News on the topic: elections-2008
15.07.2008 Vitsebsk oblast: district electoral commissions were formed in half-closed regime
In Vitsebsk oblast the formation of the district commission on elections to the Chamber of Representatives took place in half-closed regime. Non-state journalists and common people were not admitted to the joint sitting of Vitsebsk oblast executive committee and the presidium of Vitsebsk oblast soviet of deputies at which the commission were formed. The police guards had two lists of persons: the list of participants of the sitting and the list of those who were allowed presence at it. The second list included representatives of state mass media: journalists for Vitsebsk oblast TV and radio committee, BelTA information agency and the editions of Vitsebsk oblast executive committee and Vitsebsk oblast soviet of deputies – Vitsebski Rabochy and Narodnaye Slova respectively.
15.07.2008 Polatsk: ‘Strong parliament is the fundament of political stability, social welfare and progress’
During the last weeks the obligatory ‘informational assemblies’ on the topic ‘Strong parliament is the fundament of political stability, social welfare and progress ‘ have been held in the working collectives of Polatsk. These actions were ordered by Polatsk city executive committee. In some of the collectives the ‘lectures’ were read by representatives of the executive committees and in some its text was read by the administration.
15.07.2008 Barysau: early agitation on the radio
On 14 and 15 July in Barysau the radio broadcasted the address of the plenum of the republican soviet of the Belarusian association of veterans, to all veterans and electors, which had been adopted in connection with preparation and holding of the elections to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly.
15.07.2008 Human rights activists for free elections: there are no changes in forming of electoral commissions this year
The forming of district commissions on election to the Chamber of Representatives of the Republic of Belarus is over. According to the elections’ schedule which was adopted by a ruling of the Central Commission of the Republic of Belarus on elections and republican referenda, the nomination of representatives to district electoral commissions was to start 26 June and end not later than 11 July.
14.07.2008 District electoral commissions are formed in Brest oblast
On 14 July Brest oblast executive committee and the presidium of Brest oblast soviet of deputies held a joint sitting on forming of district electoral commissions. 16 district electoral commissions were formed.
14.07.2008 Mahiliou: observers of democratic parties and organizations are trying to get to first sittings of district electoral commissions
In Mahiliou the authorities do not accept the minutes for nomination of observers from Mahiliou human rights center, the Belarusian Popular Front Party, the Party of Communists Belarusian and Mahiliou city charitable organization Otklik. As a result the observers cannot get to the first sittings of the electoral commissions.
14.07.2008 Hrodna: district electoral commissions are formed secretly
The joint sitting of Hrodna oblast executive committee and Hrodna oblast soviet of deputies was to have taken place at 10 a.m. on 14 July, but when representatives of parties, NGos and press came to the specified place, the sitting was already over and the composition of the commission has been already announced.
14.07.2008 Homel oblast: oppositionists are included in 13 out of 17 electoral commissions
On 14 July Homel oblast executive committee and the presidium of Homel oblast soviet of deputies held a joint sitting on forming of district electoral commissions.
14.07.2008 Mahiliou oblast: only two opposition activists included in district electoral commissions
Mahiliou oblast executive committee and the presidium of Mahiliou oblast soviet of deputies have finished forming the district electoral commissions. They appointed 169 out of 240 candidates to the 13 district electoral commissions of Mahiliou oblast.
14.07.2008 Police detain two activists of United Civil Party
The activists of the United Civil party Dzmitry Kavalhin and Viktar Piatrouski have been detained for throwing of an address of the democratic forces in the run-up to the parliamentary elections in postboxes. Secret services knew about the rally of the United Civil Party beforehand.
12.07.2008 Monitoring of the electoral campaign: the general public and political atmosphere is disturbing
By his decree #344 of 24 January 2008 Alexander Lukashenka appointed the elections to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus of the fourth convocation to 28 September 2008.
11.07.2008 United opposition nominates about 150 candidates to 110 district electoral commissions
11 July is the last day for nomination of candidates to district electoral commissions. Yet before the elections the United Democratic stated their intention to propose a candidate to each of 110 district electoral commissions.
11.07.2008 Detained UCP Members are punished for ‘dirty swearing’
The judge of Tsentralny district court of Minsk Tatsiana Pauliuchuk found the activists of the United Civil Party who have been detained today guilty under Article 17.1 of the Administrative Code, petty hooliganism. Kiryl Paulouski was sentenced to 10 days of jail, Mikhail Pashkevich and Vital Stazharau – to 15 days.
11.07.2008 Ales Bialiatski: ‘A civil intimidation campaign has been started against the background of the electoral campaign’
On 11 July human rights activists, relatives of the arrested ex-members of White Legion and democratic leaders held a press conference dedicated to the groundless arrests in connection with the blast which had taken place on 4 July in Minsk, at celebration of the official Independence Day.
11.07.2008 Statement of Presidium of the political council of the United Democratic Forces
The authorities started using the 4 July blast in Minsk for lynching the political opposition, instead of searching the real criminals. As of 11 July 2008, 16 persons were arrested. The majority of them are activists and members of different democratic political parties, public initiatives and electoral headquarters of the candidates of the United Democratic Forces. Youth activists are terrorized and detained for protest against repressions. The atmosphere of unpunished lawlessness predominates in the country during the electoral campaign.
