 1 of Article 74 of the Electoral Code of the Republic f Belarus, since the time of their registration candidates to deputies possess the equal right to public appearances at electoral and other meetings, sittings and assemblies, in press, on the state radio and TV.

12.08.2008 Vitsebsk: how will district electoral commissions know which local commissions belong to them?

In Vitsebsk the state newspaper Vitsbichy, issue #85 of 26 July 2008, published a list of the local electoral commissions which was sorted by administrative districts instead of electoral districts. Only a picture with the borders of the electoral districts was published. The newspaper also failed to present to the electorate any information about the administration of the district electoral commissions. It gives the reasons to think that not all members of district electoral commissions will know what local electoral commissions belong to their electoral districts.

12.08.2008 Vitsebsk: candidate Levinau fired from police, but his harassment continues

On 12 August at 9.15 am the administration of Chyhunachny district police department of Vitsebsk familiarized Andrei Levinau with the conclusiong of the head of the police department of Vitsebsk oblast executive committee, colonel Farmahei, according to which Levinau was to be fired from police.

12.08.2008 Salihorsk: runaround instead of answer

Observer of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Leanid Markhotka was not admitted to the joint sitting of Minsk oblast executive committee and the presidium of Minsk oblast Soviet of deputies, at which district electoral commissions were formed. After it L.Markhotka entered a record in the complaint book of Minsk oblast executive committee (OEC). There he stated that by his illegal actions the deputy head of Minsk OEC V.Hurynovich had violated part 1, Article 13 of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Belarus.

12.08.2008 Hrodna: electors are ‘advised’ how to vote

According to the information of members of the independent candidate Siarhei Kuzmenka’s team, in the Zaniomanskaya electoral district of Hrodna the local authorities paid visits to the electors’ apartments and insistently advised them to sign in support and vote for pro-governmental candidate, MP Siarhei Kamianetski. In particular, it was stated by residents of multi-storied buildings in Kabiak Street 12-1 and 12-2. According to Siarhei Kuzmenka’s team, in these houses people were simply afraid to sign for this candidate and said that they had been warned against it by the authorities.

12.08.2008 73 653 persons nominated to local electoral commissions

The central electoral commission (CEC) has summed up the results of nomination of to local electoral commissions. Most of the candidates were nominated to them on their own. About one third was nominated by working collectives, while political parties nominated only 1,72%.

12.08.2008 Astravets: members of United Civil Party not included in local commissions

On 11 August at 11 am Mikalai Ulasevich, the head of Astravets primary organization of the United Civil Party, paid a visit to the district electoral commission to get information about the forming of the local electoral commissions. He asked to be shown the minutes on nomination of candidates to the commissions and the register of applications. However, the head of the organizational department of Astravets district executive committee Halina Makhnevich refused to him.

12.08.2008 Mauliuda Atakulava sentenced to 10 days of jail for action of solidarity with Georgia

Liudmila Atakulava, a Young Front activist, has been sentenced to 10 days of administrative arrest for participation in a rally near the Russian Embassy on 11 August. The verdict has been passed by the court of Tsentralny district in Minsk.