19.03.2010 470 out of 530 Hrona region district constituencies to be non-alternative

According to official data, 590 candidates will run for 530 seats in the district councils of Hrodna region, i.e. in 470 out of the 530 region’s constituencies will be non-alternative. A similar situation is reported of Hrodna village councils, with 2,103 candidates running for 2,087 seats.

19.03.2010 BCD coordinator faces criminal charges

Yauhen Yakavenka, coordinator of the formation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, is charged with conscription dodging, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

19.03.2010 Hrodna authorities delay publication of election information by 8 days

The ‘Hrodzenskaya Prauda’ state-owned newspaper published the lists of the region’s divisional election commissions, 8 days after the decision was taken by the executive committees.

19.03.2010 Mahiliou court turns down claim by BPF ‘Adradzhenne’ members

Mahiliou Kastrychnitski Court dismissed the complaint lodged by the Belarusian Popular Front ‘Adradzhenne’ local office against the district authorities’ failure to provide timely information on the time and place of the executive committee’s meeting for the formation of electoral commissions. The party activists argue that they faced political discrimination.

19.03.2010 Hlybokaye Christian Democrat refused registration as candidate

Zmitser Lupach, activist of the unregistered Belarusian Christian Democracy, will not be able to run for Hlybokaye District Council, after his application for registration was dismissed due to 20% of collected signatures being considered fraud.

19.03.2010 Salihorsk authorities send candidates to meet voters on town outskirts

Salihorsk town executive committee released the list of public canvassing locations, featuring only two sites – the Budaunik stadium and the Budaunik palace of culture, both located on the town outskirts. Meanwhile, in some of Salihorsk district constituencies, including the towns of Starobin and Chyrvonaya Slabada, canvassing will be allowed in the town centers.

18.03.2010 Christian Democrats quit election campaign over pressure

A number of members of the unregistered Belarusian Christian Democracy were forced to withdraw their applications for registration as candidates due to severe harassment by the authorities, including 4 persons in Minsk.

18.03.2010 Most of Minsk region constituencies to be non-alternative

4,500 candidates will run for 4,260 seats in the local councils of Minsk region, says Yulia Askerka, deputy chair of the Central Department for Staff Affairs of Minsk Regional Executive Committee.

18.03.2010 Hrodna court turns down claim against illegal formation of electoral commissions

Hrodna Kastrychnitski Court dismissed a claim lodged by a group of the city residents against violations during the formation of local divisional election commissions. The claimants argued that their representative Aleh Kalinkou was not elected member of the divisional election commission of Kupala constituency number 14 as a result of violations of the formation procedures.

18.03.2010 BHC Slutsk observer’s registration cancelled

Vital Amialkovich, election observer representing the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, was deprived of accreditation due to ‘a technical fault’, despite an earlier decision on registration.

18.03.2010 Zhlobin: Mudslinging underway

According to Valery Rybchanka, head of the ‘Just World’ party’s Zhlobin district office, who is running for Zhlobin District Council and Homel Regional Council, Zhlobin town authorities have launched a campaign of mudslinging against him.

18.03.2010 Over 110 cities against Europe's last dictatorship

Tomorrow, on Thursday 18th March 2010, the Young European Federalists (JEF) and numerous global partners will protest against Europe's last standing dictatorship on the fourth anniversary of the disputed presidential elections in Belarus.

18.03.2010 Belarusian Association of Journalists under threat of closing down

On March 18, the Supreme Court is to deliver a judgment on complaint of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) at actions of the Ministry of Justice.

As “Salidarnast” reports, the trial began at 11:00 a.m. yesterday with evidence of witness Alyaksandr Dzyanisau, whose detention was taken as a ground for one of the counts of warning.

18.03.2010 British Foreign Office ranks Belarus among Cuba and Iran

The UK Foreign Office’s report defines Belarus as a country of concern that has problems with human rights.

On March 17, The Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom released its annual report on human rights analyzing the human rights situation in Belarus as well.

17.03.2010 Charter-97 editor-in-chief appeals searches at prosecutor’s office

Natallia Radzina, editor-in-chief of the charter97.org major opposition web-site, lodged a complaint with Minsk Leninski Prosecutor’s Office against a number of illegal searches and confiscations carried out by the law enforcement agencies on 16 March.