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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18:53 Forged boxes or Belarusian LEGO (Photo) 20
Some complaint about unreliability of ballot boxes were sent to the Central Election Commission and district election commissions by observers of the “election” and human rights activists from Brest. The claimers referred to the facts of using ballot boxes of old modification and possibilities o frigging.
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18:14 Helsinki Commission: Belarus Still Lacking Progress in Human Rights and Democracy in Run Up to Election 8
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Co-Chairmen of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), issued the following statement in the lead up to the September 28 parliamentary elections in Belarus.
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16:55 Your voice will be heard only at Square 1
District election commissions won’t allow the registered independent observers to be present at votes counting on September 28.
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16:10 CEC does not regard proposals and complaints of the opposition “a global issue”
The Central Election Commission (CEC) ignores most proposals and complaints by the opposition. Nearly all responses that the democrats get to their remarks and demands from the CEC are the same – the issues are too minor be considered, and the CEC last session proves it.
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14:04 Ballot boxes for early voting sealed only at the top, but easily opened from the bottom
Members of the polling station election commissions refuse to give date to authorised representatives of democratic MP candidates and observers of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee.
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12:46 Those, who didn’t withdrew from election, hinder Yarmoshyna 7
Head of the Central Election Commission Lidziya Yarmoshyna commented on withdrawal of opposition candidates during her meeting with Sergei Lebedev, head of CIC observer mission.
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12:22 Ideologist reminds who is “host” of polling station 4
On September 23, work of the polling station election commission #34 of Vitsebsk Chkalauski constituency #18 was begun with a speach of the head of ideological work of the administration of the Pershamaiski district of Minsk and member of the commission Mikalai Shlyupakou (who was a member of the commission for several times).
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9:28 Election commission refused to seal ballot boxes for early voting in Brest 5
On September 19, Sayrhei Vakulenka, an authorised representative of candidate Zmitser Shymanski, sent a proposal on sealing boxes, that will allow to avoid rigging during early voting, to the district election commission of Brest Central constituency #2.
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9:01 Viktar Ivashkevich “It’s up to you to decide who you are” 6
“Every Belarusian citizen is facing a choice whether to moan in the kitchen, post comments on the net or to act”, vice chairperson of the Belarusian People’s Front (BPF) party Viktar Ivashkevich said.
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17:49 Member of initiative group of opposition candidate detained 1
On September 22, physically challenged Vasil Siliverst, liquidator of the Chernobyl disaster, was detained in Yelsk at 10.00 pm. He is a member of the initiative group of Mikalai Haurylenka, UCP candidate for deputy of the “parliament” in Palesse constituency #43.
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17:18 Boycott to “election”. All go to Square! (Photo) photo 2
Young Front activists go on their everyday actions in the frames of the campaign “BOYCOTT 2008!”: graffiti urging to come to Kalinouski (October) square of Minsk at 8.00 pm September 28 appear in different cities of Belarus.
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16:25 Rector demands to vote early 25
The so called preventive conversations of teachers with students were held in Pushkin Brest State University today. As student of Faculty of History Aleh Lyohki told to Radio Svaboda, rector Mechyslau Chasnouski orders to university staff to vote early.
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16:11 Uladzimir Arlou: “I want to take part in historical events” 3
“The “election” can’t be named democratic and free even today. The voters have the right to gather at the square to discuss the situation,” famous Belarusian writer and historian Uladzimir Arlou said.
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12:42 Alyaksandr Kazulin: “Privatisation shouldn’t be carried on by means of backstage deals” 1
Former Belarusian political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin pays a working the politician visit to the US. The politician warned the West of recognition of the “parliamentary election” in Belarus, as its results are already known in the Lukashenka’s administration.
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10:19 Tatsyana Sevyarynets refused to run in “election” 2
Member of the organising committee on forming the Belarusian Christian Democracy party Tatsyana Sevyarynets came to a decision on refusal to run in the “election campaign”.
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9:09 Attack against MP candidate Andrei Levinau 4
Former militia officer, acting opposition MP candidate in the Vitsebsk Chyhunachny constituency #19 Andrei Levinau was attacked in his house at 7.30 pm September 22.
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8:38 One of the BPF leaders withdrew from “election” 1
Deputy head of the Belarusian Popular Front Alyaksei Yanukevich withdrew his candidature from the election. The politician was registered in the Autazavadskaya constituency of Minsk.
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18:12 Activists, arrested for campaign “Boycott 2008!”, released (Photo)
Activist of the Minsk Young Front Vadzim Khanyauka, arrested for 15 days for participating in the campaign of boycott of “parliamentary election”, has been released today.
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16:49 Early voting at Charter’97 website 12
We offer to the Charter’97 website visitors to give an honest answer to a question: Will you go to the poll?
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15:45
Lukashenka: “Only lies are on Belarusian state television today” (Video)
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Alyaksandr Lukashenka promises to the West he would hold fair and free election. The naive West applies best efforts to trust the last dictator of Europe, who is begging for recognition of his democratic “election to the parliament”. But the Belarusians know the cost of Lukashenka’s promises.
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13:34 Lyavon Barshcheuski: “We must be at October square of Minsk at 8.00 pm September 28”
“There wasn’t, no and won’t be election. We should demand holding new, really fair and democratic election,” leader of the Belarusian Popular front Lyavon Barshcheuski told in an interview to the Charter’97 commenting on results of the party council on September 20.
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12:28 Lukashenka ordered international observers to obey to “bosses” 7
At today’s consultations on the course of the “elections” Alyaksandr Lukashenka stated that observers at polling station should listen to “bosses”– chairmen and members of election commissions.
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11:56 For the attention of observers: Yarmoshyna calls to early voting 5
In Saturday’s issue of “Edinstvo” newspaper, founded by the Barysau district executive committee, an appeal to the voters informing about a possibility of early voting was published on the first page.
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11:18 Party leaders don’t recognise new “house” legitimate and call to protest
The political council of the political parties call on the international society to recognise the “parliamentary election” unfree and non-democratic, and new “house of representatives” illegitimate. The party call on their activists and all citizens of Belarus to go to October square of Minsk at 8.00 pm September 28 in sign of protest.
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10:16 Franak Vyachorka urged Swedish government not to recognise “election” in Belarus 2
Franak Vyachorka, one of the leaders of the BPF Youth took part in a conference of a youth wing of the Moderate party dedicated to foreign policy of Sweden.
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19:19 For observers’ note: Student forced vote early
Al student of High Tourism School of Belarusian State University are ordered to vote early at the “parliamentary election”.
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14:30 Paval Sevyarynets: “Voting today is deceit of Belarusian people”
One of the leaders of the Belarusian Christian Democratic movement Paval Sevyarynets talks on Radio Svaboda about whether the Belarusians should vote or not.
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14:21 Alyaksandr Dabravolski: “it can evoke logic suspicion that rigging is being prepared 1
“In the conditions, when it is impossible to print election materials and inform the electorate about my programme, I find it impossible to run in this “election”. It was the last drop. We offered a candidate to each polling station lection commission, but none of them was included. It evokes logic suspicion that rigging are being prepared,” deputy head of the United Civil Party Alyaksandr Dabravolski told in an interview to the Charter’97 press center.
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12:57
UCP leaders withdrawing from “election”. Lyabedzka goes all the way
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Five MP candidates, representing the United Civil Party, have stopped running in the “election campaign”. Among them are Stanislau Bahdankevich, Valyantina Palyavikova, Hanna Yahorava, Katsyaryna Malasaeva, and Alyaksandr Dabravolski. Head of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka decided to run in the “election” to the end.
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11:39 Minsk organisation of BPF party withdraws from “election” 2
A session of the city organisation of BPF party has taken place in Minsk. The session decided party members must withdraw from the “election” before the beginning of voting – September 23.
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18:26 Militiamen beat “Boycott” campaign participants with truncheons 6
Activists of the “European Belarus” civil campaign Stsyapan Lauretski and Vadzim Sakolin were arrested for posting “Boycott!” stickers were arrested in the Savetski district of Minsk at night 18 September.
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17:28 No fair votes counting: only appointed members stay in election commissions 2
The Central Election Commission has refused to consider an issue on unlawful forming of most polling stations election commissions.
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16:41 Lukashenka takes new hostages 14
On September 18, the Kastrychnitski district court of Hrodna began hearing of the case of recognition printed materials, seized by Hrodna border guards for some years, extremist. The trial was postponed and will take place in October after the “parliamentary election”. Lukashenka’s message to the west is clear – if you don’t recognise the “election” and my regime democratic, I will throw to prison 9 people.
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13:12 CEC didn’t dismissed complaints of UCP activists 1
Six members of the United Civil Party (UCP) were rejected in printing a common propaganda booklet in the form of special issue of “Narodnaya Volya” newspaper on lawful grounds, CEC spokesman Mikalai Lazavik said at the session of the Central Election Commission in Minsk.
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12:55 New repressions against opposition: KGB uses law on extremism 2
Today, on September 18, a journalist Andrzej Pisalnik, an activist of the United Democratic Party Uladzimir Laryn, young activists Yauhen Skarabutan and Alyaksei Trubkin, and a human rights activist Valery Shchukin were summoned to the court of Kastrychnitski district of Hrodna.
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9:49 Are most of election commissions formed illegitimately? 10
On Thursday a point about illegal forming of almost all precinct election commissions to be put before the Central Election Commission. Human rights activists, representatives of political parties and public associations will push for forming election commissions anew. There are many grounds for that. But the main thing, as lawyer Harry Pahanyajla explained, is that the principles of commissions forming are not in conformity with the Electoral code.
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15:27 Lyavon Barshcheuski: “West should stop dialog with Belarusian authorities on recognition of election” 3
Head of the Belarusian Popular Front Lyavon Barshcheuski thinks the action, held at October square in Minsk on September 16, has demonstrated unwillingness of the Belarusian authorities to democratise the country.
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14:23 “Major” Paulau was in charge of candidates for “deputies” beating (Photo, video) 24
During the disband of the rally of solidarity with the families of the abducted and assassinated opposition leaders in Belarus on September 16 in Minsk the chairman of Minsk city executive committee Mikhail Paulau was present. It was reported by the democratic candidates for “deputies” who were present on the square. Riot policemen brutally beaten up participants of the peaceful rally, including candidates for “deputies” of the “parliament” who were among them.
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13:58 Beaten on September 16 oppositionists to complain about riot militia to prosecutor’s office (Photo) 4
The opposition representatives, suffered during the solidarity action of September 16, are going to complain about actions of militia to a prosecutor’s office.
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13:43 Rally near Foreign Ministry of Poland: “Yes to Belarus! No to Lukashenka!” (Photo)
On the Day of Belarusian Solidarity September 16 near the building of Foreign Embassy of Poland in Warsaw a picket organized by representatives of the Belarusian expat community and activists of public organisations was held.
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13:31 Anatol Lyabedzka: “Authorities involved in disappearance of politicians. Hate to solidarity actions can’t be explained otherwise” (Photo)
Leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka, officially registered MP candidate, commented on the crackdown of a peaceful action on Solidarity Day to the Charter’97 pres center.
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11:52 Franak Vyachorka: “Riot militiamen kicked us. People shouted “Fascists! Fascists!” (Photo)
Youth leader Franak Vyachorka was brutally beaten up during crackdown of a peaceful action of solidarity at October square.
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11:05 Another democratic candidate withdrew 4
Deputy head of Hrodna region organisation of the Belarusian Popular Front Stanislau Sudnik withdrew his candidature from the “parliamentary election”. As the politician thinks, this “election“ will not be free and fair.
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10:34 Viktar Ivashkevich: “Lukashenka will tear up agreements with EU the same as riot militiamen tore up European flags”
Deputy head of the Belarusian Popular Front Viktar Ivashkevich thinks the authorities demonstrated how “parliamentary election” would in Belarus look like by crackdown of a solidarity action on September 16.
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10:25 Iryna Krasouskaya: “Rally in Minsk is an answer of Lukashenka to the visit of Sikorski” 10
The leader of the initiative “We Remember”, widow of the businessman and public leader who was abducted in Belarus, Iryna Krasouskaya, is convinced that the disband of the peaceful protest on September 16 means that Lukashenka’s regime is not going to change.
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8:40 Kazulin in Brussels: “Negotiations with Belarusian authorities without democratic forces are unacceptable” 8
On September 16, Alyaksandr Kazulin, invited by EU institutions to Brussels, had a number of meetings in the European Parliament.
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18:47 Candidates for “members of parliament” brutally beaten up in Minsk (Photo, video) 53
On September 16, on the Day of Solidarity, a rally dedicated to the anniversary of abduction of opposition leaders Viktar Hanchar and Anatol Krasouski was disbanded. Riot policemen have brutally beaten up the candidate for “parliament” “deputies”, including the leader of the United Democratic Party Anatol Lyabedzka, a deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Vintsuk Vyachorka and his son, a youth leader Franak Vyachorka and others. Riot policemen tore European and national flags.
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14:58 Pre-election search (Photo report) 3
Apartment of youth activist Mikhail Illin’s parents was searched yesterday in Brest by militiamen of the Maskouski district militia department.
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12:29 External debts exceeded USD 14 billion. Lukashenka needs legitimisation of “palatka” badly 21
Joint external debt of Belarus amounts to USD 14,115.6 million as for 1 July 2008, having increased by 13 per cent since the beginning of the year.
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10:25 Zmitser Bandarenka: “Do not eat poison! Demand new election!” 10
“People are not fools: for these years, Lukashenka has explained to them that the “house of representatives” doesn’t decide anything. It is a cause of a grassroots boycott: people are not going to vote at the “election”, one of the leaders of the “European Belarus” civil campaign Zmitser Bandarenka told in an interview to “BelGazeta” weekly.
Interview
Opinion
