The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for March 2010

03.03.2010 Navapolatsk: ideologist pays interest to member of Belarusian Popular Front

Siarhei Brykun, main ideologist of the Palimir enterprise in Navapolatsk, demanded from the administration of a workshop to give a written testimonial about Uladzmir Kuntsevich, a member of the Belarusian Popular Party who nominated his candidacy to the Vitsebsk city Soviet of Deputies.

03.03.2010 Mahiliou: member of BSDP ‘Hramada’ banned from collecting signatures in student dormitory

Pretender to candidate Leanid Padbiaretski, member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada wasn’t let in dormitory #1 of Mahiliou State Universty named after A.Kuliashou where he intended to collect signatures in his support.

03.03.2010 Homel: initiative groups hold no pickets for collecting electors’ signatures

According to our information, no initiative groups have held any pickets for collecting electors’ signatures in support of the candidacy of their pretenders during the current election campaign. The potential candidates say that such pickets are inexpedient. For instance, Piatro Barysau, a well-known Homel lawyer who often detained democratic activists at court, registered an initiative group of seven persons who collect signatures from door to door. Barysau is going to run for the Homel city Soviet of Deputies at the Halavatskaya election constituency #39. ‘There is no sense in holding the pickets as the election constituencies are small and you can hardly meet an elector walking in the street with the passport,’ points Mr. Barysau. He is sure that 75 signatures (the minimum that is necessary for getting registered as a candidate to a city Soviet) can be collected without any pickets.

03.03.2010 Valiantsin Stefanovich: Human rights defenders welcome the participation of official representatives of Belarus in the 4th World Congress Against Death Penalty

The 4th World Congress against the Death Penalty took place in Geneva at the end of February. More than 1 500 lawyers, representatives of human rights organizations, well-known civil and political activists from almost 100 countries took part in the work of this forum.

02.03.2010 Vitsebsk police consider mass actions as business events

Businessmen have faced an unusual interpretation of the constitutional right to freedom of assembly.

02.03.2010 UCP member put before ultimatum

The administration of the Mineral Wax Plant in the village of Svislach (the Pukhavichy district, the Minsk oblast) told to one of the employees: either you work or run in the elections.

02.03.2010 Vitsebsk: working collectives nominate candidates

The nomination of candidates to the local Soviets of Deputies by working collectives started in Vitsebsk. As a rule, working collectives nominate those who are supported by administrations of enterprises and state organs and authorities. During the recent years not a single independent or oppositional candidate has been nominated by a working collective.

02.03.2010 Tatsiana Shaputska lodged claim against Belarusian State University

The Young Front activist appeals against her unlawful expulsion from the university. According to the information given by Tatsiana in an interview to the ERB, she lodged the claim on 28 February with the Maskouski district court in Minsk.

02.03.2010 Orsha: observer cannot receive information about initiative groups

Actions of the territorial election commissions in the Orsha district raise doubts about the transparency of the election campaign.

02.03.2010 Election precincts: information from regions

According to the timing schedule of the elections to the local Soviets of Deputies of the 26th Convocation, the local administrations needed to establish by 23 February election precincts, determine their addresses and boundaries and publish this information within ten-day term.

02.03.2010 Mazyr: United Civil Party nominated ten persons to precinct commissions

On 28 November the Homel oblast organization of the United Civil Party nominated its representatives to precinct election commissions in the constituencies where UCP members intend to run. At the same sitting it was decided to nominate representatives of the Homel oblast organization of the United Civil Party to the sittings of the state organs responsible for the formation of polling station election commissions.

02.03.2010 Zhlobin ideologists published election booklet

Zhlobin ideology workers have published ‘instructional support to ideology workers in working collectives and for work with population at the place of residence’.

02.03.2010 Polish Embassy protests against slander of Belarusian TV

The Embassy of Poland in Minsk has spread a communiqué denying information of the Belarusian state-run TV channels.

01.03.2010 The Implementation of Freedom of Association in 2009

In 2009 the situation in the sphere of freedom of association in Belarus failed to undergo significant changes, the main problems in the formation and activities of public associations remaining unaltered. The practice of denying registration to public associations and political parties on dubious grounds including the socio-political stand of the associations’ founders was continued. A ban on the activities of unregistered public associations, foundations, political parties and religious organizations was kept in force resulting in criminal penalties for such activities (Article 193-1 of the Criminal Code, ‘Illegal organization of a public association, religious organization or foundation or participation in their activities’ .