The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 11 Jul 2012

11.07.2012 Malaryta District Court upholds prohibition of picket “For Honest Elections”

The Malaryta District Court (the Brest region) confirmed the legality of the prohibition of the picket by the Malaryta District Executive Committee.

11.07.2012 Weird voting at sitting of election commission in Rechytsa

The first sitting of the Rechytsa constituency election commission was held under an attentive supervision of the head of the Rechytsa District Executive Committee Piatro Shostak.

11.07.2012 Constituency election commissions in Homel: state officials disguise as public representatives

The analysis of the constituency election commissions of Homel shows a tendency characteristic for the whole Belarus: “occasional” people rarely become members of election commissions, all of them are formed according to one scenario – representatives of executive committees, enterprise administrations and secondary schools are included in them as nominees of civil associations, trade unions and groups of citizens. However, according to the law the share of state officials must not exceed one third in a commission.

11.07.2012 Police try to burst into house of co-head of “For Fair Elections” campaign Viktar Karniayenka

Policemen are trying to get into the house of the co-chairman of the civil campaign “For Fair Elections” Viktar Karniayenka in Fanipol. The reasons aren't known so far. Mr. Karniayenka is away at an OSCE conference in Vienna.

11.07.2012 Valiantsin Stefanovich: “Amnesty bill was politicized by the authorities”

The deputy head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” told why there was no use waiting for the release of political prisoners under the recently adopted law on amnesty and pointed that the authorities artificially deprived the imprisoned opponents of the regime to be released on parole.

11.07.2012 Slonim: election commission hides from observers

In the morning of 10 July members of the Slonim democratic association Ivan Bedka and Viktar Marchyk came to the Slonim District Executive Committee to find when the first sitting of Slonim constituency election commission #58 would take place, as they intended to attend it as observers, nominated by electors.

11.07.2012 Vitsebsk: detention of Barys Khamaida ahead of Lukashenka's visit

Independent newspapers distributor Barys Khamaida has been detained in Vitebsk.

11.07.2012 Political prisoner Aliaksandr Malchanau appeals his sentence

A lawyer visited Aliaksandr Malchanau in a detention facility in Zhodzina on 9 July. She said the political prisoner would appeal against the judgement.