belarus executive summary - US Department of State

BELARUS 37
at local polling places appeared to be from government-sponsored NGOs; many of
them received instructions in advance to report to foreign observers that the
proceedings were “in order.”
However, the most serious violations took place after the polls closed, when, as the
OSCE/ODIHR mission observed, the situation “deteriorated significantly.” In
many instances international observers reported that counting was conducted
silently and at a sufficient distance as to make evaluation of the count impossible.
There were a number of reports that vote totals changed as the ballot boxes were
transported between local precincts and the territorial election commission offices.
No genuinely independent organizations were permitted to conduct exit polls, but
in the opinion of the independent NGO “For Fair Elections,” which monitored 250
polling stations across the country, the president failed to gain the 50 percent of the
vote necessary to avoid a runoff. The official results gave Lukashenka 79.65
percent of the vote against nine other candidates.
The September 2008 parliamentary elections also fell significantly short of
international standards for democratic elections, according to the final report by the
OSCE/ODIHR observer mission.
Political Parties: Authorities routinely harassed and impeded the activities of
independent political parties and activists. There were several instances of
violence against prominent members of the political opposition during the year.
Some opposition parties lacked legal status, as authorities refused to register them,
and the government routinely interfered with the right to organize, stand for
election, seek votes, and publicize views. Approximately half a dozen largely
inactive political parties loyal to the regime were allowed to operate freely, even
though they appeared to be little more than fig leaves for a system that had de facto
excluded party politics.
Political parties continued to receive formal “warnings” for minor offenses under a
law that allows authorities to suspend parties for six months after one warning and
close them after two. The law also prohibits political parties from receiving
support from abroad and requires all political groups and coalitions to register with
the Ministry of Justice.
Authorities continued to harass the unrecognized Union of Poles and its members.
Participation of Women and Minorities: While there were no laws that prevented
women or minorities from voting or participating in political life on the same basis
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2011
United States Department of State • Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor