20.09.2008 Barysau: Rayon executive committee instructed top managers

On September 18th Barysau rayon executive committee gathered a conference of all heads of enterprises, oranizations and institutions of the city and the rayon under the “coded" title “Preparation to the heating season”. However, the main issue on the conference agenda was the upcoming election.

20.09.2008 Homel: Mayor Candidate uses administrative resource

A meeting with voters of Alexander Bialiayeu was planned for September 19th in Homel Arts School # 5 (Homel-Selmashauskaya district # 32). The school administrations made all the prior arrangements to prepare for the visit of the candidate and Homel mayor in one person.

20.09.2008 Homel: “Students, don’t be afraid to say NO!”

On September 19th civic activists spread the brochure “Students and elections” in Homel higher educational establishments. The pocket book informs about the rights and duties of citizens during elections, and tells the students that forcing anyone to vote is the violation of the Belarusian law.

19.09.2008 UCP candidates in Minsk Drop Out

Today the United Civic party held a press conference, where its candidates who run in Minsk claimed they dropped out of the race.

19.09.2008 Barysau: voters do not attend meetings with uncontested candidates

Vasil Huryanau, CEO of Barysaukhlebpram state factory and candidate in Barysau rural district # 63, had to postpone or cancel his meetings with voters many times. The meetings which he managed to hold could hardly be called crowded.

19.09.2008 Babruisk: “Dirty” methods used against candidate

Independent candidate Alena Miadzvedzeva who runs in Babruisk-Leninskaya district # 78 became another victim of the “writers” from the city administration. With the “noble“ purpose to “tell the truth about the candidate”, Siamion Piatrouski, author of the article “Wrong Example for Imitation”, tells the readers about her family problems.

19.09.2008 Vitebsk: District division misleads voters

Many times human rights defenders addressed the Central Election Commission about publishing of precinct election commission addressed not according to the rayon, but according to the election district division. Every time they received only formal replies. In their statements the human rights defenders indicated that not only the voters, but also members of district and precinct election commissions cannot figure out, to which election district a certain precinct belongs, and gave numerous examples of that. CEC members claimed the problem is far-fetched. However, the practice has shown, the problem does exist in reality. Let us give you the registered facts.

19.09.2008 Brest: No BPF members remain in precinct election commissions

Only one BPF member was included in precinct election commissions of Brest. Now the party has not representatives in the commissions.

19.09.2008 Baranavichy: OSCE observers saved the situation

The security of Atlant plant in Baranavichy, refused to let agents of candidate Mikalai Charnavus to attend the meeting of this candidate with the plant workers. They also refused to let Aleh Pashko, candidate in a neighboring district, to come to the meeting. In the end, the plant director allowed everyone to come to the plant territory because quite unexpectedly the international OSCE observers arrived. The meeting took place although the number of workers who attended it was not very big.

19.09.2008 Vitebsk region: did the governor go on leave for the campaign period?

Article 77 of the Election Code demands: candidates to the Chamber of Representatives are to be dispensed from their official duties from the day of registration to the Election Day without keeping their salary.

However, Uladzimir Andreichanka, candidate in Hlybokaye district # 22, seems to ignore the Election Code.

19.09.2008 Svetlahorsk: Chairman of district commission hinders speeches

In Sasnovy Bor town of Svetlahorsk district voters had an opportunity to attend a meeting with candidates to the Chamber of Representatives. During the meeting chairman of Svetlahorsk district election commission Siarhei Merkulau interrupted the speech of Sviatlana Mikhalchanka agent of the pro-democratic candidate Siarhei Daineka, two times.

19.09.2008 Vitebsk: Campaign posters produced, not allowed for posting

Candidate in Vitebsk-Chyhunachnaya district # 19 Andrei Levinau produced 300 campaign posters. However, in the majority of cases it turned out it is impossible to post them. Heads of state institutions and organizations either refuse to post them or allow doing that, but call the next day, apologize and say they have to take them down on the order of the local administration.

19.09.2008 Horki: Law does not exist for pro-governmental candidate

Agents of candidate Andrei Yurkou demand to cancel registration of pro-governmental candidate Tatsiana Asmalouskaya. They have already submitted the official statements to district election commission # 81. The ground for the statements was the meeting of candidate Tatsiana Asmalouskaya with voters in the place which was not determined by the city administration.

19.09.2008 Vitebsk: Candidate may be isolated for 15 days

On September 18th Andrei Levinau, candidate in Vitebsk-Chyhunachnaya district # 19 was handed a copy of the report about administrative infringement under Article 9.1 of the Administrative Code. The article provides for up to 15 days of imprisonment. Andrei is accused of inflicting trivial injuries to A. Zakharau, master of sports in boxing, striking him in the small of the back on August 8th.

19.09.2008 Vitebsk: Tsiany-Talkay pop group promotes official candidates

On September 16th Vitsbichy newspaper (founded by Vitebsk city executive committee), # 107 reports about performance of Tsiany-Talkay pop group at an election event. The event was held by candidates running in Kastrychnitski rayon districts: Vitebsk-Chyhunachnaya district # 19 (official candidate Siarhei Siamashka) and Vitebsk-Kastrychnitskaya district # 20 (official candidate Andrei Lasiakin).