The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for October 2010

29.10.2010 Brest resident submits another demand to disclose burial site of executed criminal Zhuk

Sniazhana Neudakh, mother of three children and resident of Brest, has submitted another written request to the Presidential Administration, demanding to disclose the burial site of Andrei Zhuk, executed for double murder in March 2010.

29.10.2010 Left activist demands to investigate election violations

Sviatlana Mikhalchanka, activist of the ‘Just World’ leftist party, has lodged a complaint with Svetlahorsk district prosecutor’s office, demanding to investigate the cases of unauthorized visits to voters in the town.

29.10.2010 Svislach election commission ignores legislation

According to Anatol Valiuk, activist of Ryhor Kastusiou’s campaign team, representative of Svislach election commission refused to admit signature sheets, demanding personal presence of the campaign activist, who had collected the signatures. Mr. Valiuk says this is a violation of the Electoral Code, which allows any representative of an initiative group to submit signature sheets to election commissions.

29.10.2010 Mahiliou HR activists apply for involvement in signature verification procedures

Mahiliou human rights activists Barys Bukhel, Aliaksei Kolchyn and Uladzimir Krauchanka have addressed the city’s Kastrychnitskaya and Leninskaya election commissions with a demand to allow them observe signature verification procedures, referring to Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 13 of the Electoral Code, which provides for the public nature of election procedures.

29.10.2010 Police detain activist of Rymasheuski’s campaign team

On 28 October, Brest region road police detained Dzmitry Shurkhai, member of Vital Rymasheuski’s initiative group, as he was transporting signature sheets to the region center. The activist was taken to Brest Maskouski police department. Another activist of the team Yury Bakura, who accompanied Dzmitry Shurkhai, was arrested an hour later, but soon released.

29.10.2010 Homel HR activist demands warning for Lukashenka’s campaign team

Homel human rights activist Anatol Paplauny has lodged a complaint with the Central Election Commission, demanding to issue a warning to the initiative group of Aliaksandr Lukashenka for alleged violations of the election legislation.

29.10.2010 Valiantsin Stefanovich: ‘There are many questions to Minister of Education Radzkou, who chairs Lukashenka’s campaign team’

A few days ago, civil activists Mikita Krasnou and Viachaslau Dziyanau lodged another complaint against violations by activists of Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s campaign team, who reportedly arranged canvassing activities by unauthorized persons, including the students of Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radio Electronics.

29.10.2010 Presidential hopefuls speak on human rights issues

The ‘Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections’ campaign activists have interviewed a number of Presidential hopefuls, inquiring about their views on human rights protection in Belarus and the possibility of introducing the post of ombudsman, in case they are elected President.

28.10.2010 Brest canvasser appeals obstacles by local authorities

Tatsiana Tkharova, activist of Vital Rymasheuski’s campaign team, has lodged a complaint with Brest Leninskaya election commission, claiming that she was not allowed to canvass for signatures in a hostel of Brest Household Chemicals Factory.

28.10.2010 Barysau HR activists want to observe signature verification

Barysau observers Maryna Statkevich and Aleh Matskevich submitted an application to Minsk regional election commission, demanding to allow them observe signature verification procedures, after local election commission denied them the right.

28.10.2010 Belarus: Repressions against youth activists should stop

Paris-Minsk, 26 October, 2010 - FIDH and its member organisation in Belarus, Human rights Center Viasna, express their concern regarding the Belarusian authorities’ groundless and growing repression toward certain political activists, in particular those from anarchist and anti-fascist youth movements.

27.10.2010 Employer fires member of Sannikau’s campaign team

Iryna Piatrova, former employee of Minsk Zoo and activist of Andrei Sannikau’s campaign team, has been reportedly forced to hand in a notice of resignation after she had been threatened with dismissals for alleged absence from work.

27.10.2010 Mahiliou regional election commission staff write in pencil in election papers

According to Tatsiana Shambalava, member of Andrei Sannikau’s campaign team, some of the columns in the register of Mahiliou regional election commission are filled in pencil. The activist believes this may be ground for election rigging.

27.10.2010 Baranavichy observer applies for participation in signature verification procedures

On 26 October, Baranavichy observer Siarhei Housha submitted an application to local election commission, demanding to provide him with an opportunity of involvement in signature verification procedures. The observer requests to inform him about scheduled events beforehand.

27.10.2010 Mahiliou authorities view observation as interference with election commission’s work

According to Mahiliou observer Barys Bukhel, who tried to attend the meetings of the city’s Kastrychnitskaya election commission on 11 and 15 October, his visits were considered as interference with the commission’s activities by its chair, as can be seen from an official reply, received by the observer.