News on the topic: legislation
24.04.2017 Analytical review of detentions in Minsk in March 2017 (infographics)
From March 27 to April 13, the Human Rights Center "Viasna" collected and processed 130 questionnaires from individuals whose rights were violated for exericsing freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly.
10.04.2017 Belarus shelves amendments to Electoral Code
Absence of any public information regarding previously announced steps to improve the election legislation suggests that the work of state bodies in this direction has been frozen. Despite this, human rights activists involved in independent monitoring of election campaigns and analytical work in the area continue their efforts aimed at bringing the provisions of the Electoral Code and law enforcement practices in line with international standards.
01.02.2017 Aleh Hulak: There will be some changes in the Electoral Code, but grounds for criticism will obviously remain
The interdepartmental working group considered yesterday the recommendations on improving the electoral process in Belarus that were made by the OSCE ODIHR following last year’s parliamentary elections. Priority recommendations submitted by the campaign Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections were also presented at the meeting.
17.01.2017 Priority recommendations on reforming electoral legislation
The civil campaign Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections presents a policy paper on its recommendations aimed at reforming the electoral legislation of Belarus. According to the campaign’s experts, these recommendations are crucial for the conduct of free, fair and democratic elections.
07.09.2016 Reliability and control: ‘Labor collectives’ as election trend
Year after year, state-owned enterprises and institutions have helped provided human resources to form the election commissions, ‘cooperative’ observers and loyal candidates. The tradition rests upon the country’s legislation, which defines a company’s staff (‘labor collective’) as a key actor of the electoral process, a fact opposed by many independent experts as an anachronism of the Soviet past.
05.08.2016 Effective complaint? Unavailable for prisoners
In Belarus, prisoners do not believe in the effectiveness of complaints against the prison authorities. This lack of confidence is reinforced by legislative prerequisites that are analyzed by Pavel Sapelka, expert on penitentiary law. He also describes possible measures that could change the situation.
28.07.2016 Transparent Funds at all Stages is a Step to Fair Elections
Within the campaign Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections, lawyer Pavel Sapielka analyzed possibilities for participants of parliamentary elections in terms of legislative norms that regulate financing of electoral campaign, and compared the results of the research with respective international standards. The conclusions show uneven financial standing for different candidates.
12.12.2014 Prosecutor's office identified “some violations” in the examination of Uladzimir Lemesh's apartment
Most of the violations set forth in the activist's complaint against the illegal actions of police officers during an inspection of his apartment in the so-called "case of the red band" either “weren't noticed” by Salihorsk District Prosecutor's Office, or were considered legitimate. Still the institution had to react to some of the violations.
14.10.2014 Mikhail Miakhedka fined for attempting to get an audience with Chairman of Supreme Court
October 13 Mikhail Miakhedka, a resident of Minsk who unsuccessfully tried to get an appointment with the President of the Supreme Court,was detained by security guards at the courthouse and taken to the Leninsky District Court of Minsk. He was accused of participating in an unauthorized mass event (Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code) and punished by a fine of 2,250,00 rubles by Judge Aliaksei Kamushkin.
13.10.2014 State bodies reply to BAJ statement
Some state bodies, to which BAJ sent the statement against administrative prosecution of freelance journalists, give unsatisfactory replies.
10.10.2014 Brest: just one member of Brest City Council reported to electors
Participants of the civil initiative "Social Office" consider it as a positive development. After their appeals to members of councils, one of them, representative of the electoral constituency No. 34 Aliaksandr Shokau, reported to his electors through the newspaper “Brestski Vesnik”.
09.10.2014 Official has been serving a prison term for two years already, but is still “responsible for mass events” in Vitsebsk
Vitsebsk activists are trying to convince the executive committee of the necessity to amend the decision on mass events. The officials respond that it is flawless and meets all legal requirements. However, the official who is mentioned in it is serving a sentence for a bribe.
07.10.2014 Ministry of Education answered to “Oh, Bologna!” only after three months
As it follows from the answer, the decision concerning the accession of Belarus to the Bologna process and made has been made and will not be discussed any more. However, the essence of the decision remains unknown: the ministry advised the activists to address members of the Chamber of Representatives to find about it.
03.10.2014 Ex-candidate continues appealing his detention at polling station
October 2, civil society activist Valery Karankevich against filed a complaint to the Office of Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus.
01.10.2014 Policeman to 12-year-old girl: “You are guilty, as you demand a lawyer”
As it is stated in a complaint to the Office of Prosecutor General, filed by the mother of a 12-year-old Brest resident, a policeman from Maskouski district police department in Brest Yauhen Bury exceeded his powers at work.
