The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for December 2010

18.12.2010 Human rights defenders’ appeal to President, Internal Ministry and KGB

Representatives of Belarus’ seven major human rights NGOs have released a joint statement, calling upon the Presidential Administration, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the KGB to cease accelerating the atmosphere of fear during the Presidential election campaign and to desist from the use of violence against peaceful protesters.

18.12.2010 Baranavichy: final figures by observers mismatch those by election commissions

According to Baranavichy independent observers, by the end of the fourth day of early vote their data have drastically diverged from the figures provided by local election commissions.

18.12.2010 Nyaklyayeu: We will not make people clash with armed forces

If October Square is occupied by armed forces, armoured troop-carriers and the police on December 19, the presidential candidates will not send people to fight tanks.

18.12.2010 Presidential hopeful Vital Rymasheuski detained by police: exclusive on-line coverage

Vital Rymasheuski has reached his office. A traffic police car is parked nearby. Plainclothes agents remain on duty next to the backyard (VIDEO OF DETENTION)

18.12.2010 Brest observers to use binoculars to watch voting

Observers have decided to use binoculars and spy-glasses to watch the early voting in election centre #98 in Brest.

18.12.2010 Preliminary Monitoring Report on the FOURTH Day of Early Voting

Minsk, 10:00 am, 18 December, – “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” campaign presents its preliminary monitoring report on observation of the fourth day of early voting (17 December). The observation is being conducted by 600 short-term and 80 long-term observers at 300 polling stations throughout Belarus.

17.12.2010 Traffic police checks buses going to Minsk

Buses going from Hrodna to Minsk are checked by traffic police. The policemen ask the passengers about the aims for travelling and check their documents.

17.12.2010 Yarmoshyna advises to forgive election commissions' members future violations

CEC chairperson Lidziya Yarmoshyna reckons it is impossible to hold a flawless election.

17.12.2010 Ballot boxes not properly sealed, report observers across Belarus

A number of independent observers report election violations across the country, when ballot boxes are not properly sealed by the local election officials.

17.12.2010 Hrodna prosecuting authorities and KGB interrogate local activists

A number of Hrodna civil activists, including Dzmitry Antanevich and Dzianis Ivashyn, have been summoned to local prosecutor’s office and the KGB department.

17.12.2010 Niakliayeu’s election pickets stopped by Vitsebsk authorities

Two canvassing pickets of Uladzimir Niakliayeu’s campaign team, have been reportedly stopped by Vitsebsk authorities, who referred to their decision, authorizing canvassing locations in the city.

17.12.2010 Vitsebsk observers kicked out of polling stations for registering violations

According to Antanina Pivanos, observer at Vitsebsk polling station # 21, the local election commission members have repeatedly impaired observation, prohibiting taking photos at the station.

17.12.2010 Death convict calls upon President Lukashenka to suspend execution

Aleh Hryshkautsou, sentenced to death on 14 May 2010, has addressed President Lukashenka with a request to suspend executing the sentence until his case is considered by the UN human Rights Committee.

17.12.2010 Mahiliou observers report numerous cases of enforced voting

According to Andrei Dvihun, observer at Mahiliou polling station # 42, over 25 per cent of voters have cast their ballots within the first three days of early vote. The high number of early voters is due to the enforced voting of students residing in a hostel within the constituency.

17.12.2010 Mahiliou soldier admits he was forced to vote early

According to Liubou Padrabinkina, observer at polling station # 114, Raman Ivanchanka, soldier of Mahiliou military unit # 6713, made a public statement on enforced early vote of all the servicemen of the unit, supervised by his commander.