25.09.2008 Svetlahorsk: Unequal conditions for campaigning

Official newspapers in Svetlahorsk continue to promote “official” candidate Valiantsina Kavaliova (incumbent MP and former deputy head of ideology department of rayon executive committee).

25.09.2008 Kalinkavichy: Observer summoned to prosecutor’s office

On September 24th, two policemen of Kalinkavichy department visited the polling station where BHC observer Dzianis Rabianok observed the process of early voting.

They handed Dzianis the summons to come to Kalinkavichy prosecutor’s office on September 26th. The summons does not describe the reason of the call. The policemen also refused to explain why Dzianis was summoned. Earlier Yelsk prosecutor’s office insisted on Dzianis’ visit, also giving no explanations about the reasons of such calls.

25.09.2008 Mazyr: Officials offended by UCP candidate’s speech

Leanid Arlou, UCP candidate in Mazyr district # 42, did not expect inadequate reaction to his TV speech.

At first he had to listen to words of indignation from executive officer of Mazyr rayon executive committee M. Pashynski (he is also chair of the district election commission), and head of the executive committee’s organizational department V. Ulasevich (who is also the district commission’s secretary). In addition he received a warning for “untactful way of campaigning”. By the way, the warning issued on September 19th was cancelled by the CEC on the 22nd.

25.09.2008 Problem campaigning: News from the regions

News bits from the regions

25.09.2008 Andrei Tsianiuta arrested for 7 days

Chyhunachny court of Homel considered the administrative charges against youth activist Andrei Tsianiuta and sentenced him to 7 days of arrest and a fine of 700, 000 BYR (about 350 USD). This way the Young Front member was punished for holding an action on the Day of the City.

Tsianiuta unfolded the white-red-white flag during the official ceremony near the Ice Palace.

25.09.2008 Shklou: New election techniques?

At one of the polling stations of Shklou district # 90, located in Haviady village, a new voting technique was "tested" on September 25th: without members or the chairman of the commission, without police, but with the open ballot boxes.

Candidate Ryhor Kostuseu and his team members were waiting for anyone from the commission for 30 minutes: from 2.30 until 3 p.m. In half an hour, no one from the commission arrived at the scene.

No comments, as the saying goes.

25.09.2008 Minsk: Staff of the Academy of Sciences forced to vote early

Administration of the Academy of Sciences demands from its staff to vote early. Work contracts are the main method of pressure.

25.09.2008 Hrodna: Behavior of heads of precinct election commissions changes

Agents of democratic candidates and independent observers point out significant changes in the behavior of heads of precinct commissions in Hrodna districts. If on Tuesday the representatives of precinct election commissions were eager to talk to them and provide official information, on Wednesday they seemed to be different people. We believe such a dramatic change in behavior can be explained by the session in Hrodna oblast executive committee, which allegedly took place on Tuesday, after the speech of Alexander Lukashenka and his statements about who should really be the bosses at polling stations. Most probably, during the session heads of commissions received new instructions from the regional authorities.

25.09.2008 Barysau: Reporters under observation

Journalists of the international channel France 24 visited Barysau today, where they covered the campaign of Viktar Harbachou, head of the movement For Free Development of Entrepreneurship and candidate in district # 62.

The reporters visited several polling stations where they observed early voting. According to Harbachou’s, all movements of the journalists around the town were followed by the “competent” bodies.

25.09.2008 Mahiliou: Human rights defender Barys Bukhel not allowed to be present when precinct election commissions are handing the protocols of election results to the district commission

“Yesterday I made a phone call to district commission # 86, -- Barys Bukhel says. – and expressed the intention to observe the process of precinct election commissions handing the protocols of election results to the district commission”.

“I talked to commission secretary Nadzeya Mydzhyna. She told me I had no right to be present during that procedure as it was not the session of a district commission but technical work with the protocols. Ms. Mydzhyna stressed that the law does not provide for presence of observers during that procedure”, -- the human rights defender continues.

25.09.2008 Vitebsk: BRSM posters at voting booths

BRSM posters can be seen everywhere at polling stations of Vitebsk-Horkauskaya district # 17, even on the voting booths.

25.09.2008 Students who vote early get a day off

A student of Minsk Medical University told us, students who live in a student dormitory and vote early, are allowed by the administration to have a day off on Friday, so that the students from the regions can go home for the Election Day.

25.09.2008 Hrodna region: Dziatlava district election commission does not satisfy Yanina Huzouskaya’s complaint

On September 24th Dziatlava district election commission considered complaints of candidate Yanina Huzouskaya, who represent PCB and the United Democratic Forces. The first complain was about the fact that her speech broadcasted on the local TV channel, was both times interrupted by programs of Brest TV studio. The commission decided that was not a violation, since the commission had no possibilities to influence the technical aspects of broadcasting (It is interesting, however, what will the Central Election Commission say to that?)