19.03.2010 US condemns repressions against journalists in Belarus – sanctions remain

The US sanctions on the Belarusian regime will remain in force while human rights are violated in Belarus.

Karen Stewart, a former US Ambassador to Belarus, now an aide to Assistant Secretary of State Michael H. Posner, told this in an interview to Radio Svaboda.

19.03.2010 Gagged statues in Minsk – we all deprived of voice

European Belarus activists held an action in Minsk against an attack on independent journalists.

The young people protesting against pressure on independent journalists gagged statues and hung posters “Telling Truth is Forbidden in Belarus”, “No to Pressure on Independent Press!”, “I don’t Want Independent Websites to be Closed”, the website of European Belarus campaign reports.

19.03.2010 Limited canvassing opportunities for Vitsebsk candidates

Vitsebsk candidates still cannot maintain efficient canvassing activities, since no official decisions on canvassing locations in a number of the city’s districts have been announced yet. The authorities’ inaction may result in conflicts between representative of various campaign teams, say local human rights activists.

19.03.2010 Senator Smirnov: Belarus may abolish death penalty

Yevgeny Smirnov, Chairman of the Legislation and State Development Commission of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, does not rule a possibility that the capital punishment will be eventually abolished in Belarus. The senator made this statement as he addressed the chairmen of regional and municipal courts at the Council of the Republic on 18 March, BelTA has learnt.

19.03.2010 470 out of 530 Hrona region district constituencies to be non-alternative

According to official data, 590 candidates will run for 530 seats in the district councils of Hrodna region, i.e. in 470 out of the 530 region’s constituencies will be non-alternative. A similar situation is reported of Hrodna village councils, with 2,103 candidates running for 2,087 seats.

19.03.2010 BCD coordinator faces criminal charges

Yauhen Yakavenka, coordinator of the formation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, is charged with conscription dodging, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

19.03.2010 Hrodna authorities delay publication of election information by 8 days

The ‘Hrodzenskaya Prauda’ state-owned newspaper published the lists of the region’s divisional election commissions, 8 days after the decision was taken by the executive committees.

19.03.2010 Mahiliou court turns down claim by BPF ‘Adradzhenne’ members

Mahiliou Kastrychnitski Court dismissed the complaint lodged by the Belarusian Popular Front ‘Adradzhenne’ local office against the district authorities’ failure to provide timely information on the time and place of the executive committee’s meeting for the formation of electoral commissions. The party activists argue that they faced political discrimination.

19.03.2010 Hlybokaye Christian Democrat refused registration as candidate

Zmitser Lupach, activist of the unregistered Belarusian Christian Democracy, will not be able to run for Hlybokaye District Council, after his application for registration was dismissed due to 20% of collected signatures being considered fraud.

19.03.2010 Salihorsk authorities send candidates to meet voters on town outskirts

Salihorsk town executive committee released the list of public canvassing locations, featuring only two sites – the Budaunik stadium and the Budaunik palace of culture, both located on the town outskirts. Meanwhile, in some of Salihorsk district constituencies, including the towns of Starobin and Chyrvonaya Slabada, canvassing will be allowed in the town centers.