The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for February 2010

02.02.2010 Opposition representatives state they can boycott ‘elections’

The democratic forces may stop participating in the election to local deputy Soviets. This statement was made by leaders of the United Civil Party on 2 February. According to them, the first stage of the campaign, formation of district commissions, was held in traditional style, when the opposition is being thrown out of the campaign.

02.02.2010 Unlawful detention by KGB

For Yaraslau Halouchankau and Uladzimir Rahanau, young members of Free Trade Union from Brest, celebration of Christmas in European countries ended with writs to the KGB and long talks in one of its offices.

02.02.2010 Salihorsk: local interpretations of notion of transparency

Young activist Ivan Shyla lodged a complaint with Aliaksandr Rymasheuski, Chairperson of the Salihorsk district executive committee, against the refusal of Anatol Kazakevich, Deputy Chairperson on ideology of the Salihorsk district executive committee, to inform him about the date and place of the sitting for forming of the Salihorsk district election commission.

02.02.2010 Electoral marathon: numbers and tendencies of the week

Elections to local Soviets of deputies of the Republic of Belarus of the 26th Convocation were appointed on 25 April 2010 by Presidential Decree #10 on 18 January 2010. Bear in mind that it is not the first electoral campaign carried out under the electoral legislation containing new amendments that were introduced on the eve on the campaign.

Human Rights Center 'Viasna' demands immediate release from custody of Ivan Mikhailau and urgent adoption of Law ‘On alternative civil service’

02.02.2010 Human Rights Center 'Viasna' demands immediate release from custody of Ivan Mikhailau and urgent adoption of Law ‘On alternative civil service’

On 1 February 2010 the Minsk District Court sentenced Ivan Mikhailau to three months of arrest for ostensible evasion from draft into the army.

02.02.2010 Elections 2010 – still following the old scenario

The atmosphere of fear and disappointed hopes on democratic effect of the amendment of the electoral legislation – this is the evaluation given by human rights defenders to the beginning of the campaign on elections to the local Soviets of 26th Convocation.

01.02.2010 Interesting facts about Polatsk town election commission

7 out of 13 members of the Polatsk town election commission were members of this very commission during the previous parliamentary elections.

01.02.2010 Östgruppen condemns sentence to Ivan Mikhailau

The Swedish human rights organization Östgruppen submitted to the Parliaments of Sweden and the EU a protest note concerning the sentence to Ivan Mikhailau, 21, conscientious objector to army service in Belarus.

01.02.2010 Homel: member of Belarusian Association of Journalists is summoned to oblast procuracy

Larysa Shchyrakova, member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, received a writ to come to prosecutor Alesia Rabtsava at 10 a.m. on 2 February.

01.02.2010 Orsha: opposition activists consider unlawful forming of district election commission

As it follows from a publication in Arshanskaya Hazeta, there are no representatives of political parties among the 13 members appointed to the Orsha district election commission. Three persons were nominated by NGOs: the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM, pro-governmental ‘state NGO’), the Belarusian Women’s Union and the Belarusian Union of Veterans, one person – by the district organization of the trade union of workers of agroindustrial complex. All other candidacies were nominated by collecting signatures or by their working collectives.

01.02.2010 Tiral of entrepreneur Andrei Bandarenka to continue on 3 February

On1 February the Pershamaiski District Court in Minsk started the retrial of the criminal case over entrepreneur Andrei Bandarenka.

01.02.2010 New legislation on tightening control over Internet

The Belarusian telecommunication operators have been obliged to keep information on services rendered to their clients for five years.

01.02.2010 Mahiliou oblast: number of deputy seats decreases. No opposition members in election commissions

This change was brought about by the decrease of the number of village soviets and election constituencies compared to the previous elections to the local Soviets. According to Liudmila Makaranka, Chairperson of the organization and personnel work department of the Mahiliou oblast executive committee, a total of 3099 deputies are to be elected at the upcoming elections.

01.02.2010 Election commissions in Hrodna oblast to be ruled by reliable representatives of authorities

The first sittings of Hrodna oblast and Hrodna city commissions for elections to the local soviets have taken place. The electoral constituencies were created and the administration of the commissions was elected.

01.02.2010 Three months of arrest for wish to perform alternative civilian service

Ivan Mikhailau, member of the Messianic Jewish congregation New Testament has been sentenced to 3 months of arrest. According to the European Belarus website, Ivan Mikhailau was found guilty of a criminal offence ‘for draft evasion’