10.09.2012 Smarhon court fines critical artists

Smarhon District Court has found two members of the Pahonia independent art group, as well as local pro-democratic activist Uladzimir Shulzhytski, guilty of participating in an illegal manifestation staged in the town on 3 September to mark the birthday of Rastsislau Lapitski, leader of an anti-Communist movement of late 1950s.

10.09.2012 Tell the Truth activists sentenced to short prison terms

Pavel Vinahradau and Aliaksandr Artsybashau, activists of the Tell the Truth civil campaign, have been sentenced today to 5 and 3 days of administrative arrest, respectively, on charges using foul language on 7 September.

10.09.2012 Brest regional TV illegally censors election address

Mrs. Anzhalika Kambalava, representative of the United Civil Party running in Baranavichy constituency, has received a reply to her request for clarifications on the fact of illegal censorship reportedly committed by the management of the “Brest” regional state-owned TV company.

10.09.2012 Pinsk district: meetings with voters to be held in working hours

Aliaksandr Paleichuk, pro-government candidate running for Parliament in Pinsk constituency No. 15, has met voters in working hours at the district’s state-owned enterprises and organizations, say local observers of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign, referring to an official schedule of campaigning events submitted to the constituency’s election commission.

10.09.2012 CEC bounces appeal by Hrodna candidates

A number of Hrodna opposition candidates, including representatives of the BPF, the UCPB, the Fair World Party and the Tell the Truth campaign, have received a reply from the Central Election Commission lodged to urge the high officials to address the illegal restrictions on election campaigning events imposed by the city’s executive authorities.

10.09.2012 Weekly Report of Observation Results # 7

September 3-9, 2012

General Conclusions - The campaigning is low-profile: candidate debates take place in few districts only, information boards in many districts remain empty; there is no mass distribution of printed campaign materials. - The Central Election Commission ruled to prohibit participation of candidates’ agents in debates in case the agents ran for mandate in other districts. The ruling is contrary to Article 46 of the Election Code, which allows participation of candidates’ agents in debates without any limitations. - TV-presentations of the opposition candidates and their platforms continue to undergo censorship in the state press. Observers register facts of usage of the administrative resource in favor of the pro-governmental candidates. - Election campaigning takes place in the climate of pressure on democratic candidates and civic activists from the state bodies. - The Supreme Court heard the complaints about denial of registration to candidates. One of 17 complaints was satisfied.

10.09.2012 Two girls fined for posting stickers

Minsk Tsentralny District Court has fined Alena and Liudmila Paulouskays 2 mln. rubles each for alleged resisting arrest.