25.07.2012 CEC chair reports increase in denials of registration to initiative groups

85 (19 % of the total amount of nominations submitted) initiative groups have been denied registration in the current election campaign, which is considerably more than in the previous elections of 2008 (5 %) and 2004 (11 %), says Lidziya Yarmoshyna, chair of the Central Election Commission, at a meeting with Sergey Lebedev, head of the CIS’s observation mission.

25.07.2012 Signatures for head of Zhlobin executive committee collected in unauthorized location

The canvassing picket by the initiative group of potential candidate for Parliament, chairman of Zhlobin district executive committee Leanid Apanasiuk was staged next to a bus stop, which is prohibited by a decision of local authorities, Marat Afanasyeu, local leader of the United Civil Party of Belarus, reports.

25.07.2012 Victims interrogated instead of guilty ones

After complaints on the policemen, investigators interrogated not the guilty ones, but the victims.

Several young people who were forcibly detained in Minsk during a meeting with an expert on nuclear energy Georgy Lepin, complained to the prosecutor office on the illegal actions of police officers.

25.07.2012 Political prisoner Malchanau has been transferred to the colony near Borisov

Aliaxandar Malchanau has been sent to the colony number 14, which is located in the village Novosady in the Borisov region.

25.07.2012 Political prisoners in jails on verge of new sentences

The scope of means used by those who are entrusted with the fate of prisoners includes plenty of methods that look legitimate and are aimed at making the conviction life-long. Such a disappointing conclusion has been voiced by human rights lawyer Pavel Sapelka following the analysis of the provisions of Article 411 of the Criminal Code – “Deliberate disobedience to the correctional institution administration that executes the sentence of imprisonment.”

25.07.2012 Polish historian detained for taking photos of Lenin in Belarus

Minsk policemen and special services spent many hours interrogating art historian Krzysztof Tihan from Lublin.

25.07.2012 The Observatory: Travel ban imposed on “Viasna” Vice-President Valentin Stefanovich was a "mistake"

Paris-Geneva, July 25, 2012. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), welcomes the official lifting of the travel ban imposed by mistake on the Vice-President of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) “Viasna”, Mr. Valentin Stefanovich.

25.07.2012 6 initiative groups denied registration in Homel region

On 24 July the constituency election commissions of Homel region have finished the registration of initiative groups to nominate candidates for Parliament. According to official data, 47 applications were submitted to the election commissions of 17 constituencies.

25.07.2012 HR defender demands equal conditions for canvassing

Uladzimir Shyla, member of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and observer at Salihorsk constituency No. 69, has lodged an appeal with Minsk regional executive committee, saying that the restrictions on holding election events in Luban district are discriminative.

25.07.2012 Employees of Slutsk sugar factory prohibited to support alternative candidate

The administration of a sugar factory in the town of Slutsk has reportedly prohibited its employees to support the nomination of local alternative candidate Aliaksandr Shylovich.

25.07.2012 Slutsk: names of future candidates classified

The official web-site of the “Slutski Krai” state-owned newspaper says nothing of signature-collecting events to be held by the potential candidates. The only news it has published since the beginning of the election campaign does not mention the names of the future candidates whose initiative groups have been registered by the election commission of local constituency No. 67.

25.07.2012 Most nominations by pro-dem parties registered

The overwhelming majority of initiative groups of potential candidates for Parliament representing opposition political parties and movements have been registered by local election commissions, observers of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections report.

25.07.2012 BHC observer appeals illegal nomination of pro-government candidate

Leanid Tsimashkou, observer representing the Belarusian Helsinki Committee at Senna constituency election commission No. 30, has lodged a complaint with the Central Election Commission, saying that the nomination of current MP Aliaksandr Papkou was accompanied with certain violations of the electoral legislation.

25.07.2012 Biaroza activists suggest amending electoral legislation

Siarhei Rusetski and Tamara Shchapiotkina, members of the initiative group of Anatol Sakharusha, have addressed the Central Election Commission with a proposal to review a provision of the Electoral Code that requires all the members of the initiative group to sign an appeal in case their nomination has been dismissed.

25.07.2012 Mahiliou pro-dem activist appeals denial of registration to his initiative group

Mahiliou pro-democratic activist Aliaksandr Irkho has lodged a complaint with the Central Election commission, urging the officials to reverse an earlier decision by the election commission of constituency No. 86 to deny registration to his initiative group.