Monitoring of Post-Election Events

21.01.2013 Monitoring of Post-Election Events

Monitoring of Post-Election Events Following the Election to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus of the 5th Convocation

Parliamentary Election: Final Report

13.12.2012 Parliamentary Election: Final Report

Election to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus of the 5th Convocation. Republic of Belarus, 23 September 2012.

Election to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus of the Fifth Convocation: Final Report

24.09.2012 Election to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus of the Fifth Convocation: Final Report

The “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” campaign comes to conclusion that the election process was marked by serious violations of the principles of democratic and fair elections, as described in the OSCE standards and the Belarusian legislation. The election took place in the atmosphere of political persecution and repression of the opponents of the government; this political environment, as well as the limitations at the stages of creation of election commissions and campaigning had a negative effect on the freedom to make an informed choice. Non-transparency of vote count procedure makes it impossible to state that the election results reflect the will of the Belarusian people.

Report of Early Voting Observation Results

20.09.2012 Report of Early Voting Observation Results

Early Voting: Day 2 September 19, 2012

Report of Observation Results:  Early Voting

19.09.2012 Report of Observation Results: Early Voting

Early Voting: Day 1

Weekly report of observation results # 8

17.09.2012 Weekly report of observation results # 8

September 10-16, 2012

Weekly Report of Observation Results # 7

10.09.2012 Weekly Report of Observation Results # 7

September 3-9, 2012

General Conclusions - The campaigning is low-profile: candidate debates take place in few districts only, information boards in many districts remain empty; there is no mass distribution of printed campaign materials. - The Central Election Commission ruled to prohibit participation of candidates’ agents in debates in case the agents ran for mandate in other districts. The ruling is contrary to Article 46 of the Election Code, which allows participation of candidates’ agents in debates without any limitations. - TV-presentations of the opposition candidates and their platforms continue to undergo censorship in the state press. Observers register facts of usage of the administrative resource in favor of the pro-governmental candidates. - Election campaigning takes place in the climate of pressure on democratic candidates and civic activists from the state bodies. - The Supreme Court heard the complaints about denial of registration to candidates. One of 17 complaints was satisfied.

Report on Monitoring Appealing Procedures against Denial of Candidates’  Registration

07.09.2012 Report on Monitoring Appealing Procedures against Denial of Candidates’ Registration

September 7, 2012

About Implementation of Candidates’ Right to Campaign on State TV, Radio and Mass Media

03.09.2012 About Implementation of Candidates’ Right to Campaign on State TV, Radio and Mass Media

As early as in the very beginning of the campaigning stage we have registered facts of censorship of campaign materials of some candidates.

Report on Monitoring Registration of Candidates to the Chamber of Representatives

27.08.2012 Report on Monitoring Registration of Candidates to the Chamber of Representatives

Registration of candidates for the parliament is the important stage of the election campaign, as it results in the list of the persons who will take part in the election. The essential task of the observers at this stage is to assess the conditions in which candidate registration was held, and to determine if the registration process was transparent and in compliance with the principles of free and democratic elections.

Report on the Results of Monitoring Registration of Initiative Groups and Signature Collection in Support of the Persons Nominated As Candidates for Deputies

17.08.2012 Report on the Results of Monitoring Registration of Initiative Groups and Signature Collection in Support of the Persons Nominated As Candidates for Deputies

General Conclusions:

- The vast majority of the initiative groups in support of the opposition candidates were registered. 85 initiative groups were denied registration, which is percentagewise almost 4 times the number of denials during the parliamentary elections in 2008. - There are registered facts of the authorities creating obstacles for members of the opposition candidates’ initiative groups and using administrative resources for the benefit of those who support the government. - At the signature collection stage members of initiative groups have filed a total of 15 complaints, while during the presidential election of 2010 more than 50 complaints were filed. The complaints are mainly about no access to dormitories of state enterprises and institutions for members of initiative groups.

Report on Monitoring the Formation of Precinct Election Commissions

14.08.2012 Report on Monitoring the Formation of Precinct Election Commissions

August 13th, 2012

During the period from the 6th to the 8th of August local administrations, rayon and city executive committees formed 6, 301 precinct election commissions (PEC) which altogether have 68, 945 members. Commission members were selected from the pool of the individuals nominated until August 5 by organizational structures of political parties and non-commercial organizations, working collectives, and by groups of citizens (through signature collection). This stage of the electoral process is important because precinct election commissions are in charge of organizing the voting process at polling stations, including handing out ballot papers to voters and vote count.

Weekly Analytical Report on Election Monitoring Results: July 30 – August 5

06.08.2012 Weekly Analytical Report on Election Monitoring Results: July 30 – August 5

General Conclusions - The period of candidates’ nomination continues from July 15th to August 13th. Initiative groups collect signatures during door-to-door and street picket activities. - Some candidates and members of initiative groups experience pressure from the authorities. We have registered cases of state officials hindering the work of pro-democratic initiative groups, as well as usage of administrative resource to the benefit of pr-governmental candidates.

Report on Monitoring Election Results: July 23rd -29th

30.07.2012 Report on Monitoring Election Results: July 23rd -29th

July 25th was the final day of registration of the initiative groups for signature collection in support of the candidates’ nomination. 85 initiative groups (in support of 15 potential candidates) were rejected registration. The number of registration denials this time is almost 4 times higher than during the previous parliamentary election. The overwhelming majority of the initiative groups in support of the oppositional candidates were registered.

Weekly Analytical Report on Monitoring Results 4: July 9th – July 22nd

23.07.2012 Weekly Analytical Report on Monitoring Results 4: July 9th – July 22nd

General Conclusions: - Creation of initiative groups for collection of signatures in support of candidates’ nomination does not show any significant difference in intensity from its regular level for parliamentary elections in Belarus: the total of 439 initiative groups applied for registration.

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