The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 29 Sep 2010

29.09.2010 Orsha authorities publish two versions of canvassing restrictions

Orsha town executive committee released its decision #1371, imposing a ban on maintaining canvassing activities in a number of public places across the town. The decision was posted on the committee’s official web-site and later published in Orsha major state-run newspaper ‘Arshanskaya hazeta’.

29.09.2010 Minsk authorities issue backdated restrictions on canvassing locations

Minsk city authorities have published their decision on the public places banned for canvassing for signatures. The ban covers three of the city’s main squares: Independence square, Victory square and Kastrychnitskaya square. Canvassing is not allowed within 50 meters of the governmental buildings, embassies, prosecutor’s offices and courts, as well as the organizations, which ‘maintain the defense capability, state security and life-sustaining services (public transport, water and energy supply facilities, hospitals and schools).

29.09.2010 Social Democrats Haradok activist denied membership on election commission over ‘brawler’s reputation’

Leanid Haravy, Haradok member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party ‘Hramada’, has lodged a complaint against local authorities’ decision to dismiss his nomination for the town’s election commission.

29.09.2010 Election commissions formation: secret procedures and no democrats

A number of towns’ authorities across the country have held secret meetings to form local election commissions.

29.09.2010 Public places banned for canvassing for signatures: country-wide analysis

The local executive bodies have identified the list of public places banned for collecting signatures by presidential hopefuls’ initiative groups. The information provided by observers from various regions shows that most populated areas are not among the authorized canvassing locations.

29.09.2010 The 2010 Election of the President of Belarus: Weekly Analytical Review (20-26 September)

Lydia Ermoshina, Chair of the CEC, said that she believed in Alexander Lukashenko's victory in the forthcoming election. This was proclaimed even before the documents on registration of the initiative group of the incumbent president were submitted to the CEC. The statement by the CEC Chair is against the principles of non-engagement and fairness, which should be the guide for the electoral administration.