23.04.2010 MTS mobile operator advertises early vote

Today, on 23 April, Hrodna subscribers of the major MTS mobile operator received short messages inviting to take part in the early vote campaign. Soon, it became known that the action was ordered by Hrodna regional executive committee.

23.04.2010 Minsk police detain distributors of Vintsuk Viachorka’s leaflets

Minsk city police detained two activists – Andrus Krechka and Anton Koipish – as they were distributing election leaflets of a Belarusian Popular Front Leader Vintsuk Viachorka. According to the candidate, the leaflets completely meet the legal requirements.

23.04.2010 Minsk election commissions refuse access to information even to members of higher election commissions

On 22 April the Minsk city election commission considered the complaints of two candidates – Mr. Kazeyeu and Mr. Kuushynau. As a result, the Commission ordered the local election commissions to allow the presence of those who applied for attending the commission’s meetings.

23.04.2010 UCP activist detained in Vaukavysk

The United Civil Party member Vital Huliak was detained by Vaukavysk police for distributing postcards of the ‘Tell the Truth’ public campaign and taken to the police station, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

23.04.2010 Orsha: BHC observer forced to leave election commission

Siarhei Trafimau, officially accredited as observer in Orsha, was not allowed to attend the meetings of the Orsha town election commission. The Belarusian Helsinki Committee representative says he has taken part in all the commission’s meetings since January. However, the situation suddenly changed.

23.04.2010 Opposition candidates in Belarus seized printers and computers

Local council canddiate Syarhei Trafimchyk was searched by the militia on April 22.

Searches and interrogations in connection with the criminal case instigated by the Hrodna region KGB department against Ales Zarembyuk, a candidate to the Masty district and Hrodna region councils, go on in the Hrodna region.

23.04.2010 Early vote all-out effort seizes Minsk universities

Today, on 23 April, an urgent meeting of rectors of Minsk universities is due to be held by the Ministry of Education. By 14 p.m. all students living in hostels were ordered to have cast their ballots, says a university professor.

23.04.2010 Svislach district: pro-state candidate campaigned for by his employers in working hours

In the past few days, in Svislach district (Hrodna region) there have been held a lot of meetings with voters of Ilya Epifanau, head of health care department of Hrodna regional executive committee, who is running for the Hrodna Regional Council.

23.04.2010 Vitsebsk region: canvassing opportunities vary

Canvassing for voters is underway. However, the results of these activities to a considerable degree depend on the candidates’ political affiliations.

23.04.2010 Akrestsin detention center to be equipped with blankets and pillows

The detention conditions in Belarus have repeatedly been criticized by both national and foreign human rights organizations. It is the civil convicts who are subject to extreme conditions while serving their sentences: overcrowded cells, lack of beds, showers, walks, inability to receive parcels, low quality of food and water.

23.04.2010 Babruisk pro-state candidates advertised by independent press

The latest issues of two Babruisk independent newspapers ‘Vecherny Bobruisk’ and ‘Kommerchesky kurier’ feature interviews with three local pro-state candidates.

23.04.2010 Mahiliou tax inspection interested in candidate’s income

On 22 April, Aliaksandr Irkho, leader of the Belarusian Social-Democratic Party’s (Narodnaya Hramada) Mahiliou organizing committee, who is running for the City Council, received a summons to the local tax inspection.

23.04.2010 Mazyr candidate left without canvassing materials

On 22 April Mazyr District Court dismissed the complaint by Uladzimir Tseliapun, Belarusian Popular Front member, running for the Homel Regional Council, ‘since it is beyond the jurisdiction of the court.’ The candidate argued that the manager of the local printing house ‘Kalor’ Mr. Dyliuk had violated the Electoral Code by refusing to print the candidate’s election posters.

23.04.2010 Mahiliou: even unrivaled loyal candidate abuses public media for canvassing

Fiodar Mikheyenka, deputy chair of Mahiliou city executive committee, who is running for the Mahiliou City Council, in non-alternative constituency #11, was illegally campaigned for by the ‘Vesnik Mahiliova’ state newspaper. He answered several questions on his activities as head of the ‘Belaya Rus’ pro-government organization’s local leader and invited everyone to cast their ballots on 25 April.

23.04.2010 Heads of Polatsk state enterprises forced to report on early vote turnout

Heads of Polatsk state enterprises and institutions have to report on the number of their employees who take part in the early vote to the town executive committee daily. There is not much pressure recorded yet, but there have been cases when people are recommended to vote early, since it is their ‘civil duty’.