22.08.2012 "Hunt" on activists of "European Belarus"

On august 22, about 11 a.m., at the central railway station in Minsk police has detained Mogilev activist of "European Belarus" Victar Boldin.

22.08.2012 Most state-owned newspapers in Brest region ignore elections

The majority of web-sites of government newspapers in Brest region are not covering the current election campaign, say activists of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign.

22.08.2012 Ashmiany court turns down complaint by local pro-dem activist

Ashmiany Court has dismissed a complaint lodged by local pro-democratic activist and human rights defender Mikalai Ulasevich against illegal actions by the customs officers who seized the activist’s personal belongings on 10 April.

22.08.2012 CEC accredits 110 international observers

As of 21 August, the Central Election Commission has registered 110 international observers, including 73 representing the CIS observation mission and 33 – the OSCE’s ODIHR.

22.08.2012 Alena Kavalenka complains about jailers to the prosecutor's office

Information about the health of Siarhei Kavalenka is being hidden from his wife.

Alena Kavalenka wants the prosecutor's office to check the legality of jailers' actions, who in July punished her husband Siarhei Kavalenka with a punishment cell, reports "Radio Svaboda".

22.08.2012 European Belarus activist detained in Minsk centre

An activist of European Belarus civil campaign, Alyaksei Tyoply, was detained in Minsk about an hour ago.

22.08.2012 Baranavichy observer fined on hooliganism charges

The Court of Baranavichy fined last evening local human rights defender Siarhei Housha 1.5 mln. roubles after Judge Vasil Petryu found the observer guilty of "using vulgar words in public" while talking to chair of constituency election commission No. 5 Mrs. Tatsiana Latyshava back on 23 July.

21.08.2012 Brest observer denied right to monitor signature verification

Brest observer Uladzimir Vialichkin registered at local constituency election commission No. 2 has not been allowed attending the commission’s sitting where signatures submitted for potential candidates are expected to be verified.

21.08.2012 Mahiliou state-owned press engaged in early election campaigning

The issue of Mahiliou-based “Vesnik Mahiliova” state-owned newspaper of 15 August features an article “The Secrets of Success Are Easy”, promoting Mrs. Liudmila Starastsina, head of local school running for Parliament in constituency No. 86.

21.08.2012 Vitsebsk authorities ban 15 pickets for election boycott

Vitsebsk executive authorities have banned fifteen pickets applied for by local activists of the Conservative Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front”, saying that campaigning for election boycott has nothing to do with the current elections.

21.08.2012 Kobryn: state-run newspaper promotes pro-government candidate

The Kobryn-based “Narodnaya Trybuna” state-owned newspaper has launched a campaign of election advertising of Aliaksandr Zazulia, member of the House of Representatives who is running for Parliament in local constituency No. 12 again, despite the fact that the Electoral Code prohibits campaigning until the parliamentary hopefuls are officially registered as candidates.

21.08.2012 Hrodna observers denied access to sittings of election commissions

Several independent observers registered in the constituency election commissions of Hrodna region will not be able to monitor the verification of signatures submitted for potential candidates’ nominations, after their applications were dismissed by local election officials.

21.08.2012 Vitebsk journalist accused of collaboration with foreign media

However, this media was closed 10 years ago. Member of the "BAJ" Alena Stsiapanava was accused of collaboration with the foreign media, which does not exist since 2002, reports the press service of BAJ.

21.08.2012 Salihorsk observer demands to disclose data on formation of election commissions

Leanid Markhotka, leader of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee’s Salihorsk office, keeps urging local authorities to provide information on nominations to local constituency election commissions, submitting another complaint to Minsk regional executive committee.

21.08.2012 5 members of political parties go into Central Election Commission

Five representatives of Belarusian political parties have become members of the Central Election Commission, including the Fair World Party, the UCP and the Belarusian Popular Front. According to the CEC’s press-service, they will have the right of an advisory vote.