News for 3 лютага 2010
Civil activist fired over run in elections
Mikalai Rasiuk, Mahiliou civil activist, faces dismissal by Lavsanbud Ltd. ahead of running for in the local council elections. The activist says he is not going to panic and will run in the forthcoming elections.
Slauharad town authorities get tough on ideological maintenance of elections
Slauharad town executive committee is going to intensify the ideological control over the local elections campaign, states a special plan released by the authorities. The precautions will include arranging meetings at state-owned enterprises and educational institutions
Scandal: How opposition activists expelled from universities
Professors of the Belarusian National technical University were forced to low grades to an opposition activist to expel him from university.
Amnesty International: Another political prisoner in Belarus
Believer Ivan Mikhailau, convicted on February 1, has been recognized prisoner of conscience. The court of the Minsk district sentenced Ivan MIkhailau to three months in jail.
Criminal case of Yury Kazak to be considered by court of appeal
The criminal case of the Belarusian Christian Democracy’s Navahradak activist Yury Kazak will be considered under appellate proceedings by Hrodna Regional Court on 18 February, says Mr. Kazak’s legal counsel Pavel Sapelka.
Chairperson of Central Election Commission distorts norms of electoral legislation
According to information of state media, by 14 February the local authorities must determine the places for holding pickets on collecting signatures in support of candidates. Lidziya Yarmoshyna, Chairperson of the Central Commission on elections and holding of republican referenda, voiced this information on 1 February at press-conference in Minsk. However, human rights defenders state that such demand contradicts to Article 61 of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Belarus, where it is stated that ‘…collection of electors’ signatures can be conducted in the form of picketing. No permission is needed for it unless the picketing is held in places that are banned for picketing by the local executive and regulatory authorities.’
Court didn’t grant complaint of Homel city UCP organization against non-inclusion of its member in election commission
On 2 February Siarhei Shytsikau, Judge of the Tsentralny District Court in Homel, didn’t grant the complaint lodged by the Homel city organization of the United Civil Party against the decision of the Homel city executive committee and the Presidium of the Homel city Soviet of deputies by which the UCP member Yury Varonezhtsau hadn’t been included in the commission. The court ruled that the decision had been taken in line with the legislation, without any violations.
Baranavichy: reliability proved by time
On 1 February the first sitting of the Baranavichy city election commission took place. Siarhei Housha came to it as an observer from the Belarusian Language Society. Yury Shastsiarniou, former army officer who used to head election commissions during earlier elections, was unanimously elected Chairperson of the commission. At present Yury Shastsiarniou is Deputy Chairperson of the TV Company Intex. Tatsiana Zhytko, Chairpersons of the ideological department of the Baranavichy city executive committee and constant member of election commissions, was elected his deputy. By the way, she was nominated to the commission by the trade union of workers of state organs. Almost a half of members of the commission are pensioners. One of them, Ivan Dzehilevich, is 83.
Babruisk: in search for apolitical members of election commissions
The Babruisk officials engaged with staffing for members of precinct election commissions. Administration of enterprises and state institutions already tells the workers they must become members of these commissions.
Vitsebsk: political activist Taras Surhan sentenced to a year of preventive supervision
The reason for supervision is that the Vitsebsk activist Taras Surhan had been detained three times and convicted for participation in oppositional actions. The Chyhunachny District Court in Vitsebsk sentenced the activist to a year of preventive supervision.
Opposition representatives state they can boycott ‘elections’
The democratic forces may stop participating in the election to local deputy Soviets. This statement was made by leaders of the United Civil Party on 2 February. According to them, the first stage of the campaign, formation of district commissions, was held in traditional style, when the opposition is being thrown out of the campaign.
Unlawful detention by KGB
For Yaraslau Halouchankau and Uladzimir Rahanau, young members of Free Trade Union from Brest, celebration of Christmas in European countries ended with writs to the KGB and long talks in one of its offices.
