The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 19 Dec 2010

19.12.2010 INFORMATION FOR JOURNALISTS

The Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections election observation campaign is announcing two final press-conferences to be held on 19 and 20 December at the central office of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” at 78A-48, Nezalezhnastsi Ave., Minsk.

19.12.2010 Minsk: Lukashenka not reaching 50 % at some of polling station

According to preliminary data provided by some of Minsk election commissions, Aliaksandr Lukashenka has not received 50 % of votes. The figures received from poling station # 6 claim Lukashenka gained 39 % of votes, while Andrei Sannikau – 25 %.

19.12.2010 Minsk police raid apartment of youth activists

Minsk police have reportedly broken into a private apartment, where five youth opposition activists – Yan Stasiuk, Aliaksandra Litvinchuk, Aksana Matsiuk, Marya Charvinskaya and Yauhen Ivaniuk – have been blocked since morning.

19.12.2010 Salihorsk: observers unable to watch vote counting

According to Salihorsk independent observers, at the majority of local polling stations observers were unable to watch vote counting after they were forced to observe the counting from a distance of up to 10 meters.

19.12.2010 Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections: vague regulations for storing ballots during early voting are of extreme concern

On 19 December, the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections observation campaign held a press-conference, summarizing the results of the early voting stage of the Presidential election. Chair of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Aleh Hulak and deputy chair of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Valiantsin Stefanovich believe the overall election procedures are extremely unreliable.

19.12.2010 Uladzimir Niakliayeu severely beaten (Video)

Presidential canidate Uladzimir Niakliayeu, together with dozen other activists, have been reportedly beaten up by riot police in downtown Minsk around 19.00 this evening, as a group of his supporters was moving towards Kastrychnitskaya Square. Mr. Niakliayeu has been taken to hospital with a severe head injury.

19.12.2010 Brest: civil activists detained ‘on suspicion in drug trafficking’

The civil activists from brest Aliaksei Koutun and Valiantsin Lazarenkau are kept at the Biaroza District Police Department. According to the police, they have been detained on suspicion in trafficking drugs, and a detention report will be drawn up.

19.12.2010 Siarhei Parsiukevich detained ‘on suspicion of murder’

Siarhei Parsiukevich was detained at the Vitsebsk bus terminal together with his 16-year-old son Dzianis. The detainees were informed that they allegedly resembled the persons who had committed a murder 30 minutes ago.

19.12.2010 KGB Chairperson accuses opposition of buying electric shockers and truncheons

On 18 December 18 in the TV program Map of the World at RTR-Belarus TV channel, the Chairperson of the KGB Vadzim Zaitsau made a statement.

19.12.2010 Statkevich’s election agent detained in Brest

Report has been received claiming that Viktar Chaikouski, election agent of Mikalai Statkevich’s campaign team, has been detained by Brest police this afternoon.

19.12.2010 Mahiliou: mobile phones of local HR activists, journalists and politicians blocked

According to some dozen Mahiliou human rights activists, journalists and politicians, their mobile phones have been blocked due to unknown reasons.

19.12.2010 Detentions and police raids across Belarus (updated)

Attention! The Maskouski District Police Department of Minsk instigated a criminal case under Article 339, part 3 of the Criminal Code (malignant hooliganism) against Dzmitry Dashkevich, Eduard Lobau and Dzianis Lazar. At 4.30 p.m. they were detained in line with Article 108 of the Criminal Process Code and guarded to the pre-trial prison of the main police department of the Minsk City Executive Committee.

19.12.2010 Polatsk police detain three activists

Three activists, representing the campaign teams of Mikalai Statkevich and Uladzimir Niakliayeu, have been reportedly detained by Polatsk police this morning.

19.12.2010 Navapolatsk: ballots added to box

Unidentified voter added a pile of ballots to the ballot box at Navapolatsk polling station # 22, say local independent observers Mikhas Novikau and Yauhen Apiatsionak.

19.12.2010 Salihorsk observers register violations

According to Salihorsk independent observers, numerous violations are registered every day at the town’s polling stations. Violations include incorrect ballot samples and interference of election commissioners with secret voting.