18.07.2008 Babruisk democrats did not get into election commissions

Several Babruisk pro-democratic activists were nominated to district election commissions in Babruisk. They collected signatures in their support. However, none of them were included in the commissions.

18.07.2008 Membership of election commissions almost does not change during four election campaigns

In Maladechna city district # 70, out of 13 commission members, 8 used to have appropriate positions during the last election campaigns – the parliamentary elections and referendum of 2004, the presidential election in 2006, and the local elections in 2007. In Maladechna rural district # 71, 6 (out of 13) commission members have already served as commission members during previous elections. Probably, the authorities want the “reliable” people to be commission members.

18.07.2008 District commissions still haven’t started their work

BHC observer Eduard Balanchuk did not manage to get to Maladechna rural district commission # 71 on July 17th. He was told the commission still had not started its work and still had no office.

18.07.2008 Polatsak: Opposition members who “will not hinder the process” included in election commissions

Members of opposition parties were included in some district election commissions (one to each). Thus, PCB member Liubou Shchadrova became member of commission # 28 (Polatsak city district), and UCP member Alexander Yudau became member of Miory election district commission # 24.

18.07.2008 Less and less transparency in Hrodna region

Information about creation of district election commissions in Hrodna region is less open than it used to be during the last parliamentary elections in 2004. For example, now newspapers do not publish detailed information about each of the members of the district election commissions. For instance, Vaukavysk newspaper Nash Chas of July 16th, 2008 published only the names of the commission members at district # 48. By the way, BSDH representative Siarhei Antoshankau was not included in the commission.

18.07.2008 Lists of initiative groups to be submitted by July 24th

CEC chairperson Lidia Yarmoshyna informs, lists of initiative group members and applications fro registration of these groups are to be submitted to district election commissions by July 24th inclusive.

18.07.2008 Candidates to receive 800 dollars

Today head of the Central Election Commission Lidia Yarmoshyna said, the state would allocate 1.75 million BYR (about 800 dollars) for each parliamentary candidate. The money should be used for preparation of campaign and promotion materials. Yarmoshyma stressed, candidates are not allowed to spend any other money for their campaigns – either its own, or the money they get from sponsors.

Sponsors’ aid can be only given to a special fund created by CEC, which would distribute it equally between all candidates. “However, no one wishes to render such assistance”, she said.

Lidia Yarmoshyna also said, the OSCE long-term observation mission will arrive on August 11th. Additional 300 OSCE observers will arrive before the election.

18.07.2008 Initiative groups submitted documents for registration with difficulties

Ihar Maslouski, head of the regional organization of BSDP Hramada, was the first representative of the UDF who submitted documents for registration of his initiative group. He will run in Brest Uskhodniaya election district # 3. The initiative group for nominating him candidate to the Chamber of Representatives consists of 65 people.

18.07.2008 Lukashenka signs decree about 11-year secondary education

On July 17th, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenka signed Decree # 15 “About certain issues of general secondary education”.

The President’s press service reports, the Decree establishes the 11 year term of the general secondary education and a 6-day school week, in which 5 days are study days, and the 6th day is to be used for organizing sports and health-promotion mass events, professional training and cultural events. The transition to the 11-year school curriculum will take place on September 1st, 2008.

18.07.2008 Mahiliou: None of independent observers managed to get to first sessions of district election commissions

Mahiliou human rights activist Barys Bukhel reports, none of independent observers managed to get to first sessions of district election commissions in Mahiliou. “This happens because of the fact that there are the so called “holes” in the law. Neither the Election Code, nor the CEC rulings describe the procedure of observers’ registration before first sessions of all election commissions. There is also no mechanism how the observers can get to first sessions of the commissions.

18.07.2008 UDF remains in the election process

The question, how the United Democratic Forces will further participate in the election, became the main issue in the agenda of the UDF Presidium on July 17th.

When only 35 representatives from the unified UDF list were included in the commissions, and in conjunction with endless detentions of pro-democratic activists, some members of the Presidium suggested the opposition forces should limit their participation in the election process.

According to UCP chairman Anatol Liabedzka, it was proposed to stop election campaigns in the districts were the UDF were left without representatives in the district election commissions. As a result of the discussion, the Presidium decided to carry out additional consultations on that issue with the potential candidates and political structures within the UDF.

Liabedzka believes the democratic forces should remain in the election process for the time being:

-- For now we have as much political will to go as far as we can in the election distance. If we declared boycott from the very beginning today we would have nothing to propose except emotions and some old speeches.

According to Liabedzka, participation in the election allows the opposition forces to receive additional proofs how undemocratic the process is. In its turn, this will become the ground for the international structures in order to make a decision about recognizing or not recognizing the election results.

As for the UDF, they will say their final word only on August 24th, at the session of the Political Council. The stages of candidates’ nomination and registration will be passed then. We will be able to exactly say, if it’s worth to continue the election campaign, the UCP leader stressed.