The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

A number of independent observers report election violations across the country, when ballot boxes are not properly sealed by the local election officials.

A number of Hrodna civil activists, including Dzmitry Antanevich and Dzianis Ivashyn, have been summoned to local prosecutor’s office and the KGB department.

Two canvassing pickets of Uladzimir Niakliayeu’s campaign team, have been reportedly stopped by Vitsebsk authorities, who referred to their decision, authorizing canvassing locations in the city.

According to Antanina Pivanos, observer at Vitsebsk polling station # 21, the local election commission members have repeatedly impaired observation, prohibiting taking photos at the station.

Aleh Hryshkautsou, sentenced to death on 14 May 2010, has addressed President Lukashenka with a request to suspend executing the sentence until his case is considered by the UN human Rights Committee.

According to Andrei Dvihun, observer at Mahiliou polling station # 42, over 25 per cent of voters have cast their ballots within the first three days of early vote. The high number of early voters is due to the enforced voting of students residing in a hostel within the constituency.

According to Liubou Padrabinkina, observer at polling station # 114, Raman Ivanchanka, soldier of Mahiliou military unit # 6713, made a public statement on enforced early vote of all the servicemen of the unit, supervised by his commander.

Human rights defenders do not exclude, that the ballot box has been disclosed.

In Brest secondary school No.30 there are two polling stations – No.111 and 113. According to the words of the observer Andrey Maher, who was present at the sealing of the ballot boxes for early voting on both polling stations, it was noted by him two days later that on the ballot box installed on the polling station No.111, the seal and the paper with the signatures of the election commission members are situated in another place than in the first day of the early voting.