The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for April 2010

24.04.2010 Photo fact: composite ballot boxes in Baranavichy

This composite ballot box was discovered by Siarhei Housha, observer of the Belarusian Language Society, at precinct #43 in Baranavichy.

24.04.2010 Vitsebsk region: almost 50% of soldiers of military unit 52287 voted early

About half of 896 soldiers of military unit #52287, on the territory of which election precinct #62 is located, voted before the election day.

24.04.2010 Mazyr: candidate demands that police abide by electoral legislation

On 24 April Uladzimir Tseliapu, a candidate for the Homel Regional Council of Deputies, addressed Piatro Zykun, Chairperson of the Mazyr District Police Department, in connection with detention of the candidate Franak Viachorka that was witnessed by him.

24.04.2010 Vitsebsk: BCD activist issued with a warning

Alena Shabunia, a member of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party running for the Vitsebsk Regional and District Councils of Deputies, received an official warning from the appropriate territorial election commissions for holding electoral pickets with musical accompaniment.

24.04.2010 Brest authorities prevent observers from watching the poll

On 25 April, after the end of calculation of votes at precincts, only members of constituency commissions will be present at the constituency commissions, whereas all the rest will be at the appropriate district executive committees. The resulting protocols and all documents will be passed to these state organs as well. In Brest, these will be the Maskouski and the Leninski District Executive Committees.

24.04.2010 Mazyr: early voting beyond common sense

As of 23 April, 489 electors voted at precinct #40 located in the secondary school #6 in Mazyr. Earlier, proxies of Siarhei Lapusta, a candidate of the United Civil Party, kept a duty at this precinct. Some 9-10 persons usually voted there in their presence. However, on 23 April one of the candidate's proxies stayed there till late and was informed about this record number.

24.04.2010 Hrodna: each election commission is supervised by an official of Hrodna City Executive Committee

As it was learned by the civil human rights defender Raman Yurhel, each constituency and precinct election commission of Hrodna is supervised by a curator from the Hrodna City Executive Committee. Mr. Yurhel found about it when he was informed over the phone about the deprival of accreditation as an observer of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee at the Universitetskaya constituency #3 for elections to the Hrodna Regional Council of Deputies.

24.04.2010 Baranavichy: 15% of electors voted during first three days of early voting

According to information of the private newspaper Intex-press, 15% of the Baranavichy electors voted during the first three days of early voting, that's why it can't be ruled out that this time more than the usual 25% will vote by the Election Day.

24.04.2010 Zhlobin district: number of received ballots is put in pencil

Valery Rybchanka, Chairperson of the Zhlobin district organization of the Belarusian Party of Leftists Fair World, paid a visit to the precinct located in the settlement of Streshyn on 23 April.

24.04.2010 Mazyr: detention of candidate Frantsishak Viachorka

Frantsishak Viachorka, a candidate for deputy for the Mazyr District Council of Deputies running at the Stantsyinaya electioin constituency #25, was detained on 24 April near the Culture House 40 Hod Kastrychnika and guarded to the Mazyr District Police Department.

23.04.2010 MTS mobile operator advertises early vote

Today, on 23 April, Hrodna subscribers of the major MTS mobile operator received short messages inviting to take part in the early vote campaign. Soon, it became known that the action was ordered by Hrodna regional executive committee.

23.04.2010 Minsk police detain distributors of Vintsuk Viachorka’s leaflets

Minsk city police detained two activists – Andrus Krechka and Anton Koipish – as they were distributing election leaflets of a Belarusian Popular Front Leader Vintsuk Viachorka. According to the candidate, the leaflets completely meet the legal requirements.

23.04.2010 Minsk election commissions refuse access to information even to members of higher election commissions

On 22 April the Minsk city election commission considered the complaints of two candidates – Mr. Kazeyeu and Mr. Kuushynau. As a result, the Commission ordered the local election commissions to allow the presence of those who applied for attending the commission’s meetings.

23.04.2010 UCP activist detained in Vaukavysk

The United Civil Party member Vital Huliak was detained by Vaukavysk police for distributing postcards of the ‘Tell the Truth’ public campaign and taken to the police station, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

23.04.2010 Orsha: BHC observer forced to leave election commission

Siarhei Trafimau, officially accredited as observer in Orsha, was not allowed to attend the meetings of the Orsha town election commission. The Belarusian Helsinki Committee representative says he has taken part in all the commission’s meetings since January. However, the situation suddenly changed.