23.09.2008 Slutsk: Very different “equal” conditions for campaigning

Vital Amialkovich, observer in Slutsk district # 74, reports violation of teh principle of equality of candidates occurred in the district.

For instance, voters were forced to come to the majority of meetings with the official candidate Inesa Kliashchuk. Kliashchuk openly enjoyed the support from the officials of Slutsk rayon executive committee: deputy chair of the executive committee Piotr Dauhuchyts and head of the ideology department Larysa Dabravolskaya. They accompanied the candidate to the meetings, and used service vehicles to take the candidate to rural areas.

23.09.2008 Babruisk: Candidate’s ordeal with printing presses

Babruisk entrepreneur Viachaslau Shelekh, who runs in Asipovichy district # 89, addressed Babruisk printing press with the request to print his campaign materials. The candidate literally had to persuade the printing press management, and after four days of negotiations he managed to do that. Asipovichy rayon executive committee transferred the money to the printing press’ account.

When Viachaslau Shelekh came to pick up the materials on the appointed day he was informed the agreement had been denounced by the press. The candidate addressed the other printing presses but was refused. As a result, Babruisk resident had to go to Homel, where his campaign materials were printed on September 19th.

23.09.2008 Vitebsk: Candidate Andrei Levinau attacked

On September 22nd , 7.30 p.m. Andrei Levinau, candidate in Vitebsk-Chyhunachnaya district # 19, was attacked in the entrance hall of his own apartment building.

23.09.2008 Slutsk: Words “Vote only on September 28!”

Vital Amialkovich, observer in Slutsk election district # 74, reports, printing press staff attempted to exclude words “Vote only on September 28!” from the leaflet of the UDF candidate Anatol Yurevich. The phrase was finally included in the leaflet after interference of chairman of Slutsk district election commission Alexander Andrushkevich.

23.09.2008 Babruisk: Candidates stand up for their reputation

Candidates Alena Midzvedzeva (BSDP H) and Uladzimir Siamashka (UCP) had to write complaints to CEC and the prosecutor’s office after they have read the articles by Babruiskaye Zhytstsio newspaper. The articles they refer to insult their honor and dignity.

23.09.2008 Homel: District commission bans campaigning against pro-governmental opponents

On September 22nd chair of Homel-Savetskaya district # 34 Mikalai Malyi did not let a group of citizens to Festyvalny conference room which was appointed as a place for election events. During the planned event the organizers planned to campaign against the official candidate Larysa Kuzniatsova. The event organizer Uladzinmir Katsora and speaker Alexander Milinkevich had to conduct the meeting in the open air.

23.09.2008 No control over early voting

Early voting starts today in Belarus. Anyone can vote early in any of the five days which are left before September 28th. No documents proving that a person cannot vote on the Election Day are required.

On one hand, it is clear that early voting provides for an opportunity to vote for people who cannot go to the polls on September 28th. On the other hand, the system of early voting which exists in Belarus, provides for broad possibilities to manipulate with the votes. There are numerous examples when during the previous parliamentary election collective farmers were brought to polling stations on trucks, and students were forced to vote early.

23.09.2008 Kapyl: Court decides not to consider complaint about violations in formation of commissions

On September 22nd the Judicial Board for civic cases of Minsk oblast court considered the complaint of BHC observer Viktar Dashkevich about the decision of Kapyl rayon court which refused to instigate civic proceedings about unlawfulness of decisions made by Kapyl rayon executive committee when forming precinct election commissions.

23.09.2008 Vitebsk: Agent of candidate Kanyhin detained

Siarhei Haurutsikau, agent of candidate in Vitebsk-Chyhunachnaya district # 19 Ihar Kanyhin was detained in Vitebsk on September 22nd. He was detained on the report by a “vigilant citizen”, who did not like the text of the leaflet he found in his mailbox. The leaflet informed the citizens about the demands of the European Union about the changes of the Belarusian election legislation and about violations during formation of the election commissions, and why the parliamentary elections cannot be recognized free and fair.

23.09.2008 Vitebsk: Candidate faces obstacles in campaigning

Andrei Levinau, candidate in Vitebsk-Chyhunachnaya district # 19, received a written reply from acting CEO of “Ceramica” company P. Z. Pryzhytomski, who refused him a meeting with the company staff. He explained, in conjunction with non-stop nature of production process, the company had no possibility for organizing a meeting with voters. The letter was prepared by Z. I. Zhaholkin. It turned out, he is the company’s deputy CEO and member of the district election commission in Vitebsk-Chyhunachnaya district # 19.

23.09.2008 Ramanchuk’s team cannot receive data

In violation of the election legislation, which demands the elections to be open and transparent representatives of precinct election commissions of Hrodna-Paunochnaya district refuse to provide information to agents of candidate Yaraslau Ramanchuk.

23.09.2008 Homel: Precinct commissions do not register observers

Precinct election commission # 13 in Homel-Savetskaya district refused to register Leanid Udavichenkau as an observer. Vasil Ptashnikau was denied registration as an observer in precinct # 4 of Homel-Centralnaya district. Both were nominated by BPF party. The reason for the denial was lack of the stamp on the nominating documents, although, according to the Party Statute, structural units of BPF do not have stamps at all.

23.09.2008 Mahiliou: Ales Silkou’s campaign materials torn down at the gates of Elektrarukhavik plant

“Vital Makaranka, member of my initiative group, posted my campaign poster at the gates of Elektrarukhavik plant, -- candidate Ales Silkou says. – when he came to the plant gates again he noticed that the poster was not there. Instead, there were campaign materials for the pro-governmental candidate Yushkevich hanging on its place”.

23.09.2008 Maladechna: Rayon executive committee promotes candidate

Observers found out, last week deputy chair of Maladechna rayon executive committee Yafim Idelchyk gathered meetings of business representatives. Besides discussion of the issues on the agenda, he promoted official candidate Mikalai Zhhun (Maladechna city district # 70). Mikalai Zhhun is director of Maladechna Polytechnical college. He has two opponents in his district: UCP member Alexander Shumkevich and individual entrepreneur Ivan Mishyn.

22.09.2008 Kanstantsin Zhukouski dropped out of the parliamentary race

On September 22nd candidate in Buda-Kashaliouskaya district # 38 Kanstantsin Zhukouski withdrew his candidacy. He has already submitted the appropriate statement to the district election commission.

Kanstantsin Zhukouski ran as a candidate on the UDF list.