First interim report on pre-election campaigning
OPORA’s analysis of public activities of political parties and potential candidates in August indicates a full-fledged launch of the pre-election campaign, which is unregulated by any electoral legal framework at this stage. The public activity with elements of electoral campaigning was manifested by 70 political parties. At the same time, 41 political parties from […]
The CEC has formed oblast, raion, and city election commissions
Formation of commissions The Central Election Commission and local organizations of political parties have properly realized their functions in regard to formation and staffing of key collegial bodies responsible for the organization of local elections on 25 October 2020 and overall election administration in oblasts, raions and cities. On 10 August, the deadline established by […]
Human Rights Situation in Belarus: August 2020
Image source: rferl.org Summary: on August 9, the Belarusian presidential election culminated in Election Day, which took place against the background of continuous repressions, an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in society; the electoral process did not meet international standards for free and democratic elections. The elections were marred by numerous violations and falsifications, […]
EaP CSF Belarus Monitoring Mission Report
The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Belarus Monitoring Mission has released their final monitoring report on Belarus. The report asserts that the presidential elections in the Republic of Belarus cannot be considered free or fair due to several violations of democratic norms and standards. As a result, the EaP CSF Monitoring Mission has developed a set of recommendations to […]
150 detained in weekend protests
Peaceful protest action in Minsk on August 30, 2020. Photo: spring96.org 125 people were detained during yesterday’s protest as tens of thousands continued to stage daily demonstrations in various cities of Belarus, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Twenty-nine were detained the day before yesterday, during a women’s protest in Minsk. Most detainees, […]
Financial police arrest another member of opposition coordination council
Liliya Ulasava Liliya Ulasava, a famous mediator and a member of the presidium of the Coordination Council, has been arrested by officers of the Department for Financial Investigations, according to a Council member Maksim Znak. Ulasava was detained after coming to a district police department in Minsk to provide explanations about her alleged involvement in […]
How to organize local elections during the pandemic
Elections amid Pandemic: International Practices and Recommendations for Ukraine CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS International Practices The growing pandemic caused by COVID-19 has had a major impact on the electoral management around the world. Over 50 countries have postponed their voting. Parliamentary elections in Serbia, Ethiopia, and Sri Lanka, presidential elections in Poland and Bolivia, or local […]
Police go back to arrests of peaceful protesters, strikers and opposition figures
Police detain protester in Independence Square in Minsk. August 24, 2020. Photo: tut.by Thirty-nine protesters faced administrative charges following yesterday’s protests in a number of Belarusian cities, the Interior Ministry’s spokesperson said. Three criminal cases were opened to investigate alleged violence against police officers, it said. Siarhei Verameyenka, an activist in Hrodna, faced criminal charges […]
1. Interim observation mission report
Promo-LEX issued its first election observation report for the presidential election, which will be held on 1 November 2020. They report the following during the pre-election period – party switching, especially within parliamentary parties, indicating a lack of an institutionalized party system; a lack of a stable and constant parliamentary majority; a noticeable impact of […]
What can the OSCE do in Belarus?
Image source: N1 info Many politicians and commentators have called for the involvement of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Belarus. The OSCE is a security body which includes 57 participating states, including all states of Europe, the US and Canada. It has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses […]