Boycott-2008
Parliamentary “elections” are to be held in Belarus in autumn 2008. In the connection with tightening of political repressions in the country, unwillingness of the regime to liberalise the electoral legislation, as well as with the fact that since 1996 all elections and referendums in Belarus have been recognised as unfree and nondemocratic by international organisations, Zmitser Bandarenka, coordinator of Charter’97, has addressed the democratic forces with a proposal to boycott the elections.
Topic: Boycott-2008
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16:48 Head of Ministry of Internal Affaires Navumau deceived by subordinates 10
Minister of internal affaires of Belarus Uladzimir Navumau says militia doesn’t record violations and doesn’t bring people to administrative responsibility during the “election campaign”.
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16:34 We mustn’t go on a leash of regime. Democratic candidates from Homel region withdraw from “election” 18
Representatives of the United Civil Party, the Belarusian Popular Front, unregistered Party of Freedom and Progress and the Belarusian Christian Democracy said today in Homel they would boycott the so called parliamentary election holding in Belarus in autumn.
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16:18 Number of contenders: 2.5 persons per for a deputy seat
276 persons have been registered as candidates for deputies of the “house of representatives” of the “national assembly” (out of 365 nominated). There will be 2.5 persons per one deputy seat.
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15:11 The activist of “European Belarus” persecuted for Boycott graffiti on monument to Lenin 3
The activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Yauhen Skrabets was detained on 28 August on suspicion of drawing Boycott! Graffiti on a monument to Lenin situated at the same-name square.
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15:07 Young leaders call upon parties to withdraw their candidates from “elections” 4
Leaders of youth organisations have addressed leaders of oppositional parties with a call not to take part in the electoral farce.
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14:34 More than half of candidates from European List weren’t registered
28 opposition activists from the European List run in the ”parliamentary election” weren’t registered as MP candidates. 51 people from the European List applied for registration.
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12:19 Uladzimer Labkovch: “It is not improbable that Belarusian Popular Front party will adopt decision to withdraw its candidates”
At the moment it is known that precinct election commissions have not registered at least 20 candidates from the list of the democratic forces. And these figures are not final.
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11:50 What a long time we are asking! 16
A short time ago we could hear from lips of the most political parties’ leaders: if the regime won’t change the electoral legislation and won’t amend the Electoral code, parties won’t take part in the elections. They have been denied that. Then the following conditions have been laid down: to widen observers’ powers, to make transparent ballot boxes, admission to vote counting procedure. There was a denial again.
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17:06 Elections to be non-alternative in one third of constituencies in Hrodna region 3
In four out of 13 constituencies of Hrodna region only one candidate will take part in the elections to the “chamber of representatives”.
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16:30 Viktar Ivashkevich and Vintsuk Vyachorka weren’t registered as MP candidates 2
Deputy chairs of the Belarusian Popular Front Viktar Ivashkevich and Vintsuk Vyachorka weren’t registered as MP candidates.
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15:40 Anatol Lyabedzka: «OSCE does not have sufficiently profound knowledge of Belarusian reality” 9
The head of the OSCE office in Minsk Hans Jochen Schmidt told in an interview to “Interfax” that the opposition should participate in the “elections” more actively.
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15:34 Alyaksandr Milinkevich: “I’m not supporter of boycott. We must show we haven’t died” 52
Leader of the “For Freedom” movement Alyaksandr Milinkevich doesn’t think boycott of the “parliamentary election” is effective and believes the opposition should run in the “election”.
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13:32 “European Belarus” activist arrested for calling to boycott and protest against falsification 4
The Leninski district court of Minsk sentenced activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Paval Luksha to ten days of arrest for distribution of “Vybor” newspaper calling to boycott the oncoming “parliamentary election” and protest against possible rigging of the “election” results.
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12:44 Will BPF withdraw its candidates from “elections”? 6
A resolution about a possible withdrawal from the “parliamentary electors” if the regime continues repressions against candidates of the party and democratic activists was adopted at the extraordinary congress of the Belarusian Popular Front party on August 9.
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12:30 Anatol Bukas: “I think democratic activists should withdraw their candidatures” 1
Editor-in-chief of “Borisovskie Novosti” independent newspaper Anatol Bukas, a representative of the Euroepan List, who run in the election, was registered as an MP candidate in the Barysau city election district #62.
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12:14 Syarhei Salash: “I will call upon my voters to boycott the “elections” 6
An activist of the Belarusian Popular Front party, included in the list of the United Democratic Forces candidates, an activist of “For Freedom” movement Syarhei Salash, hasn’t been registered as a candidate for deputy in Barysau rural district No.63.
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10:58 Belarusians know about elections “boycott” (Photo) photo
Thousands of leaflets with a call to boycott the upcoming “parliamentary elections” have been received by dwellers of regional capitals of Belarus.
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10:02 “Troublesome” questions to members of electoral committees prohibited 4
In Rechytsa an article about an official of the regional executive committee Ala Isachenka has been published before the agitation period. Observer Uladzimir Kashchenka asked who had nominated her. In response he was promised that a report on violation of his status of an observer would be drawn up against him.
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9:16 “Elections” started to remind travelling show 14
The voting day was still unknown when the chairperson of the CEC Lidziya Yarmoshyna stated that including one (!) representative of democrats to electoral commissions is a “provocation”.
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16:58 Criminal case opened against candidate for deputy Karetnikau 4
On august 26 oppositional activists Yury Karetnikau found out that a criminal action had been brought up against him.
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15:57 “Statement saying there are no political prisoners is treachery of us!” 4
A number of statements saying there remains no political prisoners in Belarus after release of Kazulin, Kim and Parsyukevich has increased lately. Participants of the trial of 14, sentence on them has recently come in force.
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14:27 EU shouldn't lift sanctions against Belarusian regime 4
Former political prisoners don’t think their release is a ground of reviewing EU’s positions towards Belarus.
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13:12 Minsk says: “Boycott!” (Photo) photo 2
Young people more and more actively shows its attitude to the “parliamentary electiosn” planned on September 28.
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12:58 Christian democrats questioned in blast case
Officers of criminal investigation questioned leaders of the organising committee on creation a civil organisation “Belarusian Christian Democracy” (BCD) in the case of 4 July blast in Minsk.
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12:45 KGB puts pressure on member on Volha Kazulina’s initiative group 1
Yana Palyakova, a member of the initiative group for collection of signatures in support of Volha Kazulina’s nomination as a candidate for deputy, has addressed the press-service of the former political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin.
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12:10 Kalyakin: “Our country gained independence in rather strange way” photo 43
Leader of the Party of Communists of Belarus Syarhei Kalyakin is the only of the leaders of the United Democratic Forces, who supported proclamation of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
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11:27 Democratic candidate Syarhei Salash detained in Barysau
The activist of the democratic movement and MP candidate is writing explanation in a militia station.
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11:03 Prosecutor-General's Office shut its eyes to mass violations of electoral laws 3
After about a month and a half the Prosecutor-General's Office answered to the letter of oppositional political parties’ leaders. Facts of violations of electoral laws and exerting pressure on oppositional activists were enumerated in the letter.
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17:41 Only opposition supporters haven’t been included in precinct election commissions
As it has become known from publications in the state-run media, 1192 representatives have been nominated to 107 precinct election commissions in two election districts of Barysau region through submission of applications, from labour collectives, political parties and public associations.
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17:16 Arrests for spreading leaflets calling to boycott “election” 2
Two opposition activists, spread leaflets calling to boycott the “parliamentary election”, were detained in Brest on 25 August.
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16:54 Ales Antipenka: It’s clear for all media that election result is “fated” 2
Mediaexpert Ales Antipenka thinks low media activity in covering the election campaign can be explained by the fact the election result is “fated”.
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13:21 Saulius Peceliunas: “I do not think serious changes have taken place in politics of Belarus”
A member of the Lithuanian Sejmas’ parliamentary group “For Democratic Belarus”, Homeland Union Political Group member Saulius Peceliunas calls upon the authorities of Lithuania not to hurry softening the policy of isolation against Belarus.
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