29.01.2010 UN confirmed violations of rights of Belarusian oppositionist

The Human Rights Committee established a fact of violation of the right of democratic activist Valery Lukyanchyk to be elected to the “house of representatives” at the “elections” on October 17, 2004.

Conclusions on the complaint published on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights allow making such a statement, BelaPAN learnt from human rights activist Raman Kislyak.

29.01.2010 Mahiliou democrats to appeal refusal to elect oppositionist for local electoral committee

‘There will be no representatives of the city’s pro-democratic organizations. All the 4 candidates nominated by local democrats were turned down,’ says human rights activist Barys Bukhel.

29.01.2010 Formation of Hrodna city electoral committee follows classic scenario

The joint meeting of Hrodna city council of deputies and Hrodna city executive committee, which lasted for only quarter of an hour, did not vote for any of the 13 candidates nominated for membership in local electoral committee by major Belarusian opposition parties (BPF, UCPB and BCDP Hramada).

29.01.2010 No democrats on Baranavichy town electoral committee

None of the 4 representatives of opposition political parties nominated for membership in Baranavichy town electoral committee was elected by a joint meeting of Baranavichy town council of deputies and Baranavichy town executive committee.

29.01.2010 Barysau activists appeal formation of district electoral committee

A number of Barysau activists have lodged a complaint with Barysau District Court against the decision by a joint meeting of Barysau district council of deputies and Barysau district executive committee, depriving local activist Maryna Statkevich of her right to be elected member of district electoral committee, despite her nomination by a group of citizens.

29.01.2010 Ex-deputy of Haradok district council not included in local electoral committee

Leanid Haravy, activist of the For Freedom movement and ex-deputy Haradok district council, was not elected member of local district electoral committee. The committee comprises a usual set of so-called ‘general public’, including representatives of the pro-governmental Belaya Rus association, the Belarusian Republican Union of Youth and other loyal organizations.

29.01.2010 AEJ supports Belarus journalists' demands for media freedom as elections approach

The Association of European Journalists, representing more than 1000 journalists in more than 20 countries, deplores and condemns the Belarus government's controls, interference and threats of closure or prosecution of independent media in the country and we call urgently for an end to those abuses of democratic amd media freedoms.

28.01.2010 No room for oppositionists in Minsk regional electoral committee, Vitsebsk city electoral committee and Homel regional electoral committee

As a result of a joint meeting of the presidium of Vitsebsk city council of deputies and Vitsebsk city executive committee, none of the four representatives of political parties nominated for joining Vitsebsk city electoral committee was allowed to become its member.

28.01.2010 BHC representative not allowed to attend pre-electoral meeting in Hrodna

Raman Yurhel, head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee’s Hrodna office, was not allowed to be present at the meeting of nomination for regional electoral committee, due to lack of permit by Hrodna city executive committee.

28.01.2010 Another oppositionist, Syarhei Kavalenka’s friend, arrested in Vitsebsk

Aleh Surhan, accused of disobedience to militia during detention for hanging out a national flag, was detained by officers of the Kastrychnitski district militia department of Vitsebsk on January 27.

The incident, which will be considered by court, took place on September 3, 2009. Aleh Surhan and his younger brother Taras Surhan were detained by militiamen at a bus stop near the medical university, where a national white-red-white flag was hung out,” Radio Svaboda reminds.

28.01.2010 Autukhovich and Asipenka’s period of detention extended

Period of detention for Vaukavysk businessmen extended till February 28.

It was said by Uladzimir Asipenka’s daughter, Liudmila Asipenka, who received a letter from her father in the beginning of the week.

28.01.2010 Interior Minister justifies total lawlessness by riot policemen

Today the Interior Minister of Belarus has stated that during the opposition rallies journalists provoke brutality of riot policemen themselves.

At today’s press-conference in Minsk journalists grumbled to the minister of the Interior Affairs Anatoly Kulyashou at brutal actions of policemen during opposition rallies, when photo reporters and cameramen are hindered from performing their professional functions, Radio Svaboda informs.

28.01.2010 The Death Penalty in Belarus in 2009

The year of 2009 failed to become a turning point in the abolition or the declaration of a moratorium on the death penalty in Belarus. Belarus is still the only country in Europe and in the ex-Soviet area that keeps passing and executing death sentences. At the same time, for the first time in the history of independent Belarus the issue of the death penalty appeared in the forefront of wide public attention.

27.01.2010 Political soldier Zmitser Khvedaruk threatened by penal battalion

After the commanding officers of the military unit were changed, unprecedented pressure on the young atavist is exerted.

Zmitser Khvedaruk, a Young Front activist forcibly drafted to the army, is threatened physical reprisal or sending him to a disciplinary battalion, Radio Racyja informs.

27.01.2010 Constitutional Court “legitimates” wiretapping without authorization

Statements by Pyotr Miklashevich, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court, at the yesterday’s press conference came as a shock.

At a press conference on January 26 Chairman of the Constitutional Court Pyotr Miklashevich told whether Customs Union agreements are in line with the Constitution; how death penalty can be abolished; and why the court does not check the legality of Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s decrees, Euroradio reports.