The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 27 Oct 2010

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.

27.10.2010 Observation ban in Barysau

Barysau observers Maryna Statkevich and Aleh Matskevich recived a reply from the town election commission, claiming that ‘Article 13 of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Belarus does not provide for an opportunity of observing the procedures of verification of voters’ signatures in the signature sheets, submitted by members of campaign teams.

27.10.2010 Babruisk law enforcement and emergency departments personnel prohibited to sign for opposition Presidential hopefuls

According to Siarzhuk Latsinski, Babruisk activist of Ryhor Kastusiou’s campaign team, the staff of local police and emergency departments were warned against signing for alternative candidates in the forthcoming presidential election.

27.10.2010 Vitsebsk police fail to find criminal who beat activist Liadouski

According to Vitsebsk Pershamaiski department of internal affairs, the city police have been unable to find the offender who beat up activist Andrei Liadouski during canvassing for signatures in one of Vitsebsk blocks of flats back on 17 October.

27.10.2010 EHU student Dziadok still in prison

On 26 October Minsk City Court ruled to extend detention of a European Humanities University student Mikalai Dziadok, previously arrested on suspicion of attacking the Russian Embassy in Minsk back in August 2010. On 1 October, he was charged with attacking the General Headquarters of the Ministry of Defense.