21.08.2012 Hrodna observers denied access to sittings of election commissions

Several independent observers registered in the constituency election commissions of Hrodna region will not be able to monitor the verification of signatures submitted for potential candidates’ nominations, after their applications were dismissed by local election officials.

21.08.2012 Salihorsk observer demands to disclose data on formation of election commissions

Leanid Markhotka, leader of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee’s Salihorsk office, keeps urging local authorities to provide information on nominations to local constituency election commissions, submitting another complaint to Minsk regional executive committee.

21.08.2012 5 members of political parties go into Central Election Commission

Five representatives of Belarusian political parties have become members of the Central Election Commission, including the Fair World Party, the UCP and the Belarusian Popular Front. According to the CEC’s press-service, they will have the right of an advisory vote.

20.08.2012 Minsk observers face obstacles

A number of constituency election commissions of Minsk have not allowed observers representing the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign monitoring the procedures of signature verification and checking the papers submitted by nominees.

18.08.2012 Baranavichy HR defender keeps appealing inaction by local prosecutor

The appeal submitted to the office of Brest Regional Prosecutor deals with the incident of 2 August when Baranavichy human rights defender Siarhei Housha was summoned to the city’s police department and charged with “hooliganism” for alleged swearing at a sitting of constituency election commission No. 5 back on 23 July.

17.08.2012 UCP Babruisk activist warned by KGB (updated)

Viktar Buzinayeu, Babruisk leader of the United Civil Party of Belarus, has been summoned for interrogation to local KGB office.

17.08.2012 BPF potential candidate fired

Yauhen Rybakou, member of the Belarusian Popular Front running for Parliament in Minsk constituency No. 105, has been dismissed from the Laser-Graphics private company, after the firm’s manager told him they did not need a cutter anymore.

17.08.2012 Authorities curtail campaigning opportunities

Local executive authorities have enforced a number of decisions that considerably limit out-of-doors election campaigning locations in towns and villages across Belarus, observers of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign report.

17.08.2012 Report on the Results of Monitoring Registration of Initiative Groups and Signature Collection in Support of the Persons Nominated As Candidates for Deputies

General Conclusions:

- The vast majority of the initiative groups in support of the opposition candidates were registered. 85 initiative groups were denied registration, which is percentagewise almost 4 times the number of denials during the parliamentary elections in 2008. - There are registered facts of the authorities creating obstacles for members of the opposition candidates’ initiative groups and using administrative resources for the benefit of those who support the government. - At the signature collection stage members of initiative groups have filed a total of 15 complaints, while during the presidential election of 2010 more than 50 complaints were filed. The complaints are mainly about no access to dormitories of state enterprises and institutions for members of initiative groups.

16.08.2012 Minsk court turns down complaint by BSDP

Minsk Zavodski District Court has dismissed a complaint by the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) against non-inclusion of its 8 members in the district’s constituency election commissions.

16.08.2012 Campaigning for Brest pro-government candidate legal, says CEC

Potential candidate Aliaksandr Melnik in Brest has received a reply from the Central Election Commission, saying that campaigning for local pro-government candidate Viktar Valiushytski, chief manager of the “TSUM” department store, is legal.

16.08.2012 Mahiliou courts turn down appeals against non-inclusion of BPF members in election commissions

The courts of Leninski and Kastrychnitski districts of Mahiliou have dismissed the complaints against non-inclusion of representatives of the Belarusian Popular Front “Adradzhenne” in local constituency election commissions.

16.08.2012 Baranavichy prosecutor evades implementing duties

Baranavichy observer Siarhei Housha has received a reply to his appeal signed by head of Baranavichy City Prosecutor’s Office Mr. Bildzeika.

16.08.2012 Mahiliou KGB keeps harassing pro-dem candidate’s election campaigner

Uladzislau Yarashou, member of the initiative group of Uladzimir Punchanka, potential candidate representing the For Freedom movement, has been summoned on the phone for conversation to the KGB Mahiliou office.

16.08.2012 Slonim: potential candidate appeals electoral violations

Ivan Sheha, Slonim pro-democratic activist running for Parliament in local constituency No. 58, and another opposition activist Ivan Bedka have lodged a complaint with the Central Election Commission, to express their discontent with the activities of the town’s constituency election commission.