22.09.2008 Less and less candidates left

Less and less candidates continue to participate in the election to the Chamber of Representatives. 270 candidates continue the struggle for 110 mandates. CEC secretary Mikalai Lazavik gave this number to RFE/RL today. Out of 270 candidates, 69 represent the United Democratic Forces.

21.09.2008 UDF will not withdraw candidates

On September 21st the Political Council of the United Democratic Forces took place in Minsk. UDF participation in the parliamentary election 2008 was on the agenda.

The UDF Political Council decided not to withdraw its candidates. “There will be no organized withdrawal of candidates representing the United Democratic Forces”, -- UCP leader Anatol Liabedzka told BelaPAN.

16.09.2008 Beaten for a white-red-white flag

The police detained Andrus Tsianiuta, activist of Young Front, during the celebration of the Day of the City. In the evening of September 13th Andrus was walking to a concert in the Ice Palace with a white-red-white flag. The policemen pulled the Young Front activist out of the crowd, knocked him down and beat him.

Andrus says, the policemen dislocated his finger and injured his knee.

15.09.2008 Minsk: warning to Stalislau Bahdankevch

On 12 September professor Stanislau Bahdankevich, former head of the National Bank, a honorary member of the United Civil Party received a warning from the electoral commission of Chkalauskaya constituency #96 in Minsk at which he is running for the parliament.

15.09.2008 Homel: police beat and torture youth activists for white-red-white flag

During the official events dedicated to Homel’s City Day, when the 866th anniversary of the city was celebrated, Young Front activists raised white-red-white flags.

15.09.2008 ‘Young Front’ activist gets handcuffed for handing out newspapers

When distributing the latest publication of the independent newspaper Svabodny Salihorsk in the central market of the city, a volunteer of the newspaper, an activist of the Young Front Andrus Tychyna was detained by local policeman with use of force. He was handcuffed, and, despite of the indignation of the market customers, was taken to the local police department.

12.09.2008 First application for holding action of protest against rigged elections on 28 September

On 12 September an application for authorization of a protest meeting for 1 000 people on 28 September in Kalinouski Square was submitted to Minsk city executive committee.

12.09.2008 Vitsebsk oblast: agitator detained by policemen with machine guns

On 10 September Sianno district police department held an operation on armed seizure of a ‘criminal’ in the post office of the town of Sianno.

11.09.2008 Homel oblast: members of United Civil Party leave constituency commissions

Members of the United Civil Parties stop their membership and work in the constituency electoral commissions in Homel oblast. They directed the appropriate statements to the presidium of Homel oblast soviet of deputies and to Homel oblast executive committee (the state agencies that had formed the commissions).

10.09.2008 ‘Young Front’ activist Rastsislau Pankratau expelled from Mahiliou State University

As we have already informed, the administration of Mahiliou State University planned to expel the student after giving him an unsatisfactory mark at his English exam. The information proved to be true: Rastsislau Pankratau was expelled.

10.09.2008 Brest: attempt to kidnap an activist of the United Civil Party

In the evening on 8 September an attempt to kidnap Yury Panasyuk, an activist of the Young Democrats (youth organization of the United Civil Party), was committed in Brest.

09.09.2008 15 out of 19 candidates from the Belarusian Popular Front Party oppose to election boycott

15 out of 19 registered candidates of the Belarusian Popular Front addressed the Soim (council) of their party with the request to review the decision on withdrawing from the ‘parliamentary elections’ by 23 September.

09.09.2008 Oppositional candidate gets detained during electoral speech on TV

Kanstantsin Zhukouski, representative of the Belarusian Christian democracy Party, MP candidate in Buda-Kashaliova constituency (Homel region) was guarded to the local police department and was denied an opportunity of shooting propaganda video on the Homel oblast TV.

08.09.2008 Liberalization in Lukashenka’s way

The authorities continue using mean methods of pressing the political opposition. If earlier democratic activists were arrested on false accusations of allegedly ‘using of foul language in public’, the article ‘drinking alcohol in public’ has been used for the first time against a Young Front activist Vadzim Khaniauka.

05.09.2008 Mahiliou: youth activists are expelled from university

The coordinator of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Tatsiana Shambalava and a leader of Mahiliou organization of the Young Front Rastsislau Pankratau are expelled from Mahiliou State University.