17.08.2008 ELECTION WEEK: EVENTS AND GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
Formation of precinct election commissions was the main topic this week. As a result, very few representatives of pro-democratic parties and NGOs will work in the commissions. Another week trend was growing amount of promotion of pro-governmental candidates in state mass media, who, in violation of the election law, seem to be not ashamed of giving election promises on this stage of the campaign. The candidates, especially incumbent MPs, seem to have just woken up after four-year hibernation and all of a sudden remembered about their voters. To be more precise, they decided it was about time to start “feeding” people with another portion of usual promises. At the same time, the so-called “self-initiative” – running without the agreement of the authorities, which in fact is the expression of the political will of a citizen, not only fails to win admiration (although it should – finally people show political activity the authorities have been calling for!) but leads to job losses… Signature collection for the candidates backed by the authorities was quite different from the process which pro-democratic and independent candidates had to undertake.
14.08.2008 Information about registration of initiative groups
According to the present legislation (Article 65 of the Electoral Code) nomination of candidates for deputies to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus can be conducted by means of collection of electors’ signatures by a group of not less than 10 citizens (initiative group). The list of the members of an initiative group (in which its head must be specified) and the application for registration of the initiative group must be submitted to a constituent electoral commission not later than 65 days prior to the Election Day. These documents are to be submitted by the person who seeks nomination as a candidate for deputy. The list must include the following data: name, patronymic, surname, birth date, profession, position (employment), place of work, place of residence and membership in parties for the person who intends to become a candidate for deputy; the name, patronymic, surname, birth date and the place of residence for each member of the initiative group.
29.07.2008 Analysis: Formation of district election commissions
Formation of district election commissions for holding elections to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus
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.
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.
04.07.2008 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in June 2008
The main events in Belarus in June were the official appointment of the parliamentary elections, the start of the electoral campaign and the adoption of the new law On mass media that considerably aggravated the situation of mass media in the country and was evidently repressive. 24 June the president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenka signed order #344 On appointment of the elections to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus of the fourth convocation. By this document the elections were appointed on 28 September 2008. Short before this the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and other Human Rights defenders stated their intention to monitor the elections.
25.06.2008 Authorities increase pressure on human rights activists before parliamentary elections
The day when the human rights activists declared their intention to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections, June 12th, the First Channel of the Belarusian TV advertised a news item which insults the honor and dignity of the human rights defenders. Later the video was demonstrated by the Panarama news program on Sunday.
While state-controlled media are trying to discredit the human rights activity, the authorities started detailed examination of tax history of the human rights defenders. During the recent 10 days the Ministry of Taxes and Duties demanded declarations about income and property from BHC chair Aleh Hulak, the former chair of BHC Tatsiana Protska, vice-President of FIDH Ales Bialiatski, BHC member Zmitser Markusheuski, human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovic, and their family members.
19.06.2008 New Mass Media Law passed
Belarusian parliament has approved the bill that will considerably limit the rights of on-line mass media in the country, including obligatory registration of web resources that will be performed by the government.
11.06.2008 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in May 2008
In May the politically motivated court processes against participants of peaceful street actions continued. The youth activists Maxim Dashuk, Pavel Vinahradau, and Mikhail Subach were sentenced to personal restraint. Thus, the number of political prisoners increased.
27.05.2008 KGB persecutes Belarusian human rights activists
On Friday, 23 May 2008 three KGB officers suddenly burst into the apartment of Leanid Svetsik, human rights activist from Vitsebsk. They showed to him the ruling of the prosecutor’s office for initiation of criminal proceedings under Article 130.1 of the Criminal Case of the Republic of Belarus (fomentation of national and religious enmity). According to this ruling, Mr. Svetsik is considered a witness in the case of threats to certain citizens from the side of the underground neo-Nazi organization Russian National Unity (RNE).
16.05.2008 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in April 2008
In April the trials of several politically motivated cases were conducted in Belarus. As a result the country got 12 new political convicts, two of whom were sentenced to imprisonment. Despite the addresses of the international structures, the European countries and the US to the Belarusian authorities, politically motivated criminal persecution in Belarus continued and acquired new forms.
24.04.2008 Siarhei Parsiukevich sentenced to 2.5 years of imprisonment
On April 23rd Maskouski court of Minsk made a sentence to the leader of Vitebsk entrepreneurs Siarhei Parsiukevich. Judge Uladzimir Audzeyenka found him guilty of committing of an offence under Article 364 of the Criminal Code (“Violence or a threat of violence towards a police officer”). Parsiukevich was sentenced to 2.5 years of imprisonment. Parsiukevich will also have to pay 1.1 million BYR to police officer Dulub.
When the verdict was announced, Parsiukevich said: “This is a political reprisal. Please, don’t leave my family without support!”
21.04.2008 Court to announce verdict on the “case against the 14” tomorrow at 11 a.m.
Today Centralny court of Minsk continued to consider the criminal case against the democratic youth activists charged with offence under Article 342 part 2 of the Criminal Code – “Organizing or active participation in group actions that seriously violate the public order”. The court heard the last pleas of the defendants. The verdict will be announced on April 22nd, at 11 a.m. The prosecutor demanded to sentence Andrei Kim, activist of the youth group Initsyatyva, also accused under Art. 364 of the Criminal Code (“Violence or a threat of violence towards a policeman”) to 2 years of imprisonment. He also asked to punish Aliaksei Bondar, Artsiom Dubski, and Mikhail Pashkevich with 2 years of restriction of freedom; and others – with 2.5 years of correctional labor without sending them to penitentiary institutions.
Also, on April 22nd Maskouski court of Minsk will begin trial over the leader of Vitebsk entrepreneurs Siarhei Parsiukevich.
21.04.2008 Prosecutor demands two years of imprisonment for Kim
Prosecutor demanded to punish Andrei Kim with two years of imprisonment, youth activists M. Pashkevich, A. Dubski, and A. Bondar – to 2.5 of freedom restriction (open type prison), and others –with two years of correctional work without sending them to penitentiary institutions. Lawyer of Tatsiana Tsishkevich Alexander Haliyeu filed a petition to release the girl without any punishment.
10.04.2008 Human rights activists protest against customs searches
Human rights activists Ales Bialiatski and Valiantsin Stefanovich have addressed the Customs department with a request to provide explanations concerning numerous searches by Belarusian customs officials during their travels abroad this year. The activists say their claims can be used by other persons facing similar problems while crossing Belarusian border.
