The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for September 2008

15.09.2008 Niasvizh: precinct commissions declare ‘cold war’ to BHC observer

After the long-term observers of BDIHR OSCE visited precincts #61 and #62 in Niasvizh electoral constituency #72 the electoral commissions declared a ‘cold war’ to the observer from the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Aleh Nikulin.

15.09.2008 Vitsebsk: precincts are closed

On 13 September in Vitsebsk election observers made another attempt to get accredited at precinct electoral commission #35 of Pershamaisk district of Vitsebsk. However, the door of the building where the commission is situated was locked. After two-hour waiting at the door an observer phoned to the electoral commission of Vitsebsk-Chkalauskaya constituency #18, a duty member of which advised that he repeated his attempt on 15 September.

15.09.2008 Minsk: warning to Stalislau Bahdankevch

On 12 September professor Stanislau Bahdankevich, former head of the National Bank, a honorary member of the United Civil Party received a warning from the electoral commission of Chkalauskaya constituency #96 in Minsk at which he is running for the parliament.

15.09.2008 Babruisk: How did Ina Dmitruk become the head of precinct commission?

An election observer Alexander Leanenka checked the minutes on forming of precinct commission #39 at Babruisk village electoral constituency #80 and found that according to its minutes of 13 August 2008 Pershamaiski district executive committee #16 did not appoint Ina Dmitruk, the headmaster of school #21 (where the precinct is situated) the head of the commission.

15.09.2008 Babruisk: independent candidate is not allowed to hold electoral meeting at bank

On 12 September a candidate at Babruisk-Leninskaya constituency #78 Alena Miadzvedzeva came to the administration of the Priorbank together with some OSCE observers. She wanted to hold an electoral meeting. The bank manager agreed to it and even started gathering people, but when Alena Miadzedzeva went down to the bank hall, she was met by the head of the guard, who stated that she had no right to hold any meetings there. He motivated the refusal with the fact that the administration of the bank needed to have an agreement of the head of Belarusbank whic lent the house to Priorbank.

15.09.2008 Authorities order cheap alcohol for precincts of Baranavichy

This matter was discussed at the sitting of the staff of control the consumer market of the Baranavichy city executive committee on 12 September. Everything should be organized at the highest level at all 66 poling stations, officials stressed.

15.09.2008 Brest: police detain youth activists for boycott leaflets

At night on 15 September the young activists Mikhail Illin and Yauhen Skrabets were detained in Brest.

15.09.2008 Extremism charges against newspaper of Union of Poles in Belarus

On 12 September journalist Andzhei Pisalnik received a writ to Kastrychnitski district court of Hrodna for 18 September.

15.09.2008 Homel: police beat and torture youth activists for white-red-white flag

During the official events dedicated to Homel’s City Day, when the 866th anniversary of the city was celebrated, Young Front activists raised white-red-white flags.

15.09.2008 ‘Young Front’ activist gets handcuffed for handing out newspapers

When distributing the latest publication of the independent newspaper Svabodny Salihorsk in the central market of the city, a volunteer of the newspaper, an activist of the Young Front Andrus Tychyna was detained by local policeman with use of force. He was handcuffed, and, despite of the indignation of the market customers, was taken to the local police department.

15.09.2008 ‘Extremist materials’ found on youth activist’s computer 18 months after confiscation

On 13 September a student of Bialystok University Aliaksei Trubkin received documents from Hrodna regional KGB department by post. According to them, the guy is to come to the court of Kastrychnitski district in Hrodna on 18 September, as he is charged with ‘extremism’.

15.09.2008 Unknown persons broke into apartment of public activist Halina Yubko

Halina Yubko is one in the group of 40 citizens whose close relatives have been sentenced to different terms of imprisonment, illegally as they believe, and that are trying to attract attention of the regime to problems of justice of Belarus for more than a year. Besides, H.Yubko is trying to bring to justice officials of the presidential Administration for insults and libeling in official documents.

12.09.2008 Scandalous news from Maskouski district of Minsk

In August the newspaper Vesti Moskovskogo Rayona, the printed organ of Maskouski district executive committee of Minsk, published two issues under the #5 (109). No, it was not just doubling of the officially stated circulation of 10 000 copies. Only the information ‘August 2008, #5 (109)’ and ‘circulation 10 000 copies’ can be found in both of them. On the other hand, the majority of the electors did not receive these numbers, despite such ‘doubling’. By the way, the information about the personnel of the constituency electoral commissions situated on the territory of this administrative district was published in one of these issues.

12.09.2008 First application for holding action of protest against rigged elections on 28 September

On 12 September an application for authorization of a protest meeting for 1 000 people on 28 September in Kalinouski Square was submitted to Minsk city executive committee.