25.10.2010 Election of the President of Belarus 2010: Weekly Analytical Review (October 18-24)

Observers continue to witness the widespread participation of persons not belonging to the initiative group of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, and the broad use of the administration of state enterprises and institutions, in the collection of signatures in support of Lukashenka.

25.10.2010 Vitsebsk regional election commission ignores complaints and violations

Vitsebsk state-run newspapers report no emergency incidents during the election campaign, with no complaints received by the regional election commission.

At the same time, Uladzimir Niakliayeu’s campaign team alone lodged three complaints against illegal actions by the administration of Polatsk State University, who repeatedly denied access to the University hostels.

25.10.2010 Minsk authorities ban another picket

Minsk city executive committee banned a picket, scheduled for 30 October and aimed at attracting public attention to mass violations of criminal legislation.

The official reply by the committee’s deputy chair Mr. Tsitsiankou argues that the picket cannot be held on the location applied for by civil activists, since it could allegedly ‘impair pedestrian and road traffic.’

25.10.2010 Village voters forced to sign for Lukashenka

Local executive authorities have been canvassing for signatures, using enforced means, report pro-democratic campaign activists. Members of Uladzimir Niakliayeu’s campaign team have been unable to canvass for signatures in the village of Viaseya, Slutsk district, after the passports of local residents had been collected by local executive authorities.

25.10.2010 Court refuses to hear suit by mother of executed man against Corrections Department over denial of information about her son’s place of burial

The Leninski District Court in Minsk has refused to hear a suit filed by the mother of Andrey Zhuk, a death row inmate executed in March, against the interior ministry’s Corrections Department, which refused to tell her where her son was buried.