25.10.2010 Election of the President of Belarus 2010: Weekly Analytical Review (October 18-24)

Observers continue to witness the widespread participation of persons not belonging to the initiative group of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, and the broad use of the administration of state enterprises and institutions, in the collection of signatures in support of Lukashenka.

25.10.2010 Vitsebsk regional election commission ignores complaints and violations

Vitsebsk state-run newspapers report no emergency incidents during the election campaign, with no complaints received by the regional election commission.

At the same time, Uladzimir Niakliayeu’s campaign team alone lodged three complaints against illegal actions by the administration of Polatsk State University, who repeatedly denied access to the University hostels.

25.10.2010 Minsk authorities ban another picket

Minsk city executive committee banned a picket, scheduled for 30 October and aimed at attracting public attention to mass violations of criminal legislation.

The official reply by the committee’s deputy chair Mr. Tsitsiankou argues that the picket cannot be held on the location applied for by civil activists, since it could allegedly ‘impair pedestrian and road traffic.’

25.10.2010 Village voters forced to sign for Lukashenka

Local executive authorities have been canvassing for signatures, using enforced means, report pro-democratic campaign activists. Members of Uladzimir Niakliayeu’s campaign team have been unable to canvass for signatures in the village of Viaseya, Slutsk district, after the passports of local residents had been collected by local executive authorities.

25.10.2010 Court refuses to hear suit by mother of executed man against Corrections Department over denial of information about her son’s place of burial

The Leninski District Court in Minsk has refused to hear a suit filed by the mother of Andrey Zhuk, a death row inmate executed in March, against the interior ministry’s Corrections Department, which refused to tell her where her son was buried.

22.10.2010 Barysau observers apply for involvement in signature verification procedures

Barysau independent observers Aleh Matskevich and Maryna Statkevich have lodged official statements with the district executive committee and Barysau territorial election commission, demanding access to observing signatures verification and constituency formation procedures.

22.10.2010 Minsk kindergarteners engaged in canvassing for Lukashenka

Independent observers report numerous cases of enforced involvement of the staff of Minsk kindergartens in canvassing activities for the current President Lukashenka, despite lack of membership on his campaign team.

22.10.2010 Brest canvassers forced outside students’ hostels

Uladzimir Niakliayeu’s Brest campaign team activists will have to canvass for signatures outside the city’s education institutions, after they repeatedly faced bans to maintain canvassing activities in students’ hostels.

21.10.2010 Babruisk journalist harassed over election publications

Independent journalist Dzmitry Rastayeu has reportedly been fired by the editorial board of the Vecherny Bobruisk state-run newspaper, following a critical article on the current election campaign published by the Belgazeta independent weekly.

21.10.2010 Canvassing in students’ hostels illegal, says Hrodna regional election commission

Aleh Kalinkou, activist of Uladzimir Niakliayeu’s campaign team, was not let into the students’ hostel of Hrodna Medical College. The activist appealed the violation at Hrodna Leninskaya election commission.

21.10.2010 Proposals by Barysau HR activist rejected by CEC

On 20 October, Barysau human rights activist and observer Aleh Matskevich received a reply to his proposals submitted to the Central Election Commission back on 15 October.

In her reply, the CEC Chair Lidzia Yarmoshyna says that the activist tried to establish new legal provisions, which is beyond the authority of the CEC.

21.10.2010 Mahiliou constituencies formed with violations, says local HR activist Bukhel

Mahiliou authorities violated the electoral legislation while forming local constituencies, says human rights activist Barys Bukhel.

Namely, the executive authorities failed to coordinate their decisions with territorial election commissions.

21.10.2010 Observers not invited to election commission meeting

Hrodna observers Sviatlana Rudkouskaya and Raman Yurhel were not invited to the meetings of two local election commissions in violation of the provisions of the electoral legislation.

The meetings’ objective was to form local constituencies.

21.10.2010 Anarchist activist Sliusar still in prison

Babruisk prosecuting authorities have extended detention of Siarhei Sliusar, activist of the anarchist movement, arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack on the town’s KGB building back on 16 October.