In Belarus, the candidates for the House of Representatives of the fifth convocation will be given prime time to speak on the state Radio and TV - from 17:00 to 20:00. This was announced by Secretary of the Central Election Commission of Belarus Nikolai Lozovik. According to him, the time may be different in the regions - it depends on the number of constituencies and the registered candidates there.
The Homel-based Savetski Rayon state newspaper keeps using defamation against opposition leaders, as part of a campaign traditional for pre-election period. The newspaper’s reporter Aliaksandr Yauseyenka once again says Belarusian opposition activists “are not ready for the elections”.
Hlybokaye opposition activist Yaraslau Bernikovich faces an unscheduled audit from local tax inspection after he announced his intention to run in the upcoming parliamentary election. According to Mr. Bernikovich, the audit of his firm called “Prefekt-Info” is directly linked to his political activities, as the tax inspection officials do not conceal the fact, saying they received “an order” from Minsk.
- The election campaign begins in unfavorable environment, on the background of political repression, in conditions of the pressure on the opposition forces and the civic society. Political prisoners continue to stay behind the bars, and the recent arrest of independent journalist Andrzej Poczobut demonstrates intensification of the repression against the independent media.
