21.04.2010 Syarhei Vaznyak: It is clearly seen by ballots how rigging is done in Belarus

The early vote procedure which has started in the elections to local councils of deputies of the 26th convocation, according to experts, is an entirely undemocratic procedure.

21.04.2010 Independent journalist detained for interviewing European Belarus leader

A journalist interviewing Andrei Sannikov was detained by militia in the center of Minsk.

As Andrei Sannikov, the leader of the civil campaign European Belarus, told in an interview to charter97.org, independent journalist Tatsyana Belashova was filming an interview with him in Frunze Street near Gorky Park, when a car with three militiamen drove up.

21.04.2010 Syarhei Kavalenka got 7 days of arrest for white-red-white flag in court

Syarhei Kavalenka, an activist of the Conservative Christian Party BPF, stood trial in Vitsebsk on April 21.

Judge Inna Hrabouskaya sentenced the activist to seven days of arrest for an action held by Syarhei Kavalenka with a national white-red-white flag near the Kastrychnitski district court on April 20, Radio Svaboda informs.

20.04.2010 Pro-state candidates use public media for canvassing

Numerous pro-government candidates running for the local councils of Mahiliou region, as well as those of the town of Polatsk, Vitsebsk region, have made extensive use of the state-owned mass media for their canvassing activities, independent observers report.

20.04.2010 Opposition leaders detained in Vitsebsk

The politician Pavel Seviarynets and journalist Uladzimer Staraverau were arrested outside Vitsebsk Kastrychnitski police department for alleged hoisting of a white-red-white flag on the department’s building, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. They came to support the CCP BPF activist Siarhei Kavalenka, who had been detained for waving a white-red-white flag outside the court building earlier this day.

20.04.2010 Pre-election meeting with Milinkevich’s participation banned

Deputy chair of Hrodna city executive committee Iryna Senchankava banned a meeting with voters. The meeting was to be attended by Aliaksandr Milinkevich, ex-deputy chair of the committee, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

20.04.2010 Student harassed by KGB

On 7 April Maryna Yauseichyk, student of the Journalism Faculty of the Belarusian State University, received a phone call from an unknown person, presenting himself as a KGB officer Zmitser, who invited the girl for conversation to the KGB office at 6a Kazlou Street in Minsk.

20.04.2010 White-red-white flag is not subject to criminal prosecution

Statement by the Human Rights Center ‘Viasna’

20.04.2010 Salihorsk: canvassing conditions vary

Salihorsk town authorities keep using various kinds of means of gumming up the election campaign of the local independent candidate Aliaksei Valabuyeu. The latest trends include stripping off the candidate’s posters. Besides, heads of local state-owned enterprises resist posting Mr. Valabuyeu’s posters on their agitation stands, despite official permit by the executive committee.

20.04.2010 Postmen ‘campaign’ for pro-state candidates

Orsha post-office staff have reportedly been used to campaign for pro-government candidates, local observers say. There have been numerous recorded facts when the town residents received leaflets of loyal candidates with their mail.

20.04.2010 Candidates violate Electoral Code, says Vitsebsk regional election commission

The Vitsebsk regional election commission considered a claim by Heorhi Stankevich, running for the Beshankovichy District Council, concerning a ban imposed on the candidate’s radio address. The Commission argues that Mr. Stankevich’s speech violated the provisions of Articles 47 and 75 of the Electoral Code, which prohibit dissemination of information that incite social hostility.

19.04.2010 Hrodna candidates banned to hold pickets in populous places

Considering the low amount of locations for holding pre-election pickets with declarative principle, Hrodna United Civil Party candidates Yury Istomin, Dzmitry Bandarchuk, Iryna skrabutan and Natallia Komar addressed the city executive committee with an application for holding pickets in a number of populous places.

19.04.2010 Smaliavichy district official mudslinging opposition candidate

According to a representative of the Radio-Electronic Industry Independent Trade Union’s Minsk regional office Mikalai Pakhabau, chair of Usiazhy village executive committee and chair of the local council Uladzimir Liutko deliberately distorted information on independent candidate Aleh Skokau at a meeting with voters in the village of Khotseneva, Smaliavichy district, on 15 April.

19.04.2010 Pro-state candidates ignore decision by Baranavichy town authorities

Candidates Siarhei Naurotski, Yury Hramakouski and Mikalai Shyrko violate decision #379 of 12 February 2010 by Baranavichy Town Executive Committee, by posting their election posters in locations banned by the authorities, local observers report.

19.04.2010 BCD candidate illegally charged and threatened with expulsion from university

Yauhen Vaskovich, journalist of the ‘Babruiski kurier’ newspaper and Belarusian Christian Democracy candidate in the local council elections, was arrested by the police for waving the national white-red-white flag at the hockey match at ‘Babruisk Arena’ on 18 April.