The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2010

12.03.2010 Rahachou district: one agitation site per six villages

The Rahachou district executive committee permitted outdoor agitation in villages only near the Culture Houses. However, there are only 29 Culture Houses in the 208 villages of the Rahachou district.

12.03.2010 76 representatives of opposition political parties were included in precinct election commissions

In particular, the state authorities included in the precinct commissions 31 out of 160 nominated representatives of the Belarusian Party of Leftists Fair World, 23 out of 281 nominees of the United Civil Party, 17 out of 122 nominees of the Belarusian Popular Front Party, and 5 out of 9 nominees of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada.

Secretary of Central Election Commission: The formation of precinct commissions was conducted in full conformity with requirements of the Election Code

12.03.2010 Secretary of Central Election Commission: The formation of precinct commissions was conducted in full conformity with requirements of the Election Code

As stated to the BelaPAN by Mikalai Lazavik, Secretary of the Central commission on elections and holding of republican referenda, 68,881 persons were included in precinct election commissions.

12.03.2010 Vitsebsk oblast: results of formation of precinct commissions

The civil society of the Vitsebsk oblast continues summing up the results of the formation of precinct elections. 9 persons were nominated to the commissions by the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, but only 2 of them will work at precinct commissions – one in the town of Hlybokaye and the other – in Pastavy. The remaining 7 BCD activists (4 in Vitsebsk and 3 in Orsha, including Pavel Seviarynets, co-Chairperson of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, and Tatsiana Seviarynets, his mother, BCD coordinator in the Vitsebsk oblast) weren't included in the commissions.

12.03.2010 Closeness is the main characteristic of formation of precinct commissions. Information from regions

923 precinct election commissions were established in the Vitsebsk oblast. 11,287 persons were included in them and 698 were not. More than 4,400 of them are representatives of civil associations and political parties. The rest are representatives of working collectives.

11.03.2010 Polish House in Ivianets was confiscated from Union of Poles in Belarus

The Polish House in Ivianets will stay the property of the pro-regime Union of Poles in Belarus. The appropriate ruling of the Valozhyn district court has been upheld by the Minsk oblast court.

11.03.2010 Belarusbank refuses to conclude a truce with Siarhei Skrabets

On 10 March the former political prisoner and deputy Syarhei Skrabets was again visited by officers of the Pershamaiski district court of Minsk who wanted to distrain the property.

11.03.2010 Fines for picket near Lithuanian Embassy

On 10 March Maksim Viniarski, Palina Kuryianovich and Palina Dziiakava were detained by police for an unauthorized picket near the Lithuanian Embassy where they unfurled a streamer ‘No to cooperation with Belarusian dictatorship’ in order to protest against the invitation of Aliaksandr Lukashenka to festivities on occasion of the 20th anniversary of Reestablishment of independence of Lithuania.

11.03.2010 Formation of precinct election commissions in Babruisk

Two representatives of the civil association Belarusian Popular Front Adradzhenne had to take away their applications for nomination to precinct commissions. Yauhen Herasimovich, locksmith of the Belshyna Open Stock Company had to do it because of pressurization from the side of the plant administration, and Mikita Uvarau, student of the Olympic reserve school, had to obey the demands of the school administration.

11.03.2010 Salihorsk: precinct commissions are formed secretly

The latest events in Salihorsk witness the reluctance of the local authorities to admit public representatives to the sittings that are connected with important stages of the election campaign. In particular, on 10 March youth activist Ivan Shyla was detained by the police at the entrance of the room where the sitting on formation of precinct election commissions was taking place.

11.03.2010 Precinct election commissions to be assisted by commercial banks and tax inspection

mozyrisp.gov.by, the website of the Mazyr district executive committee, published a new piece of information, Ruling of the DEC Chairperson #59-r of 4 March 2010 On assignment of organizations of the Mazyr district to precincts on elections to the local Soviets of Deputies of the 26th Convocation.

11.03.2010 Baranavichy city executive committee doesn't hurry to change its decision on determining places for agitation

On 10 March, observer Siarhei Housha lodged claims with the Baranavichy prosecutor and the chairperson of the Baranavichy city police department. He states that on 17 February he addressed the procuracy concerning the incompatibility of decision of #379 of 12 February 2010 of the Baranavichy city executive committee concerning the determination of the places for agitation during the elections to the local Soviets of Deputies. On 18 February 2010 the procuracy officially informed Mr. Housha that his address was forwarded to the chairperson of the Baranavichy city executive committee. On 4 March V.Lazitski, Deputy Chairperson of the Baranavichy CEC, stated that the decision would be amended at the nearest sitting of the executive committee.

Chairperson of Central Election Commission says creation of coordinative-consultative group on preparing and holding elections is legal

11.03.2010 Chairperson of Central Election Commission says creation of coordinative-consultative group on preparing and holding elections is legal

As we have already informed, the Braslau district executive committee established a coordinative-consultative group on preparing and holding elections (the appropriate order was signed by P.Hishkeliuk, Chairperson of the Braslau district executive committee) referring to Article 38 of the Election Code, though this article doesn't provide the executive authorities to establish such groups.

11.03.2010 Barysau district executive committee keeps 'state secret'

10 March was the last day when the precinct election commissions were to be formed according to the timing schedule. However, the Barysau district executive committee (DEC) refused to inform the Barysau human rights defenders and the leaders of the local organizations of political parties about the date and place of the appropriate sitting, thus depriving them of the opportunity to attend it.

11.03.2010 Less than 3% of members of precinct commissions are partisan

As said by Mikalai Lazavik, secretary of the Central commission on elections and holding national referenda, 77,241 persons have been nominated to precinct election commissions and representatives of political parties constitute less than 3% of them.