22.04.2010 Baranavichy pro-state candidates ignore decision by town authorities

The pro-government candidates Mikalai Astashka, Henadz Valynets, Maryna Matsiuk, Viachaslau Dunkovich, and some other loyal candidates, keep violating decision #379 of 12 February 2010 by Baranavichy town executive committee, by posting their election leaflets in populous places.

22.04.2010 Belarusian prosecutor's office: Searches, interrogations and beating of independent journalists are legal

The prosecution agencies consider beating of journalists and confiscation of office ecquipment are not violations of the law.

In the investigation of the defamation against former head of KGB directorate of Homel region Ivan Korzh, there were no violations of the law found, and there are no grounds for taking measures of reaction by the prosecutor.

22.04.2010 Orsha: undercover canvassing in local newspaper

‘Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections’ have already reported numerous facts of state-owned newspapers campaigning for loyal candidates across the country. Another sample of hidden agitation can be found in the local newspaper of Orsha district.

22.04.2010 Homel: police and election commissions powerless?

The Homel activists of the unregistered Belarusian Christian Democracy party keep drawing the attention of the local police to the numerous violations of the Electoral Code by pro-state candidates. According to the BCD’s Homel regional coordinator Kastus Zhukouski, the leaflets of the party’s candidates are repeatedly posted over by the posters of pro-government candidates.

22.04.2010 CEC Chair sees no need in regulating vote count procedures

On 9 April, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee addressed the Central Election Commission with a demand for explanations on the process of vote count by each member of the election commission, since the Electoral Code fails to specify the manes of vote count, neither does it provide for the distribution of responsibilities between the members of the commission during the count.

22.04.2010 Three more Young Front activists detained

On 21 April the Minsk police detained three Young Front activists Uladzimer Yaromenka, Uladzimer Dziaviatka and Ilya Murayeu for distributing the Chernobyl Shliakh-2010 newspaper, advertising the event, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

22.04.2010 Opposition activist Volha Karach removed from local election race in Vitsebsk

Volha Karach, a prominent activist who was running for a seat at the Vitsebsk City Council, was removed from the election race on the first day of the early voting.

22.04.2010 Vitsebsk journalist Staraverau arrested

Vitsebsk independent journalist Uladzislau Staraverau was detained by the police for shooting a ‘controlled-access enterprise’ – local detention center – where Siarhei and Vital Kavalenkas are currently serving their sentences for staging a rally with white-red-white flags on 21 April, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

22.04.2010 Young Front activist detained ahead of Chernobyl Shliakh

Mikola Dzemidzenka, deputy chair of the Young Front movement, was arrested by the police for distributing leaflets advertising the annual Chernobyl Shliakh demonstration in Minsk’s Yakub Kolas square on 21 April.