News on the topic: local council elections-2010
26.02.2010 No advertising on elections in Homel region
The municipal authorities of a number of major towns of Homel region have so far failed to inform local residents of the forthcoming local council elections. There are no posters or banners advertising the elections in Svetlahorsk, Zhlobin and Rahachou. As a result, members of the candidates’ initiative groups experience difficulties while collecting signatures, since few people actually know about the elections.
26.02.2010 Homel For Freedom activist appeals non-registration of initiative group
Piotr Kuzniatsou, coordinator of For Freedom Homel regional office, who had intended to run in the forthcoming elections, lodged a complaint with Homel Regional Court after his initiative group was not registered by the local electoral commission. His previous appeal against the decision was considered by Homel regional electoral commission and dismissed, due to the exceeding number of members in the group – 21 instead of 3-10, as provided by the law.
25.02.2010 State media reluctant to provide timely information on elections in Baranavichy
The Nash Krai Baranavichy state-owned newspaper fails to publish information on the forthcoming elections in due time, thus blocking the work of numerous persons, involved in the election campaign.
25.02.2010 Pinsk authorities force opposition candidates’ initiative groups out of town center
Under Decree #157 adapted by Pinsk town executive committee, candidates will not be allowed to hold pickets for collecting signatures of voters within 100 meters of governmental buildings, industrial enterprises, educational, medical, religious and sports buildings, thus forcing the initiative groups out of the town center.
24.02.2010 Head of Barysau regional election commission abuses power, says local human rights activist
On 24 February human rights activist Aleh Matskevich lodged a complaint with the Central Electoral Commission against Chair of Barysau regional election commission Mikalai Zeliankevich, claiming that the official had abused his authority by refusing to provide information on the progress of the elections despite the activist’s mandate of observer.
24.02.2010 Homel election commission dismisses complaint by local For Freedom activist
On 24 February Homel regional election commission turned down a complaint lodged by local For Freedom coordinator Piotr Kuzniatsou, upholding the decision by Mazurauskaya constituency election commission to deny registration to the activist’s initiative group, due to the exceeding number of the team’s members – 21 persons instead of 3-10 required by the law.
24.02.2010 Baranavichy Office of Public Prosecutor refuses to monitor implementation of Election Code
A human rights activist from Baranavichy Syarhei Housha, who complained about a violation of the Election Code to the City Office of the Public Prosecutor, has received an official refusal.
19.02.2010 Filing applications for registration of initiative groups is over: information from regions
According to the timing schedule of the elections, the period of filing applications for registration or initiative groups of pretenders to the local Soviets of Deputies, ended on 18 February in the evening. According to the law, registration of an initiative group is conducted during five days after receiving an application. Thus, it will end on 23 February.
19.02.2010 Salihorsk: heads of enterprises are warned
On 18 February, representatives of the largest state enterprises of the town were gathered in the Salihorsk district executive committee for ‘prophylactic instructional advice on the eve of the agitation campaign of the pretenders to the local Soviets of Deputies.
18.02.2010 Krupki: memberss of initiative groups are pressurized at work
On 18 February Siarhei Kletny, worker of the housing and public utilities of Krupki, was summoned to the director’s office. Besides the boss, Mr. Kletny was met by Mikalai Bury and Uladzmir Zahorski, Deputy Chairpersons of the Krupki district executive committee.
18.02.2010 Hrodna: courts don’t grant claims of members of political parties
The Hrodna oblast court dismissed the cassation complaint of the Hrodna oblast organization of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party. The reason is that the verdict against which the members of the party appeal runs that it is ‘final and is not subject of appeal’. The BSDP members consider it as denial in access to justice and are going to appeal against this verdict as well.
18.02.2010 Kirau district: pressurization of activists willing to take part in election campaign
Natallia Haryst manager of the village hall in the village of Siarheyichy, expressed the intention to take part in the election. However, when her bosses found about it, officers of the local culture department came to the village club with a check-up. They asked her what for she needed the elections and whether she knew that she would have to travel much and spend a lot of time. At the departure they promised that from now on there would be more check-ups at work. After this the woman began to doubt whether she should take part in the elections, because she is afraid to lose her job.
18.02.2010 Vitsebsk: Barys Khamaida detained again
On 18 February in Vitsebsk, Barys Khamaida, activist of the Conservative-Christian Party Belarusian Popular Front, was detained for two hours for distribution of the party magazine Belaruskiya Vedamastsi. The official reason for the detention was that the policemen needed to check-up the literary editions and periodicals that were distributed by Mr. Khamaida.
18.02.2010 Baranvichy: human rights defender appeals against decision of executive committee
On 17 February, human rights defender Siarhei Housha, observer of the Belarusian Language Society in the Baranavichy city election commission, lodged a complaint with he Baranavichy prosecutor I.Palyka concerning the determination of the places for agitation by the Baranavichy city executive committee (CEC).
18.02.2010 Salihorsk: one-man race can take place in many constituencies
The Salihorsk district election commission has received 36 applications for registration of initiative groups of pretenders to candidates. Four of them were filed by independent pretenders – Valer Shcherbich, Aliaksei Valabuyeu and the Yaumenenka brothers, Aliaksandr and Viktar.
