18.03.2010 Christian Democrats quit election campaign over pressure

A number of members of the unregistered Belarusian Christian Democracy were forced to withdraw their applications for registration as candidates due to severe harassment by the authorities, including 4 persons in Minsk.

18.03.2010 Most of Minsk region constituencies to be non-alternative

4,500 candidates will run for 4,260 seats in the local councils of Minsk region, says Yulia Askerka, deputy chair of the Central Department for Staff Affairs of Minsk Regional Executive Committee.

18.03.2010 Hrodna court turns down claim against illegal formation of electoral commissions

Hrodna Kastrychnitski Court dismissed a claim lodged by a group of the city residents against violations during the formation of local divisional election commissions. The claimants argued that their representative Aleh Kalinkou was not elected member of the divisional election commission of Kupala constituency number 14 as a result of violations of the formation procedures.

18.03.2010 BHC Slutsk observer’s registration cancelled

Vital Amialkovich, election observer representing the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, was deprived of accreditation due to ‘a technical fault’, despite an earlier decision on registration.

18.03.2010 Zhlobin: Mudslinging underway

According to Valery Rybchanka, head of the ‘Just World’ party’s Zhlobin district office, who is running for Zhlobin District Council and Homel Regional Council, Zhlobin town authorities have launched a campaign of mudslinging against him.

17.03.2010 Barysau: no time for appeals

None of the 25 representatives of the United Civic Party was elected member of the district’s divisional election commissions, the local pro-government ‘Adzinstava’ newspaper reports.

17.03.2010 Minsk Court rules against BPF

Minsk Partyzanski Court turned down a proposal by the Belarusian Popular Front inquiring about the possibility of inclusion of a number of the party members on the city’s election commissions, arguing the commissions were not fully staffed.

17.03.2010 UCPB Orsha office demands explanations from town authorities

The United Civic Party Orsha town office addressed the town executive committee with a demand to provide official explanations concerning the two facts of non-inclusion of the party’s representatives on the town’s divisional election commissions.

17.03.2010 Baranavichy town authorities amend list of canvassing locations, questions remaining

Baranavichy town executive committee amended its decision #379 of 12 February 2010 on canvassing locations in the town, failing to provide explanations for the changes. The updated list of canvassing locations includes the entire territory of the Komsomol 50th Anniversary Park, thus ‘enlarging’ the canvassing opportunities by 50%.

17.03.2010 BPF member fired over run in election

Mrs. Tatsiana Balabanskaya, member of the Belarusian Popular Front, who is running for Maladechna Council, was fired by her employer at Maladechna forestry enterprise.

17.03.2010 90% of constituencies in Vitsebsk region to be non-alternative

3,530 deputies will be elected on local councils, with 3,820 candidates having applied for registration, i.e. 1.09 candidates per each seat. However, it is clear that at least 90 per cent of the region’s constituencies will be non-alternative.

17.03.2010 Nomination of candidates: information from the regions (updated)

Homel region

In the region, according to official data, applications were filed by over 4,1 thousand persons – for 3,952 seats in the councils of various levels. The 60 seats in the Regional Council are claimed by 126 people. Party members make up about 3,5% of all the candidates (148 people), including 47 – the party ‘Just World’, 51 – the UCP, 3 – the BNF. The pro-government CPB party and the Republican Party of Labor and Justice have nominated 41 and 6 persons respectively.

16.03.2010 Nomination of candidates: information from the regions

Homel region

In the region, according to official data, applications were filed by over 4,1 thousand persons – for 3,952 seats in the councils of various levels. The 60 seats in the Regional Council are claimed by 126 people. Party members make up about 3,5% of all the candidates (148 people), including 47 – the party ‘Just World’, 51 – the UCP, 3 – the BNF.

16.03.2010 Mahiliou: human rights activist Aliaksei Kolchyn refused information

On 16 March Aliaksei Kolchyn, human rights activist and observer representing Mahiliou Human Rights Center at Mahiliou City Election Commission, was refused information on the candidates, who had applied for running in the election.

16.03.2010 Hrodna: citizens appeal violations of electoral rights

Five residents of Hrodna lodged a complaint with Kastrychnitski Court after their representative Aleh Kalinkou was not elected member of constituency election commission #106. The complainants argue that their electoral rights have been violated.