16.03.2010 Hrodna: citizens appeal violations of electoral rights

Five residents of Hrodna lodged a complaint with Kastrychnitski Court after their representative Aleh Kalinkou was not elected member of constituency election commission #106. The complainants argue that their electoral rights have been violated.

16.03.2010 Accusations against Autukhovich are absurd. The main “victim” didn’t appear in court

A statement of former head of the Hrodna region executive committee Uladzimir Sauchanka was read out in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court continues considering the loud case of the Vaukavysk entrepreneurs. Mikalai Autukhovich, Uladzimir Asipenka, Alyaksandr Laryn, and Mikhail Kazlou are in the dock. The proceeding is carried out by judge Alyaksei Tyatsykhin, prosecutor is Safarau.

16.03.2010 SEARCH IN CHARTER'97 PRESS-CENTER

On March 16, Police burst in Charter’97 website’s press-room. Computers seized. Editor of site charter97.org beaten.

Policemen and people in mufti have burst in the office rented by journalist Natalya Radzina, justifying that by the fact that they are carrying out operative work in the case on the suit of some criminal.

16.03.2010 Polish Embassy in Belarus deprived of its property

The court of Valozhyn district dismissed a motion of the Polish Embassy to Belarus which asked to return its property which was kept in the Polish House in Ivyanets.

BelaPAN was informed about that by the chairman of Ivyanets branch of the unofficial Union of Poles in Belarus Tereza Sobal.

16.03.2010 All is quiet in Belarus, says Committee for Religions and Nationalities

Inter-ethnic relations are taking a normal and conflict-free course, said Mikhail Rybakou, spokesman of the State Committee for Religions and Nationalities, at a press-conference in Minsk.

16.03.2010 Policemen were breaking into flat of Belarusian journalist

Policemen with attesting witnesses were trying to break into the flat of a Belarusian journalist Yuliya Darashkevich on March 15 in the evening.

The photo journalist of “Nasha Niva” newspaper Yuliya Darashkevich and her husband, an activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Paval Yukhnevich refused to open the door. Policemen were ringing the door and tapping on the door for a long time, but finally left saying that the journalist should come to the police department of Central district of Minsk at 11 a.m. to inspector Andrei Saladun.

16.03.2010 Mass arrests near Supreme Court of Belarus

13 persons are arrested near the Supreme Court of Belarus, where the trial over political prisoners Autukhovich and Asipenka is held.

Democratic activists stood in a line near the entrance of the court. They held portraits of political prisoners and chanted a slogan “Freedom to political prisoners!” The rally lasted for about 5 minutes, and after that riot policemen attacked its participants and cruelly pushed them into a police bus, “European Belarus” website informs.

16.03.2010 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in February 2010

In February, the conflict between the two Unions of Poles in Belarus, one of which is recognized by the Belarusian authorities and the other – by the Polish authorities, reached the international scale. On 17 February the Valozhyn District Court obliged Tereza Sobal, Chairperson of the Ivianets Polish House, to pass the building to the administration of the pro-governmental Union of Poles. Mass detentions of civil activists were conducted during the court hearings on confiscation of the Polish House. The UPB leaders were punished by courts on charges in organizing an unauthorized action of solidarity in Hrodna on 10 February. An urgent counsel of the Polish MFA was summoned in connection with these events. It was decided that the officials who were involved in repressions against the Belarusian Poles would be banned to enter the territory of Poland.

16.03.2010 Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections: Formation of precinct election commissions

According to Article 34 of the Election Code of the Republic of Belarus, precinct commissions for elections to local Soviets of Deputies are formed by district and city executive committees (and city district executive committees in the cities with district subdivisions) not later than 45 days prior to the Election Day and must comprise 5-19 members. The number of persons at a precinct election commission can be increased or decreased if necessary.

16.03.2010 Democratic candidates file documents for registration as candidates for local Soviets throughout Belarus (updated)

On 15 March, member of the Belarusian Popular Front Viktar Miaziak filed documents for registration as a candidate for the Baranavichy city Soviet of Deputies at Baranavichy city election constituency #18. Viktar Tsiapin, a member of the Belarusian Party of Leftists Fair World, filed documents for registration as a candidate at constituency #18 and Aliaksandr Halkevich, another member of Fair World – at election constituency #23. Anzhela Kambalava, a representative of the United Civil Party, filed documents for registration as a candidate to the Baranavichy oblast Soviet of Deputies at the Baranavichy north-west election constituency #15.

16.03.2010 Brest city election commission demonstrates weird understanding of transparency

Human rights defender Uladzimir Vialichkin, an observer at the Brest city election commission, addressed the duty officials of the commission with the request to look through the protocols of its sittings. By this time the commission had already adopted a number of decisions including the determination of boundaries of precincts, expenditures of members of the commissions and categories of such expenditures. The state assigns the financial means for elections from the taxes that are paid by its citizens. That’s why the latter ones have the right to know how these means are used by election commissions.

16.03.2010 Polatsk: Belarusization at a separate election constituency?

In Polatsk, representatives of the Belarusian Party of Leftists Free World had to fill the blanks of applications for registration of their candidacies for the elections in the local Soviets of Deputies of the 26th Convocation, because representatives of the constituency stated that the blanks should be composed in the Belarusian language.

16.03.2010 Orsha: humanitarian mission of Red Cross pervades town precincts

The information about the composition of the precinct election commissions in Orsha can provoke many questions among the people who aren’t familiar with peculiarities of the Belarusian election system.

16.03.2010 Composition of election commissions didn’t change much in Polatsk

The state press has published information about the precinct election commissions of Polatsk. The composition of the commissions didn’t change much compared to the last two years (since the parliamentary elections 2008).

16.03.2010 Baranavichy procuracy takes position of mailman

Observer Siarhei Housha came to the conclusion that the procuracy evades from implementing its duties.