The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has issued a press release informing that an Election Observation Mission for Parliamentary Elections in Belarus is starting its work. The full text of the statement follows:

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The official visit of the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, to Belarus, is to take place from 9 to 11 of September, 2004, told press secretary of the Belarusian FM A. Savinykh.

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On September 2 Human Rights Center Viasna has received information from soldiers of one of military units in the town of Slutsk. According to the information of one of the military men. The military station commander of Slutsk, in which several military units are included, has given an order to support for pro-presidential candidate in the elections.

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Prior to registration as candidate in the parliamentary elections, an activist of the United Civic Party, Yawhen Labanovich, received a warning from the district electoral commission. Yawhen Labanovich is standing in the 101st Yesenin constituency of Minsk.

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The Minsk embassy of Lithuania - a NATO member from this year - today became a NATO contact point embassy in Belarus. A contact point embassy is an informal NATO mission whose main task is to provide information about the alliance`s activities, aims and goals to the country`s public at large, the media, academic establishments and communities, as well as NGOs, a Foreign Ministry press release said.

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The Justice Ministry urges the United Civil Party and the Belarusian Popular Front Party to obey strictly the laws of the Republic of Belarus, including those regulating mass meetings organization. The Ministry of Justice also demands to abide by its directive from July 1, 2004, and either register in the coalition “Five Plus” in accordance with the applicable procedure, or stop participation in it, the ministry informed the BELTA news agency.

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The head of the strike committee of entrepreneurs, Valery Levaneuski, has spent in prison four months precisely. Yesterday was the fifth day of the proceedings against Levaneuski and his deputy Aliaksandar Vasilyeu. They are charged with public defamation of president Lukashenka. The state accuser Panasiuk is trying to prove that in the leaflet with a poem, which was distributed by the strike committee chairman, the president was insulted.

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