16.07.2012 Minsk Regional Court turns down complaint by Salihorsk voters

Minsk Regional Court has dismissed today a complaint lodged by a number of voters from Salihorsk constituency No. 69 who argued that famous civil activist Uladzimir Shyla nominated as their representative to local constituency election commission was illegally deprived of his right to act as election commissioner.

16.07.2012 First denial: election commission denies registration of Valery Karankevich’s initiative group

The election commission of Krychau constituency No. 83 has denied registration of an initiative group of Valery Karankevich, after 6 out of 15 of his supporters withdrew their signatures for nominating him as a candidate for Parliament.

16.07.2012 Drahichyn official campaigns for colleague at concert

Vasil Khvatsik, head of Drahichyn housing department, has reportedly abused a concert marking the town’s birthday on 15 July to campaign for Yury Darahakupets, head of Ivanava housing department, who is expected to run for Parliament, as his initiative group has already been registered.

16.07.2012 Khotsimsk contender for Parliament resists canvassing for votes in cemetery

Valery Karankevich, resident of the town of Khotsimsk (Mahiliou region), who is expected to run in the forthcoming general elections, has lodged a complaint with the region’s executive committee, saying that the election campaigning regulations imposed by Khotsimsk authorities are extremely restrictive.

16.07.2012 Malaryta district election commission fails to report on its formation in due time

The voters of Malaryta district (Brest region) have yet been unable to see the list of members of constituency No. 8 election commission, despite the fact that a sitting of the commission was held on 9 July.

16.07.2012 Central Election Commission conceals decrees, says Mahiliou human rights defender

The Central Election Commission has failed to publish the full texts of its decisions, says Mahiliou human rights defender Barys Bukhel in an open letter sent to the CEC chair Lidzia Yarmoshyna.

16.07.2012 Nomination of candidates: information from regions

Ihar Maslouski and Hanna Kanius, Brest leaders of the Belarusian Social-Democratic Party (Hramada), have faced certain obstacles while attempting to submit their applications for registration of initiative groups to run for the Parliament.

16.07.2012 Baranavichy authorities not willing to reform formation of election commissions

There will be no changes in the formation of election commissions, says an official reply from Mr. Kastsiukevich, deputy chair of Baranavichy city executive committee.

16.07.2012 Smarhon and Slonim authorities publish election campaigning restrictions

The Smarhon-based “Svetly Shliakh” local government-owned newspaper has finally published the executive committee’s official decision on authorized election campaigning locations, says human rights defender Ales Dzerhachou. Meanwhile, the executive committee’s official web-site has not yet started to cover the forthcoming elections.

16.07.2012 Brest court evades consideration of appeal against violations of election commissions’ formation

Brest Regional Court ordered to deny initiating a civil case as requested by the Belarusian independent trade union of the Radio-Electronic Industry.

16.07.2012 Navapolatsk activist warned over banner “Freedom to Statkevich!”

Navapolatsk activist Yauhen Parchynski has been summoned to local police department to receive an official warning for holding an unsanctioned picket of support to imprisoned Mikalai Statkevich.

16.07.2012 Ministry of Internal Affairs ignores trial over “travel banned” Hulak

Trial over a complaint of human rights activist Aleh Hulak was postponed until July 20.

On July 16, the court of the Tsentralny district of Minsk began to hear a complaint over imposing a travel ban on head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) Aleh Hulak.

16.07.2012 Court refuses to hear BPF party's complaints

The Hrodna regional court refused to hear complaints lodged by the BPF party regarding formation of constituency election commissions.

BelaPAN news agency learned this from party's press secretary Natallya Motus.

16.07.2012 Imprisoned Syarhey Kavalenka granted four-day meeting with family

Imprisoned Syarhey Kavalenka has been granted a four-day meeting with the family in Correctional Institution No. 19 in Mahilyow, the wife of the 37-year-old opposition activist told BelaPAN on Monday.

16.07.2012 Salihorsk human rights defender demands clarification on banned campaigning locations

Leanid Markhotka, Salihorsk representative of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, has urged local district executive officials to clarify the restrictions on holding election campaigning events recently issued by the executive committee.