14.08.2012 Baranavichy observer charged with “disorderly conduct” addresses prosecutor

Observer Siarhei Housha filed a written application to the Baranavichy prosecutor against actions of officers of the Baranavichy District Police Department. On 2 August he was summonsed to room #100 of the Baranavichy DPD by police inspector Mikalai Kudrautsau in connection with an administrative case brought against him under Article 17.1, “disorderly conduct”.

14.08.2012 Prospective candidate Valiantsina Kaliaka issued with a warning

At 4 p.m. on 13 May a sitting of Lahoisk constituency election commission #75 was held in presence of observers from Smaliavichy and the campaign “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” and the prospective candidate Valiantsina Kaliaka, an activist of the civil campaign “Tell the Truth”.

14.08.2012 Political prisoner Frantskevich forced to apply for pardon

Tatsiana Frantskevich, the mother of political prisoner Aliaksandr Frantskevich, and a lawyer visited the “Vouchyia Nory” penal colony. The mother of the political prisoner told charter97.org Aliaksandr Frantskevich, who had a kidney removed after an accident, was thrown into a punishment cell for refusal to fulfill insulting demands of the prison authorities.

14.08.2012 Another independent journalist summonsed to prosecutor's office

More than 10 independent journalists received verbal and written notices from prosecutor office and KGB in 2012.

14.08.2012 Belarusian Association of Journalists launches a campaign for the release of journalist Anton Surapin

The Board of BAJ urges all who sympathize with independent journalism to sign a petition to free the photographer.

14.08.2012 Report on Monitoring the Formation of Precinct Election Commissions

August 13th, 2012

During the period from the 6th to the 8th of August local administrations, rayon and city executive committees formed 6, 301 precinct election commissions (PEC) which altogether have 68, 945 members. Commission members were selected from the pool of the individuals nominated until August 5 by organizational structures of political parties and non-commercial organizations, working collectives, and by groups of citizens (through signature collection). This stage of the electoral process is important because precinct election commissions are in charge of organizing the voting process at polling stations, including handing out ballot papers to voters and vote count.

13.08.2012 Homel: votes in support of the head of the education department will be counted by his subordinates

As the “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” learned, the head of the educational department of the Tsentralny District Executive Committee of Homel Aleh Leushunou intends to run for the Parliament at Homel-Central election constituency #33.

13.08.2012 Brest police pay interest to Malei’s solidarity race with Bialiatski

On 11 August captain Mikalai Selivonik, a police inspector of the Leninski district of Brest, phoned to human rights defender Uladzimir Malei and stated that he was to visit the police department in connection with his race along the streets of Brest on 4 August, on the anniversary of the imprisonment of the head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Ales Bialiatski.

13.08.2012 change.org website is blocked in Belarus

The collection of signatures in support of the release of Anton Surapin and Siarhei Basharymau started on this webpage not long ago.

13.08.2012 Orsha court turns down appeals against non-inclusion of people in precinct election commissions

The court of Orsha and the Orsha district turned down the appeal of the Vitsebsk regional organization of the Belarusian Leftist Party “Fair World” against the non-inclusion of its members in the precinct election commissions of Orsha.

13.08.2012 Main ideologist of Slutsk district calls police to electoral picket

A canvassing picket in support of an activist of the “Tell the Truth” campaign Aliaksandr Sokalau, held on 11 August near the “Slutsk” department store, caused an unexpected reaction f the head of the shop administration and the deputy head of the Slutsk District Executive Committee on ideology, Larysa Dabravolskaya.

13.08.2012 Minsk: those who assaulted canvasseur don't live in that constituency

On 11 August three men assaulted Aliaksandr Marchanka, a member of the electoral team of the leader of the Movement “For Freedom” Aliaksandr Milinkevich. That day Marchanka collected signatures in the underground pedestrian crossing on the metro station “Uruchcha”.

13.08.2012 Home: assault on canvasseur

Canvassing in support of the candidacy of civil activist Ihar Sluchak ended with a conflict. Ihar and his brother were collecting signatures in Bratou Liziukovykh Street. A man ran out from one of the apartments in a block house and tried to provoke a fight.

13.08.2012 Mahiliou: doorkeeper looks up in a “black list”

A special control regime has been established in the hostel in Krupskaya Street 178. Its doorkeeper has a list of persons who are prohibited to enter it. The list includes human rights defender Barys Bukhel, an activist of the Independent Trade Union of Radio-Electronic IndustryAliaksei Paulouski, a leader of the Mahiliou organization of the Belarusian leftist party “Fair World” Anatol Zauyalau and other democratic activists.

13.08.2012 “Polatski Vesnik” knows its candidate

In the beginning of August the state-owned newspaper “Polatski Vesnik” started publishing articles about activities of Natallia Huivik, the head of the Polatsk City Council who is running for the Parliament.