2.07.2008

One more “European Belarus” activist in jail on Akrestin Street 7

17:50, — Politics

Paval Yukhnevich, activist of the “European Belarus” civil campaign, is serving his 7-day arrest in the jail on Akrestin Street in Minsk since today.

Oppositionist taken to mental hospital due to his refusal to collaborate with KGB 6

17:10, — Politics

Activist of the youth organisation “Civil Forum” Artsyom Zabaryn was taken to the Minsk mental hospital for examination after he had refused to answer questions of the KGB offices.

1.07.2008

Opposition candidates pressed by taxation authorities 7

16:51, — Politics

Democratic activists, nominated by opposition political parties for candidates for the autumn “elections” to the “house of representatives”, are called to tax departments. Relatives of opposition politicians are checked, too.

Belarusians to boycott elections 16

13:29, — Politics

Internet edition “Belorusskie Novosti” carried on Internet polling on the topic “Who will you vote for at parliamentary “elections”?” The absolute majority (about 50 per cent) said they are not going to participate in the “elections”, which are to be held on 28 September 2008.

Arrested Young Front activist stands trial again

9:25, — Politics

Artsyom Lastavetski, Young Front activist from Baranavichy, who is serving 7-day arrest for handing out portraits of political prisoner Andrei Kim, was guarded to another trial from a detention center.

30.06.2008

MP Adam Lipinski: “sanctions against Lukashenka’s regime shouldn’t be lifted” 27

15:39, — Politics

“Poland’s policy towards Belarus remains unchanged, there will be no talks with Lukashenka and all our initiatives are aimed only at common people,” Polish politicians responded in an interview to Polskie Radio to a statement of Andrei Sannikov, one of the leaders of the “Civil Belarus” civil campaign, in which he accuses the Poland’s government of treachery of Solidarity movement’s ideals.

Regime starts cruel repressions against “election” observers 9

14:39, — Politics

A member of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, a human rights activist from Maladechna, one of the participants of the monitoring in the elections to the “chamber of representatives” of the “national assembly” of the Republic of Belarus Eduard Balanchuk has been punished under 2 articles of the Criminal Code. The case was studied in the court of Maskouski district of Minsk by judge Kharkevich.

Uladzimer Labkovich: repressions will only tighten ahead of “elections” 1

13:16, — Politics

Commenting on detentions of activists, human rights defender Uladzimer Labkovich said the authorities were creating traditional for previous “elections” atmosphere.

Students studying abroad are not allowed to leave Belarus

12:59, — Politics

Belarusian activists who had been expelled from Belarusian universities on political reasons and who are studying in foreign universities now, are stopped on the border and told that they are prohibited to leave Belarus.

29.06.2008

UCP representative in Central Election Commission arrested 11

13:46, — Politics

Mikhal Pashkevich, activist of the United Civil Party (UCP) has been detained in Minsk. He was sentenced to restraint of liberty without sending him to penitentiary institutions for participating in protest actions of entrepreneurs.

27.06.2008

Andrei Sannikov: It’s treachery of Solidarity movements’ ideals 27

8:22, — Politics

“There isn’t much new in the position of Polish diplomacy. For a long time a line to recognition of the Lukashenka’s regime has been pursued confidentially, but today it was likely to be decided to avow it. If information about new Poland’s approaches towards the situation in Belarus is true, it can’t be named other than treachery of the Solidarity movement’s ideals,” Andrei Sannikov, international coordinator of Charter’97, one of the leaders of the “European Belarus” civil campaign, said.

25.06.2008

Political parties will withdraw their candidates if not allowed to join constituency commissions 12

18:08, — Politics

The democratic parties reserve the right to withdraw their candidates in case the authorities refuse to include representatives of the parties to constituency electoral commissions for election of “chamber of representatives” deputies. It has been stated by leaders of oppositional political parties at the press-conference in Minsk today.

Belarusian flag waved about hour on Soviet square in Hrodna (Photo) 13

15:35, — Politics

Youth activist held an action in Hrodna, which was the beginning of a number of event on boycott of the "parliamentary elections".

UCP deputy head Lyudmila Hraznova: “Opposition can boycott elections” 4

10:29, — Politics

The opposition won’t be allowed to cross a permitted line at the “parliamentary elections”, Lyudmila Hraznova, deputy head of the United Civil Party, believes.

Council of Europe notices absence of dialog between authorities and opposition in Belarus 2

9:13, — Politics

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s Subcommittee on Belarus discussed the situation in Belarus in the context of elections.

We protest against cancelling of freedom of speech 15

8:09, — Politics

In connection with the adoption of the shameful Law on Mass Media in the second reading by the “house of representatives”, which among other actions tries to restrict freedom of speech in the Belarusian Internet, the Belarusian Association of Journalists non-governmental organisation calls on all journalists and bloggers, working in by.net, to join a one-day action “Hour of Silence”.

24.06.2008

Belarusian police fears boycott (Photo) 14

17:07, — Politics

Stickers “Boycott” have emerged in the streets of Minsk. Police’s reaction to their pasting was nervous.

Milinkevich refused to run in parliamentary “elections” 9

16:43, — Politics

Leader of the “For Freedom” movement Alyaksandr Milinkevich won’t run in the coming parliamentary “elections” as a candidate for deputy.

CCP-BPF boycotts “elections” 6

16:36, — Politics

“Participation of oppositional forces in the lection farce is an important step in the directon of legitimization of the “chamber of representatibes”, told the deputy head of the Conservative Christian party Belarusian Popular Front Yuras Belenki to Radio Svaboda.

Nasta Palazhanka: “Youth will organise own campaign - campaign of boycott of the “elections”” 2

15:24, — Politics

“The youth is disappointed in elections. It is clear from the statements of the authorities’ representatives that the “elections” won’t be democratic. The Young Front believes these “elections” are another game of the authorities,” Young Front activist Nasta Palazhanka said.

Civil campaign “European Belarus” doesn’t run in elections 2

13:26, — Politics

Some websites have reported that “the “European Belarus” movement announced the decision to run in the elections.” We asked Andrei Sannikov, one of the leaders of the civil campaign “European Belarus”, to comment on the reports.

Campaign has been launched. What kind of campaign? 7

12:13, — Politics

The Central Election Commission has announced an election campaign for electing deputies of the “chamber of representatives” and members of the “council of republic” which is planned for September 28. However Lukashenka hadn’t signed the decree for holding the “vote” before noon.

23.06.2008

Uladzimir Parfyanovich: “There’s no “parliament” in Belarus now” 4

17:28, — Politics

Alyaksandr Lukashenka has recently made a statement, which surprised the former deputies of the “house of representatives”. “Parliament is a supreme legislative power, where one should write laws,“ he said speaking about the future composition of the “parliament”.

Yarmoshyna: Democrats’ requests can possibly be taken into account 10

14:58, — Politics

It is possible that the request of the United Democratic Forces to include their representatives to constituency election commissions will be taken into account, said the Chairman of the central Election Commission Lidziya Yarmoshyna.

European parliament deputy Jacek Protasiewicz does not believe election in Belarus will be free 2

13:54, — Politics

The chairman of the Delegation of the European parliament for relations with Belarus Jacek Protasiewicz believes that the parliamentary elections in Belarus won’t be free.

20.06.2008

“Parliamentary” election campaign to start 24 June

15:37, — Politics

Interfax has learnt it from the president’s press service after the meeting between Alyaksandr Lukashenka and head of the Central election Commission Lidziya Yarmoshyna.

Yarmoshyna: “Electoral campaign will be held in traditional way”

10:39, — Politics

A draft decree on appointing the date for “parliamentary” elections was introduced to Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Head of the Central Election Commission Lidziya Yarmoshyna said it. According to her, “the coming electoral campaign will be held in a traditional way, no special novelties are expected.”

19.06.2008

Lukashenka: “Parliament” should write laws, not point finger at 59

14:22, — Politics

The Belarusian head of state thinks only “hard-working people, who used to plough, build and teach” must be elected to the “parliament”. “If you see the people who didn’t even knock in a stake, keep away from them,” A. Lukasheka said speaking to students of the Minsk universities after the ceremony of opening construction of the Minsk Campus.

18.06.2008

Students “prepared” for parliamentary elections 9

11:30, — Politics

By his decree Alyaksandr Lukashenka increased size of all kinds of state bursaries to young students. It is worth mentioning that the decree was signed on June 17, while bursaries are raised since April 1.

Criticism of authorities to be equivalent to “extremist activity” 15

9:35, — Politics

The “house of representatives” adopted amendments to the law of the Republic of Belarus on extremism countering in the second reading on 17 June. The amendments will reduce the activity of political parties during the electoral campaigns, opposition politicians believe.