The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 11 Sep 2015

11.09.2015 "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections": Authorities use selective approach to electoral campaign

September 11, a press-conference of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" on the occasion of completion of three important stages of organizational measures on preparation and holding of elections, which actually make up half of the election campaign, took place at the office of the HRC "Viasna".

11.09.2015 Supreme Court to consider Mikhail Zhabchuzhny's complaint on October 6

The consideration of the appeal will begin at 9.30 a.m. on October 6. This was reported by the founder of the cultural-educational institution "Platform Innovation” in a letter to the human rights activist Leanid Svetsik. On July 10, Mr. Zhamchuzhny was sentenced to six years in a high-security correctional facility. In his letters he emphasizes that the verdict is politcally motivated.

11.09.2015 Report on monitoring of the picket "For Fair and Free Elections" in Minsk on September 10

The picket of September 10, 2015 was of peaceful nature. The absence of an application for holding the mass event, as required by law, is not a reason to limit the freedom of peaceful assembly.

11.09.2015 Convict from Mazyr: prison rules are established in open facility

80 convicts of open correctional facility No. 20 in Mazyr filed a collective complaint to the Department of Corrections at the Ministry of Interior.

Administration of "Belaruskali", which manages election commissions, openly states about organization of administrative control of turnout

11.09.2015 Administration of "Belaruskali", which manages election commissions, openly states about organization of administrative control of turnout

September 9 in Salihorsk, a meeting of the administration of "Belaruskali" had a meeting with its engineering staff of the first mine - managers and supervisors at all levels of the mine group. Ordinary workers weren't invited. Instead, there were the director general Ivan Halavaty, his deputy for ideological work and personnel Anatol Makhlai and the director of the first mine, Aliaksandr Harbachou.

11.09.2015 Long-term observers of OSCE visit Biaroza

36 long-term observers of the OSCE have arrived in Belarus to monitor the presidential elections. Six of them are in the Brest region – in Brest, Pinsk and Baranavičy.

11.09.2015 Who observes elections in Mahilioŭ?

Apart from the international mission of the OSCE, the election campaign has been monitored from its very beginning by "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" (including the HRC "Viasna" and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee), "Right to Choose-2015" and "For Fair Elections".

11.09.2015 Kryčaŭ District Executive Committee sends candidates to stadium

September 7, the Kryčaŭ DEC adopted ruling №22-5 «On information security and creating the conditions for pre-election campaign of candidates for president of the Republic of Belarus”, published on September 9 on the website of the local newspaper " Kryčaŭskaje Žyccio".

11.09.2015 Mikalai Statkevich intends to use possibilities of electoral campaign

At the unauthorized picket “For Free and Fair Elections”, held near the City Department Store (HUM) on September 10, former political prisoner and presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich promised to invite Aliaksandr Lukashenka to a meeting in the coming weeks.

11.09.2015 Picket “For Fair and Free Elections” held in downtown Minsk

Former political prisoner and presidential candidate of the Republic of Belarus in 2010 Mikalai Statkevich stated he would hold an electoral picket on September 10 with the demand of free elections. The action started at 6 p.m.