02.09.2008 Three candidates of the United democratic forces withdraw from election

The head of the Homel oblast organization of the United Civil Party Vasil Palyakou and Homel UCP activist Leanid Sudalenka refused to run in the parliamentary election.

01.09.2008 Homel oblast: eight persons refuse from membership in constituency electoral commissions

On 1 September the members of the United Democratic Forces who had been appointed to constituency electoral commissions addressed the executive committees of Homel city and Homel oblast and the Presidiums of Homel oblast and Homel city soviet of deputies with statements about refusal to continue their work in the electoral commissions. They motivated this step by saying that the authorities again prepare to hold a farce with a predictable result.

01.09.2008 Minsk: electors confirm authenticity of their signatures for Yury Karetnikau

On 28 August South-western constituency #99 refused to register Yury Karetnikau as candidate to the Chamber of Representatives. The official reason for the refusal was that 16% of the checked signatures were invalid. The politician thinks that this number is groundless. He has already directed an appeal to the Central electoral commission.

01.09.2008 CIS observer doesn’t know about Karma and Rahachou?

On 29 August the coordinator of the CIS observation mission in Homel oblast Ivan Katlabai stated that in Homel oblast there were no constituencies having less than two candidates. This information, however, does not meet the reality.

01.09.2008 Past week of the electoral campaign: events and generalizations

The main event this week was registration of candidates to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus. According to the Central electoral commission, 276 candidates out of 365 were registered. 76 of the registered ones represent the united democratic forces.

01.09.2008 Belarusian Popular Front Party withdraws candidates from parliamentary elections

On August 30 the Sojm (Council) of the Belarusian Popular Front party decided to withdraw party candidates for deputies before 23 September.

01.09.2008 Police try to detain activist of ‘European Belarus’ Marta Maiseyenka

An activist of the civil campaign European Belarus Marta Maiseyenka is persecuted for dissemination of informational materials calling upon boycott of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

01.09.2008 Belarusian Christian Democracy to boycott the election

Members of the organizing committee for creation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy (BCD) will withdraw their candidates from the pre-election campaign by 23 September.

01.09.2008 Salihorsk police beat democratic activist

Yana Paliakova, a well-known human rights activist and a member of the initiative group of a candidate for deputy Volha Kazulina, has been beaten up by policemen of Salihorsk police department. Doctors have documented bruises of her arm and of the two shins.

26.08.2008 There will be no meetings with voters in Orsha and Dubrouna rayons

Local observers, activists of NGOs and political parties were surprised with the schedule of meetings with voters worked out by district commission of Orsha Dniaprouskaya district # 27. The district covers three administrative units – Orsha city, Orsha rayon, and Dubrouna rayon. The district commission planned 5 meetings with voters during the open campaign period… all five are in Orsha city. The commission did not think it was necessary to organizae meetings with voters in Orsha and Dubrouna rayons. The so-called groups of “facilitating the election process” composed of the local officials also failed to render assistance with that.

26.08.2008 Minsk: Rayon administrations conceal information about membership of precinct election commissions

Formation of precinct election commission ended almost two weeks ago, on August 13th. However, all interested parties of the election campaign still do not have complete information about members of Minsk precinct commissions.

After August 13th when interested citizens, representatives of political parties and non-governmental organizations called rayon administrations to find out if their representatives had become commission members, they received similar answers: “You can read that in the press”. The only exclusion was organizational department of Savetski rayon administration: a representative of the Party of Communists of Belarus from election district # 106 made an inquiry and received all information he needs. Practice has shown, it is very difficult to receive information about all precinct commissions from Minsk press. A group of enthusiasts tried to do that in a joint effort and encountered the following:

26.08.2008 Smarhon: Early agitation in Smarhon

Incumbent member of the Chamber of Representatives Tatsiana Holubeva, who is running for the next term, has been actively agitating for two weeks already. She visits the enterprises located in her district and carries out “meetings to report of her activities as an MP to the voters”. During the meetings she talks about the new laws passed with her support and explains what she will be able to do for Smarhon if she is elected again.

On August 19th and 21st Holubeva appeared on Smarhon local cable TV.

25.08.2008 Maladechna: “Official” contenders already appear on the radio

Registration of candidates to the Chamber of Representatives takes place until August 28th, 2008. However, the pro-governmental nominees have already started agitation.

25.08.2008 Barysau: Insult or Provocation attempt?

BPF member Siarhei Salash has submitted documents for registration as a candidate to the Chamber of Representatives in Barysau rural district # 63. He was nominated by citizens through signature collection. Yesterday evening, on August 25th he found a police summons in his mailbox. Deputy head of infringement prevention department of Barysau rayon police Aleh Volkau invited Salash to come on August 18th at 10 a.m. and give explanations about an administrative infringement.

25.08.2008 Rechytsa: observers informed about commission’s sessions in time

Members of the United Civic Party and BPF Party are registered as observers in Rechytsa district election commission. The observers are informed about sessions of the commission in time.