The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 19 Sep 2012

19.09.2012 Outrage against Electoral Code in Minsk polling station

All the members of the election commission of polling station No. 126 (constituency No. 94) are employees of Leninski district administration, which constitutes a violation of the Electoral Code, say observers of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign.

19.09.2012 Haradok observer expelled from polling station

Leanid Haravy, observer in the town of Haradok (Vitsebsk region), has been shown the door by chairman of the constituency election commission Piotr Prasolau on the grounds that the observer allegedly interfered with voting.

19.09.2012 Minsk students awarded with day off for early voting

The students of the Faculty of Information Technology and Robotechnics of the Belarusian National Technology University have been reportedly promised a day off, on the conditions they go to the polls before the week-end.

19.09.2012 Baranavichy students ordered to vote by Friday

Siarhei Housha, observer in constituency No. 5, has received several complaints by students of Baranavichy State University, who are reportedly forced to vote before Friday, September 21.

19.09.2012 CEC ignores complaints by Slonim pro-dem candidates

Mikhail Karatkevich, candidate in Slonim constituency No. 58, as well as former candidate for Parliament Ivan Sheha, have received replies from the Central Election Commission head Lidziya Yarmoshyna.

19.09.2012 Babruisk election commission conceals information

Dzmitry Marholin, short term observer representing the independent trade union of the Radio-Electronic Industry at Babruisk polling station No. 30, has been denied access to the data on the results of the first day of the early voting campaign.

19.09.2012 Slonim housing chief orders to vote early

Uladizmir Pakala, head of Slonim District Housing and Public Utilities Department, is reportedly using his position to force his employees to vote early.

19.09.2012 Election commission in Hrodna receives 25% of extra ballots

The election commission of Hrodna-based polling station No. 22, covering the population of 1,910 voters, has received 2,400 ballots, i.e. 25% more than needed, says observer of the For Fair Elections campaign Aliaksandr Lemekh.

19.09.2012 Minsk court convicts Zmena activists

Minsk Frunzenski District Court has considered the administrative charges brought against activists of the Zmena movement (youth wing of the Tell the Truth campaign), who were brutally detained during an election picket last afternoon.

19.09.2012 Report of Observation Results: Early Voting

Early Voting: Day 1

19.09.2012 Vitsebsk observer sentenced to 7 days in jail

Vitsebsk Kastrychnitski District Court sentenced today Yauhen Hutsalau, observer representing the Belarusian Christian Democracy, to 7 days of administrative arrest for staging a picket calling for election boycott on 17 September.

19.09.2012 BPF observers denied access to polling stations in Mahiliou

At least four independent observers representing the Belarusian Popular Front have been denied today access to the polling stations of Mahiliou constituency No. 87.

19.09.2012 OSCE observers denied Belarus’ visas

Two short-term observers of the OSCE’s PA mission to Belarus have been denied visas by the authorities, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports, quoting the mission’s head Matteo Mecacci. The Belarusian MFA refused to issue visas to two MPs from Lithuania and Germany.

19.09.2012 CEC upholds warning to For Freedom candidate

On 18 September, the Central Election Commission upheld a warning addressed to candidate Andrei Yurkou, running in Horki constituency No. 82 (Mahiliou region) and supported by the For Freedom movement.

19.09.2012 Vitsebsk observer to stand trial for illegal picketing

Yauhen Hutsalau, observer detained on 18 September at Vitsebsk polling station No. 71, is facing charges of staging an unauthorized picket, as he is being held in the city’s detention center.