News for January 2010
29.01.2010 UN confirmed violations of rights of Belarusian oppositionist
The Human Rights Committee established a fact of violation of the right of democratic activist Valery Lukyanchyk to be elected to the “house of representatives” at the “elections” on October 17, 2004.
Conclusions on the complaint published on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights allow making such a statement, BelaPAN learnt from human rights activist Raman Kislyak.
29.01.2010 Formation of Hrodna city electoral committee follows classic scenario
The joint meeting of Hrodna city council of deputies and Hrodna city executive committee, which lasted for only quarter of an hour, did not vote for any of the 13 candidates nominated for membership in local electoral committee by major Belarusian opposition parties (BPF, UCPB and BCDP Hramada).
29.01.2010 No democrats on Baranavichy town electoral committee
None of the 4 representatives of opposition political parties nominated for membership in Baranavichy town electoral committee was elected by a joint meeting of Baranavichy town council of deputies and Baranavichy town executive committee.
29.01.2010 Barysau activists appeal formation of district electoral committee
A number of Barysau activists have lodged a complaint with Barysau District Court against the decision by a joint meeting of Barysau district council of deputies and Barysau district executive committee, depriving local activist Maryna Statkevich of her right to be elected member of district electoral committee, despite her nomination by a group of citizens.
29.01.2010 Ex-deputy of Haradok district council not included in local electoral committee
Leanid Haravy, activist of the For Freedom movement and ex-deputy Haradok district council, was not elected member of local district electoral committee. The committee comprises a usual set of so-called ‘general public’, including representatives of the pro-governmental Belaya Rus association, the Belarusian Republican Union of Youth and other loyal organizations.
29.01.2010 AEJ supports Belarus journalists' demands for media freedom as elections approach
The Association of European Journalists, representing more than 1000 journalists in more than 20 countries, deplores and condemns the Belarus government's controls, interference and threats of closure or prosecution of independent media in the country and we call urgently for an end to those abuses of democratic amd media freedoms.
28.01.2010 No room for oppositionists in Minsk regional electoral committee, Vitsebsk city electoral committee and Homel regional electoral committee
As a result of a joint meeting of the presidium of Vitsebsk city council of deputies and Vitsebsk city executive committee, none of the four representatives of political parties nominated for joining Vitsebsk city electoral committee was allowed to become its member.
28.01.2010 BHC representative not allowed to attend pre-electoral meeting in Hrodna
Raman Yurhel, head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee’s Hrodna office, was not allowed to be present at the meeting of nomination for regional electoral committee, due to lack of permit by Hrodna city executive committee.
28.01.2010 Another oppositionist, Syarhei Kavalenka’s friend, arrested in Vitsebsk
Aleh Surhan, accused of disobedience to militia during detention for hanging out a national flag, was detained by officers of the Kastrychnitski district militia department of Vitsebsk on January 27.
The incident, which will be considered by court, took place on September 3, 2009. Aleh Surhan and his younger brother Taras Surhan were detained by militiamen at a bus stop near the medical university, where a national white-red-white flag was hung out,” Radio Svaboda reminds.
