News on the topic: presidential elections-2010
23.11.2010 State-owned media keep low-key approach to presidential election, says BAJ monitoring report
The Belarusian Association of Journalists has issued another monitoring report, which deals with the coverage of the second stage of the 2010 presidential election by the electronic and printed Belarusian media. According to the report’s conclusions, the state-owned electronic and printed media kept to the low-key approach to the presidential election, though some media began to give it more coverage.
23.11.2010 OSCE long-term observers visit Belarusian regions
OSCE long-term observers Hilde Katrine Haug and Shota Khujade paid a working visit to Pinsk and Hrodna. During their visit, they held meetings with representatives of local executive authorities, territorial election commissions, candidates’ campaign teams and independent observers.
23.11.2010 Election of the President: Pre-election Monitoring Report on Registration of Presidential Candidates
In general, registration of candidates took place without significant restrictions of the right of candidates to be elected. At the same time, the non-transparent character of signature verification process and check of documents presented by nominees for registration does not exclude chances for manipulation by election commissions and gives grounds to view the results of registration as politically not legally motivated.
23.11.2010 Election of the President: Pre-election Monitoring Report on Collection of Voters' Signatures in Support of Persons Nominated to be Presidential Candidates
Election commissions did not allow observers to be present at verification of signatures, explaining that under the Electoral Code observers may attend sittings of commissions, while verification of signatures took place outside such sittings.
22.11.2010 Pro-Lukashenka canvassing auto rally is an outrage against election legislation
According to the Belaruskaya Niva state-owned newspaper, on 19 November Saint-Petersburg activist launched a canvassing auto rally entitled ‘We are for Batska!’ The rally has been arranged by the Slavonic Brothers Russian society and AutoRadioClub.
22.11.2010 Brest Fair World activist keeps appealing election restrictions
Ms. Liudmila Dzenisenka, chair of Brest city office of the Fair World leftist party, has lodged a complaint with chair of Brest regional court against an earlier decision of Brest Leninski court, which upheld an administrative refusal to include the party’s representatives on local election commissions.
22.11.2010 Brest authorities block information on Ramanchuk’s visit
According to Marat Nestsiarenka, activist of Yaraslau Ramanchuk’s campaign team, Brest authorities blocked access to information on the candidate’s visit to the city on 21 November. A number of local state-run media refused to announce the visit due to ‘technical issues’. Brest authorities did not allow Ramanchuk’s campaign activist to post announcements in the city’s public places.
22.11.2010 Salihorsk residents demand deregistration of Lukashenka’s candidacy
A number of Salihorsk residents have submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court, demanding revocation of Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s registration as a presidential candidate. The claimants argue that Lukashenka’s registration is ‘illegal and runs counter to the Belarusian Constitution and subordinate legal acts.’
22.11.2010 Tax department to inspect HR activist Stefanovich
On 17 November, lawyer of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Valiantsin Stefanovich received a demand to submit an income and property declaration to the Belarusian Tax Ministry. The activist is expected to provide the papers by November 30, despite the fact he has already submitted a declaration in March 2010.
19.11.2010 Hrodna prosecutor’s office puts pressure on youth leader
Ales Kirkevich, deputy chair of the Young Front unregistered youth movement and activist of Vital Rymasheuski’s campaign team, has been summoned to Hrodna prosecutor’s office. During a conversation with Volha Kleshchanka, assistant to prosecutor of Hrodna region, the activist was told that he had been summoned to the prosecuting authorities following a complaint lodged by the mother of another activist, who had been allegedly forced to participate in an unregistered organization by Kirkevich.
19.11.2010 ‘Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections’: there are no changes on essential issues
On 19 November, representatives of the ‘Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections’ election observation campaign Aleh Hulak and Valiantsin Stefanovich held a press-conference, stating that the results of nomination and registration of presidential candidates are very disputable.
19.11.2010 Maladechna: state-run media keep canvassing for Lukashenka
Maladechna state-run newspapers have been engaged in indirect propaganda in favour of the current President, paying too little attention to covering the election progress, say local observers.
19.11.2010 Orsha canvassing venues extremely unfavourable
Orsha town executive committee has issued decision #1710, enumerating the list of authorized canvassing locations for presidential candidates. There are 14 authorized venues, in total. Most of them are unpopular places on the outskirts of the town.
18.11.2010 Salihorsk HR defenders appeal decision by local authorities
A number of Salihorsk human rights activists have submitted a complaint to the Central Election Commission against a decision by local executive authorities, severely restricting the number of authorized canvassing locations.
18.11.2010 Sannikau’s campaign team appeal canvassing restrictions
Ryhor Kryvitski, Mazyr activist of Andrei Sannikau’s campaign team, has lodged a complaint with the Central Election Committee and Mazyr district executive committee, arguing that the decision by local authorities on canvassing procedures violates the Electoral Code, since it considerably restrains opportunities for maintaining an efficient political campaign in the district.
