The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for July 2008

09.07.2008 Homel: the number of electors at Mazyr electoral district exceeds the average by 26%

Mazyr electoral district #42 includes 80 722 electors, which exceeds the average number of electors per electoral district by 26%, which contradicts to paragraph 6 of Article 15 of the Republic of Belarus.

09.07.2008 ‘Belaya Rus’ nominates 110 members to electoral commissions

The pro-governmental NGO Belaya Rus, which has about 70 000 members, has chosen 110 ‘reliable’ representatives for delegating them to the electoral commissions. Some other members of this party will also take part in the upcoming election to the Chamber of Representatives in the capacity of candidates.

09.07.2008 Presidium of United Democratic Forces applies to procuracy

On 8 July the presidium of the United Democratic Forces decided to apply to the procuracy in connection with KGB pressure on the UDC candidate, resident of Kobryn Alexander Mekh, who was fired from Beltransgas.

09.07.2008 Salihorsk: police beat ‘Young Front’ activists till they bleed

On 8 July in Salihorsk Pavel Batuyeu, Khrystsina Samoilava, Illia Shyla, Ivan Shyla and Andrei Tychyna were detained while collecting signatures for integration into the EU.

09.07.2008 Oppositionists are searched and arrested all over Belarus in connection with blast at the official Independence Day

These days Belarus is covered by a wave of searches, arrests and summons to the police. Public activists are interrogated in connection with the blast which had taken place in Minsk on 4 July in the morning, at the concert which was dedicated to the official Independence Day.

08.07.2008 Hrodna: oppositional political parties nominate their representatives to district electoral commissions

The Belarusian Popular Front Party has nominated Vasil Korabau as its representative to Hrodna-Zaniomanskaya district electoral commission #49 and Anatol Khatsko – to Hrodna-Central district electoral commission #50. The United Civil Party has nominated Dzmitry Slutski to Hrodna-Northern district electoral commission #51 and Alexander Pahuliayeu – to Hrodna-rural district electoral commission #52. The Party of Communists Belarusian has nominated Pavel Samadzeyeu to Dziatlava district electoral commission #55 and Aleh Ramanau – to Shchuchyn district electoral commission #60.

08.07.2008 Hrodna: police pressurize opposition’s delegates to electoral commissions

On 8 July the police paid a visit to the resident of the village of Varniany (Astravets district) Mikalai Ulasevich, who has been nominated as a representative to Iuie district electoral commission #53 by the United Civil Party. The policemen asked him where he was during the blast which had taken place in Minsk, at the celebration of the official Independence Day. Ulasevich was not in Minsk during the tragedy.

08.07.2008 Salihorsk: number of electors decreases

Two electoral districts were formed in Salihorsk administrative district by Central Electoral Commission’s ruling #16 of 25 June 2008. These are Salihorsk town electoral district #75, which includes almost the whole territory of the town of Salihorsk and 67 531 electors, and Salihorsk rural electoral district #76, which includes the whole territory of Kapyl district, all villages of Salihorsk administrative district and a part of the town of Salihorsk and has 68 425 electors.

08.07.2008 KGB searches apartment of Nina Shydlouskaya

A search is being held in the apartment of one of the leaders of the World Association of Belarusians Backawscyna (Fatherland) Nina Shydlouskaya.

08.07.2008 ‘Reporters Without Borders’ oppose adoption of new law ‘On mass media’

The international organization Reporters Without Borders has once again expressed its concern related to adoption of the new law On Mass Media in Belarus, which is to be signed into law by Alexander Lukashenka.

08.07.2008 Salihorsk: five opposition activists are offered to give explanations on Minsk blast

5 Salihorsk opposition activists received telephone calls from police. They were asked to explain where they were on 4 July in the night and whether any of them visited Minsk.

08.07.2008 Kanstantsin Zhukouski is invited to a ‘talk’ concerning 4 July blast

Homel coordinator for creation of the public association Belarusian Christian Democracy Kanstantsin Zhukouski has been served a subpoena to appear in the police department of Tsentralny district of Minsk.

08.07.2008 Mahiliou: ‘Young Front’ activist Rastsislau Pankratau gets expelled from university

Rastislau Pankratau, first-year student of Mahilou State University named after A.Kuliashou, was invited to the dean’s office, where he was informed about his expulsion.

08.07.2008 Palina Kuryianovich sentenced to 5 days of jail for EU flag

Tsentralny district court of Minsk found the activist of the European Belarus civil campaign Palina Kuryianovich guilty of ‘petty hooliganism’. The police detained her because she had a EU flag in her bag.

07.07.2008 Brest oblast: authorities change the electoral districts as they want

After the issue of the presidential decree on appointment of the parliamentary elections, the Central Electoral Commission issued its ruling #16 On creation of the electoral districts for elections of deputies to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus of the fourth convocation. By this ruling the territories, names and the number of electors of certain electoral districts were changed.