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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10:31 Miron thanked for boycott of “elections” 2
A white-red-white national flag appeared on the roof of a five-storey house in Gorky Street in Vitsebsk at 10 in the evening yesterday.
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8:53
Sensation: List of members of Belarusian “parliament” was made beforehand
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There are reliable data that the results of the recent “parliamentary elections” in Belarus were rigged. Belarusian independent media received a list of names of probable members of the new “parliament” some days before the “elections”. After the results of the “election” were announced, it was found out that absolute majority of the people from this list got into the “parliament”.
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11:10 Ales Byalyatski: “Authorities are not ashamed of observers” 4
Belarusian human rights activists state that it is almost impossible to inform the public about the reported by them facts of violation the laws and falsification of the “elections” in Belarus, and the authorities use it shamelessly.
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14:51 Сhanges in Belarus possible only after holding really free election (Photo, video) 14
It has been stated today at a press-conference in Minsk by leaders of the Belarusian opposition Andrei Sannikov, Lyavon Barshcheuski, Viktar Ivashkevich and Zmitser Dashkevich. The results of the “parliamentary elections” have been rigged, the voting turnout was warmed up several times. A real people’s boycott of the electoral farce has taken place in Belarus.
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9:56 CEC ignores complaints at falsifications of “elections” results 2
Spokesman of the Central Election Commission Mikalai Lazavik said complaints of observers and former MP candidates wouldn’t influence the results of the “parliamentary elections”.
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8:59 Gazeta Wyborcza: Thaw in Belarus ended 3
The Belarusian authorities created an impression of political thaw and stopped persecuting of oppositionists before the “elections”. But the next day after the “elections”, the Ministry of Internal Affaires said the opposition had “seriously violated public order” on September 28, after closing of polling stations. Polish Gazeta Wyborcza concluded: the “thaw” in Belarus has ended.
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18:09 Statement of BSDP (Hramada): “Regime overstated total per cent of voters’ turnout” 2
The Belarusian Social Democratic party (Hramada) has adopted a statement on “parliamentary election” in Belarus. Violations of the law faced by activists of the party during the election are documented in the statement.
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16:15 In Lukashenka’s native land commission members signed empty protocols
At some polling stations of Shklou district up to 70% of voters took part in early voting. Members of commissions took ballot boxes to the villages.
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14:50 Canada disappointed at “parliamentary elections” in Belarus 1
The Department of Foreign Affairs of Canada expressed deep concern regarding the conduct of Belarus's September 28 “parliamentary elections”.
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11:49 German press: “Lukashenka issued challenge to Europe. Sanctions against this regime mustn’t be lifted” 3
Western observers were probably more disappointed at the results of the “elections” in Belarus than the Belarusians, German Süddeutsche Zeitung thinks.
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10:52 Speaker of old “house of representatives” accused OSCE of “nonconstructivity” 5
Speaker of the “house of representatives” of the “national assembly” Vadzim Papou hopes that final conclusions of the OSCE on the “parliamentary elections” in Belarus will be adjusted to some extent.
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9:21
Europe won’t lift sanctions against Belarusian regime (Updated)
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The European Parliament will soon consider a draft resolution on relations with Belarus. In view of non-democratic character of the “parliamentary elections” in Belarus, the draft resolution doesn’t say about lifting the sanctions against the Belarusian regime.
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15:23 Czech Republic: “Election in Belarus fell short of European standards”
Foreign Ministry of the Czech Republic with a reference to reports of OSCE and US observers has stated today that the “parliamentary vote” in Belarus fell short of the European Standards.
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15:01 BPF candidate called up for army on “elections” day 1
Democratic activist Vital Karatysh wasn’t given an opportunity to wait for the results of the voting in Luninets constituency #13.
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14:28 Observers from Zhlobin: “Something secret was happening at polling stations at night” 2
Elections in Zhlobin constituency, like in the whole country, were not democratic and free, local independent authorities concluded.
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13:44 Courageous observer disclose swindle: turnout faked (Video) 22
An observer representing the United Civil party, Svyatlana Vyarhejchyk, has documented swindle by district election commissions at Minsk polling stations 484 and 485 of Staravilenski district, where Anatol Lyabedzka was running. According to the observer’s calculations, the voting turnout has been overstated almost twofold!
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13:00 Figures leaping
Observers managed to get data on results of separate vote count at some polling stations. The results are different in a remarkable manner.
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10:24 Majority didn’t go to “elections” 26
Opinion polls “did you go to election?” is being conducted at the biggest Belarusian web portal TUT.by. The absolute majority of the voted didn’t go to polling stations.
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10:09 Anatol Lyabedzka: “Foreign cameras disappeared, and authorities returned to well-tried methods” 5
The Ministry of Justice of Belarus demands the opposition parties to give explanations concerning a rally against rigging of the results of the “parliamentary elections” held on September 28 in Minsk. Independent lawyers don’t see a ground for claims of the authorities to the parties.
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9:49 Banquet for those who ensured victory 9
Leanid Arlou, MP candidate in Mozyr constituency #42, who came to lodge a complaint at the elections results, was a witness of an unexpected final of the session of the district election commission.
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9:41 In Homel “election” invalid in most constituencies 5
The six days of the voting observers of the United Democratic Forces counted the number of voters and compared their figures with the figures of the commission. Observers state that falsifying the numbers of those who cast a vote was noticed first during the early vote”
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9:04 France, president of EU, concerned at “elections” in Belarus 8
The EU’s French presidency he EU's French presidency on Tuesday voiced concern at the parliamentary elections in Belarus after the OSCE judged the vote to be non-democratic, the AFP reports referring to the EU’s statement.
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17:34 Chairman of European Parliament Commission Jacek Protasiewicz: “West allowed being deceived” 6
“The West has allowed being deceived by Lukashenka,” stated the European Parliament deputy, the chairman of the commission on Belarus, commenting on the results of the “parliamentary elections” in Belarus.
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17:15 Democratic candidates appealed against “elections” results 3
For MP candidates, members of the United Civil Party, Party of Communists of Belarus, and the Belarusian Popular Front, disputed the results of voting in their constituencies. 35 complaints at “elections” results were filed to the Central Election Commission.
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16:50 Flawed victory for 'last dictator' Lukashenko as Belarus elections denounced 13
It should have been a triumph for the black arts of spin-doctoring. For months Alexander Lukashenko, often dubbed the last European dictator, has been advised by the veteran British consultant Lord Bell on how to appear to be the very model of a modern democratic statesman.
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15:51 Secretary General of the Council of Europe: “Lukashenka never loses opportunity to lose opportunity” 3
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis called the elections of September 28 a lost chance for Belarus. Lukashenka never loses opportunity to lose opportunity. It was a hope that the recent “elections” would be a turning point in voluntary isolation of Belarus from the rest of Europe. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen, Mr Davis said about the “elections”.
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15:02 70% were written in Mahilyou 3
Figures in Mahilyou Industrial constituency #87 have become known. According to the results of the protocol, 20.7% have voted for Social Democrat Rasyuk, and pro-regime candidate Melnikau received 70.8%.
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14:38 Elmar Brok: «Europe won’t recognize results of “elections” in Belarus”
A German Member of the European Parliament Elmar Brok believes that Europe won’t recognize the results of the “election” in Belarus, as they didn’t correspond to international standards.
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14:07 Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc: “Election” in Belarus was held in conditions of Lukashenka’s absolute authoritarianism” 4
The Belarusian opposition had no chances at the “parliamentary elections”, as voting was held in conditions of Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s absolute authoritarianism.
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12:09 Authorities try to assure Belarusians the OSCE recognised “election” 22
Belarusian television didn’t say a single word that the OSCE/ODIHR election monitoring mission didn’t recognise the “parliamentary election” in Belarus and said they had fell short of OSCE standards. Words of heads of the OSCE mission were extracted from context, Russian Vremya programme on ONT stat-controlled was replaced with ads.
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11:14 Zyanon Paznyak: “Blind executors of mindless directives” 10
The chairman of the Conservative Christian party Belarusian Popular Front Zyanon Paznyak has commented the results of the election to the “parliament” to Radio Svaboda:
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8:44 US disappointed: Department of State harshly criticised “elections” in Belarus 14
Ten US thinks the “parliamentary elections” in Belarus fell short of international standards and the government failed to uphold pledges for a transparent vote count.
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18:36 Zyanon Paznyak: 25-30% of voters have participated in “election” 20
The chairman of the Conservative Christian party Belarusian Popular Front Zyanon Paznyak believes that only about 25-30% citizens of the country have taken part in the “parliamentary election” in Belarus. Such an opinion has been expressed by the politician in an interview to Polish Radio.
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15:38 OSCE observers didn’t recognise “elections” in Belarus (Photo) 56
The OSCE/ODIHR monitoring mission didn’t recognise the “parliamentary elections” in Belarus free and democratic. OSCE observers noticed vote counting was “bad or very bad” in 50 per cent of cases. 40 per cent of observers said they had had difficulties with access to vote counting. The elections ultimately fell short of OSCE standards.
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14:20 Independent Belarusian observers: “Election” is undemocratic, “parliament” is illegitimate 10
Members of the campaign “Human Rights Activists for Free Election” said at a today’s press conference in Minsk that the “parliamentary elections” were unfree and undemocratic and theri results couldn’t be recognised as legitimate.
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13:34 Anatol Lyabedzka: “Only 40% of voters turned up in my precinct” 14
On September 29 at a press-conference dedicated to the results of the elections the leader of the United Democratic Party Anatol Lyabedzka stated that in most election districts there was no vote count at all.
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13:23 Belarusians don’t believe Yarmoshyna’s figures (New photo, video) 9
Unfree and undemocratic “parliamentary election” in Belarus has evoked protests of Belarusian citizens.
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12:49 After protest rally on October Square Franak Vyachorka and Moladz BNF beaten up
On September 28 right after the protest rally against rigged election results, four active participants of the rally were beaten up. One of the leaders of the Moladz BNF (The Belarusian Popular Front youth branch) Franak Vyachorka was among them.
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11:54 BT distorted words of OSCE Mission head 6
On September 29 the mission of OSCE observers at the “parliamentary elections” in Belarus has made a statement about a wrong interpretation of statements of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Director Janez Lenarcic by Belarusian TV channels.
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10:48 Lyabedzka: “Lukashenka deceived Europeans” 9
Today, leaders of opposition political parties have given their estimation of the yesterday’s “election” for the “house of representatives”.
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9:42 European Belarus: Recognition of falsified election is out of question 3
The civil initiative “European Belarus” made a statement on the “parliamentary election”, held on September 28.
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8:56 Ihar Rynkevich: “We haven’t been boycotting in vain” 30
A Belarusian Social Democratic Party member, a candidate for deputy of the “parliament” in Kalvaryjskaja constituency (Minsk), Ihar Rynkevich believes that by his participation in the elections the opposition motivated people to take part in the elections.
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1:54 According to data for 100 constituencies, opposition wasn’t allowed to the “parliament” 16
None of Belarusian oppositionists got to the “house of representatives”, CEC head Lidziya Yarmoshyna said at a press conference.
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0:59 Mass protests in Belarus: “election” results rigged, new “parliament” illegitimate (Photo report) 1
Demonstrations of protest against rigging of the results of the “parliamentary election” were held in Minsk on September 28.
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0:14 Give us new election! (Photo, video) 22
Protest actions against rigging of the results of the “parliamentary election” were held in Minsk today. The Belarusian opposition calls the election farce and urges the international community not to recognise the new “house of representatives” as legitimate body. Demonstrators in the Minsk center demanded new free elections.
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19:20 Figures of turnout in Minsk overstated twofold 3
On the main voting day polling stations cannot be called crowded. The number of citizens who have come to cast their vote today, can be counted by dozens. But according to reports of election commissions, there are hundreds of them.
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19:12 Mass protests in Minsk: “election” is fraudulent (ONLINE report, photo, video) 92
Mass protest rallies against rigging of the election results with a demand to hold new fair election takes place in Minsk today.
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18:45 In Homel regime overstated voters turnout twofold
An activist of the United Civil party Alyaksandr Pratsko, who is carrying out observation at the polling station #27 of Homel Soviet constituency #34, tells that the difference between his information about the voters turnout and the commissions’ figures is twofold.
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17:15 Observer from Germany made a picture with the last dictator of Europe 14
Today at the polling station journalists witnessed a talk of Alyaksandr Lukashenka with an observer from Germany, a Bundestag deputy.
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16:50 Observer Svistun approved “election” (Photo of document) 3
Observer Maksim Hubarevich managed to make a copy of a unique document – Act of Voting, which must be kept by head of the polling station election commission #19 of Hrodna-Tsentralny constituency #50 Turkou O. V.
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