The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 12 Nov 2010

12.11.2010 Hrodna region: courts side with local authorities

Judge of the Leninski District Court of Hrodna Liudmila Zhukouskaya considered as groundless the complaint against the non-inclusion of a 21-year-old member of the United Civil Party in a precinct election commission (PEC). In the Kastrychnitski District Court, Judge Valiantsina Mokhan turned down the complaint against the non-inclusion of 8 members of the UCP, though during the trial it was discovered that the documents for the nomination of representatives of pro-governmental organizations to the PECs were drawn with violation of the legal requirements. By the way, now the UCP members demand a graphologic expertise of these documents and are going to continue struggling for justice.

12.11.2010 Mahiliou: court turns down complaints of oppositionists

On 10 and 11 November the Kastrychnitski District Court of Mahiliou considered three lawsuits against the non-inclusion of representatives of the democratic community in precinct election commissions. The Belarusian Leftist Party sued against the non-inclusion of 9 representatives, the NGO BPF Adradzhenne – 12, and the Mahiliou Human Rights Center - 3 representatives.

12.11.2010 Results of verification of signatures in Homel regiona

On 11 November the Homel Region Election Commission held a sitting to sum up the results of the verification of signatures in support of the potential candidates for President.

12.11.2010 Another person charged of assaults on Russian Embassy and bank

Maksim Vetkin, who had been detained on 4 November in Minsk, was presented charges in the assault on the Embassy of the Russian Federation on 30 August and the assault on the Belarusbank in the night of 30 April – 1 May. Thus, Maksim Vetkin became the third person charged of the hooligan assaults that had been committed this year in Salihorsk and different parts of Minsk.

12.11.2010 Authorities determine places for electoral meetings (information from regions)

The Smarhon Town Executive Committee determined the places for canvassing, electoral meetings and pickets under the agreement of the Smarhon Town Election Commission.

12.11.2010 Central Election Commission confirms that Mazyr DEC violated electoral legislation?

The Mazyr human rights defender Uladzimir Tseliapun received an answer to his complaint concerning the legality of the ruling of the Mazyr District Executive Committee concerning the establishment of the ‘working group’ that had in fact formed the lists of members of the precinct election commission sin the Mazyr district. The CEC Chairperson Lidziya Yarmoshyna admitted that some of the provisions of that ruling ‘don’t completely correspond to requirements of the electoral legislation’, but stated that the observer had no right to observe the actions of this ‘working group’.

12.11.2010 New information about composition of precinct election commissions

The analysis of the personnel of the PECs of the Orsha district shows that there is the greatest representation of the Belarusian Union of Women in them – its nominees were included in 38 out of 43 commissions. There are representatives of the Belarusian republican association of veterans in 35 PECs, and representatives of the Trade Union of Agricultural Industry – in 34.

12.11.2010 Haradok: court marshals seize computer from Leanid Autukhou

The Chairperson of the Haradok town organization of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Leanid Autukhou was deprived of his computer due to the failure to pay the fine to which he had been sentenced last year for a street action with Belarusian national white-red-white flags.

12.11.2010 Youth activist directed to psychiatric hospital for membership in campaign team of Uladzimir Niakliayeu

One of the most known activists of the Salihorsk branch of the campaign team of Uladzimir Niakliayeu, member of the Young Front Andrei Tychyna was detained at a street action on 7 November and guarded to the Salihorsk Military Enlistment Office, where he was issued a writ for medical examination.