24.09.2010 Salihorsk residents support Pahaniayla’s initiative

A number of Salihorsk residents have addressed the Central Election Committee with a demand to dismiss the registration application of the current president Aliaksandr Lukashenka. Earlier, a similar statement was made by the famous Belarusian human rights activist Harry Pahaniayla.

24.09.2010 Council of Europe regrets confirmation of death penalty by Supreme Court in Belarus

Council of Europe Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland, announced today that he is “deeply saddened” by news that the appeals of two prisoners on death row in the city of Grodno were rejected by the Supreme Court.

23.09.2010 UCP leaders to block party members’ collaboration with other candidates

On 22 September the Political Council of the United Civil Party officially warned the party members of their possible expulsion from the party in case of involvement in the campaign teams of candidates, other than the UCP presidential hopeful Yaraslau Ramanchuk.

23.09.2010 Niakliayeu’s campaign chief fined

Today, on 23 September, Salihorsk court fined Tatsiana Kuchynskaya, head of Uladzimir Niakliayeu’s local campaign headquarters, BYR 1,400,000 for alleged violating Paragraph 2 Article 22.9 of the Mass Media Code (illegal production and distribution of mass media).

23.09.2010 Homel Coalition of United Pro-Dem Forces to nominate 30 activists for local election commissions

On 22 September, the Homel Coalition of United Pro-Democratic Forces reiterated its position on the degree of participation in the forthcoming presidential election, approved by the Coalition back in July 2009.

22.09.2010 MPs to consider abolition of death penalty on 23 September

‘On 23 September, the working group on the death penalty of the National Assembly will take part in a round table discussion on the issue arranged by the Council of Europe,’ Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports, quoting the press-service of the House of Representatives.

22.09.2010 Viasna and BHC present election observation campaign in Brussels

Representatives of the two key human rights organizations of Belarus – Human Rights Center “Viasna” and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee – presented the presidential election observation campaign during their three-day visit to Brussels.

22.09.2010 Vitsebsk officials involved in overt postal censorship, says local pro-dem activist

Vitsebsk pro-democratic activist Aliaksei Haurutsikau has lodged a complaint with Vitsebsk regional prosecutor’s office and the local office of the Belposhta state-run postal network, arguing that two registered letters containing application papers of Mikalai Statkevich’s and Uladzimir Niakliayeu’s initiative groups were opened and part of the documents were seized.

22.09.2010 Local authorities’ websites of Homel region hush up election

The official websites of a number of districts of Homel region, including Rahachou, Loyeu, Brahin, Buda-Kashaliova, Mazyr and Vetka, have not yet announced the start of the presidential election campaign.

22.09.2010 Harry Pahaniayla demands not to register Lukashenka's initiative group

The lawyer hopes that this proposal to file a petition to the CEC would become an example to be followed by other Belarusian citizens.

The lawyer of the human rights organization “Belarusian Helsinki Committee” Harry Pahanyajla is preparing a petition to the Central Election Commission with a demand to deny registration to the initiative group for nomination Alyaksandr Lukashenka as a candidate for presidency.

21.09.2010 Presidential Election: Weekly Analytical Review

The legal basis of the electoral system of the Republic of Belarus is made up of the Constitution, Electoral Code, other legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus and statements (decisions) of the Central Commission for Elections and National Referendums (hereinafter – the Central Election Commission, or the CEC).

21.09.2010 Belarusian Christian Democracy still unregistered

The Ministry of Justice ruled to leave undecided the registration application of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party due to ‘the absence of a list of members of the party’s management committee’, the BelaPAN news agency reports.

21.09.2010 Reporters without Borders criticize Belarusian media freedom

The Reporters without Borders international organization has released a statement, expressing its deep concern over the increasing harassment of Belarusian journalists ahead of the forthcoming presidential election, the press-service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports.

21.09.2010 Detentions in Minsk

On 20 September Minsk police detained 12 activists campaigning for the return of St. Joseph Catholic church to believers. The police reportedly used force, beating some of the detainees. All the activists were shortly released without charges.

21.09.2010 Hrodna: students harassed ahead of election

Administration of Hrodna State University reportedly distributes instructions of ‘correct behaviour’ to be followed by the students during the forthcoming presidential election. Students are warned against possible involvement in the activities for nominating opposition candidates.