Central Election Commission aired a warning towards the election headquarters of the single democratic candidate Vladimir Goncharik. On August 27 at the sitting of the CEC the materials asserting the infringements of law by Goncharik’s team were examined. As a proof the facts of mass free distribution of independent newspapers “Nasha Svaboda”, “Rabochy”, “Belarusskaya Molodezhnaya”, “Den”. The free distribution of the independent press is viewed by CEC as voter’s bribing.

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“The Belarusian Government`s crackdown on the independent press, the domestic observation effort, and its own civil society call into question its intention to meet OSCE standards,” – said US ambassador David T. Johnson in his August 23 report on US-Belarus relations to the OSCE Permanent Council. Following comes the full text:

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Leader of the unique candidate’s election office Valentina Polevikova told the journalists about the organization of voting at the closed precinct stations, based at military sites. The lady pinpointed that the data, which she feels like sharing with the press, had been received from reliable sources. It appears that on the day of voting whole of the enlisted personnel of the Belarusian army will be transferred to the barracks.

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On August 24 in Minsk “Mogilyovskaya” Metro station was to be launched. It was expected that Lukashenko would grace with his presence the event. But it happened so that at this time he inspected the durability of the bridge across the Berezina river. The underground workers and the corresponding services did not dare to take responsibility to sign the documents on formal acceptance of the construction themselves. The launching was put off until August 27, when A.Lukashenko could find an hour to be a passenger

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Belarusian authorities banished from the country US citizen Robert Filding for activities that were defined as “interference into the republic’s internal affairs”, Belarusian TV reported on Sunday with a reference to the KGB source. Filding is barred from entering Belarus for the next five years. KGB also warned that “any attempts of foreigners to interfere into the interior affairs of Belarus, regardless of their status, would be cut short, even entailing the enforced deportation from the country”.

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Mr. Urban Ahlin, MP and deputy Secretary General of the Swedish Social Democratic Party opened a manifestation at Norrmalmstorg in central Stockholm today and urged Lukashenko to arrange a free and fair election in September. Hundred activists were gathered and released 100 balloons (white and red) to the sky with the same message attached to Lukashenko.

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August 28 is Dmitry Zavadsky’s birthday. His 29th anniversary will be marked by his fellow-journalists and all caring for the destiny of the disappeared a year ago ORT cameraman by another action in front of the presidential residence in Karl Marx str. 38.

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Influential international human rights watchdog ARTICLE 19 addressed president Lukashenko over the continued harassment of independent media outlets in the Republic of Belarus. It reminds Lukashenko that denial to grant recognition to the 2000 parliamentary elections has been caused by limitations, imposed on free media in Belarus. Following read the full transcript:

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A group of police officers led by lieutenant-colonel Alyonushkin, deputy chief of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Mogilev city executive committee for public order, and lieutenant-colonel Yermakov, deputy chief of a district police department, attempted to break into the regional campaign headquarters of presidential candidate Vladimir Goncharik in Mogilev at 8 p.m. on August 25.

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Petr Prokopovich, head of the National Bank of Belarus (NBB), on August 24 urged banking workers in the Gomel region to electioneer for Belarus current ruler Alexander Lukashenko.

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US ambassador in Minsk Michael Kozak in his letter to the British newspaper The Guardian confirmed certain common features between Nicaragua in 1989-1990 and present-day Belarus: “Our objective and to some degree methodology are the same. Then we worked with the Sandinista authorities, the Organisation of American States, other countries in the region, and the former Soviet Union to encourage a free, fair and transparent election.

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The Political Rada (council) of the opposition coalition’s single presidential candidate Vladimir Goncharik has issued a statement to condemn the Neman-2001 military exercise, which the Belarusian government planned to begin on August 26, as a show-of-force move in the run-up to the country’s presidential election.

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Delegates of the First All-Belarus Female Forum ruled during their August 25 assembly in Minsk to uphold at the elections the unique candidate from democratic forces Vladimir Goncharik. The ladies, who constitute 60% of the country’s populace, motivated their decision by the desire of changes.

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Welcoming an official delegation from Minsk, the Taiwan Premier Czhan Tsunsun called on Belarus to open representation in Taipei. Tsunsun told the head of the visiting side – first deputy Minister of Finance Nikolai Rumas – that Taiwan is awaiting the fulfillment of the long-pending commitment, which Belarus bound herself with in 1996, to open a Belarus diplomatic compound in Taipei. In response, Nikolai Rumas called on the hosting side to continue deliver financial assistance to Belarus to overcome economic shambles. Taipei’s representation in Minsk was opened on June 1, 1996, half year after the signing of the protocol and the Republic of China (Taiwan’s self-name) earmarked a $35mln worth loan for Belarus.

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