Press Releases from BelTA (23 total)
CEC Chair: ODIHR did not rebuke Belarus election until final report
MINSK, 27 December (BelTA) – It was the first time the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights voiced no discontent with Belarus election until their final report was released, said Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Lidia Yermoshina in an interview with the ONT TV Channel on 26 December, BelTA has learnt.
“There were no critical remarks until the morning of 20 December,” Lidia Yermoshina said.…
Belarusian opposition ‘bet heavily on street protests’
MINSK, 23 December (BelTA) – During the presidential election the Belarusian opposition was focused on street protests from the start, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Belarus Alexander Surikov told media on 23 December.
The diplomat said that it was obvious who will win the election from the start and the opposition bet heavily on street protests. Instead of fighting for votes they aimed to resolve problems via protests in…
Fair competition for votes in Belarus
MINSK, 20 December (BelTA) – Conditions for fair competition for power and votes have been created in Belarus, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said at the press conference held on 20 December for Belarusian and foreign mass media.
“The process was so transparent that people were confused whether it was an election or a reality show. All the conditions for fighting for power honestly and winning hearts of voters have been…
Belarus President urges law enforcement not to respond to provocations
MINSK, 15 December (BelTA) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has urged law enforcement agencies not to respond to provocations and to provide for the safety of Belarusian citizens during the election period, BelTA has learnt from the presidential press service. Today the president held a meeting that focused on the ongoing election campaign and matters of public security during this period.
“Naturally, they (the opposition) are always shouting ‘Square, square,…
Candidates for Belarus presidency ‘preparing a provocative act'
MINSK, 13 December (BelTA) – Alternative candidates for the Belarus presidency are preparing a provocative act when they call upon people to take to the streets and come to Oktyabrskaya Square for a rally. Head of the Belarus President Administration Vladimir Makei made the statement in an interview with RTR-Belarus TV Channel on 11 December.
Vladimir Makei is convinced that some presidential candidates deliberately urge their adherents to make a pretty…
Belarus to ratify all Single Economic Space documents by 1 January
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko assured that Belarus will ratify all the documents on the formation of the Single Economic Space by 1 January 2011. The Belarusian President made this statement following the session of the EurAsEC Interstate Council in Moscow on 9 December, BelTA has learnt.
“I assure you that we will ratify all the documents on the Single Economic Space formation by 1 January. We will ratify them before our…
Belarus’ CEC goes extra mile to keep ballot papers safe
MINSK, 30 November (BelTA) – The Central Election Commission of Belarus has taken additional measures to keep ballot papers safe. The measures are laid down by an addendum to early voting guidelines. The addendum was approved at the session of the Central Election Commission of Belarus on 30 November.
CEC member Nadezhda Kiseleva reminded that measures had been taken to enable open and transparent early voting in line with this year’s…
Belarus' CEC warns two presidential candidates
MINSK, 30 November (BelTA) – The Central Election Commission of Belarus has issued warnings to presidential candidates Vitaly Rymashevsky and Nikolai Statkevich for organizing and carrying out an unsanctioned public event in the center of Minsk. The decision was made at the 30 November session of the Central Commission for Elections and National Referendums of Belarus on 30 November.
Secretary of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Nikolai Lozovik explained…
Lukashenko: Russia finances Belarusian opposition’s presidential candidates
MINSK, 25 November (BelTA) – President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has evidence that Russia finances the Belarusian opposition’s presidential candidates Vladimir Nekliaev and Andrei Sannikov. Alexander Lukashenko made the relevant statement in an interview with the French daily Le Figaro on 25 November.
Asked whether Russia helps part of the Belarusian opposition, Alexander Lukashenko said: “It does and we know it. We have facts. Vladimir Nekliaev and Andrei Sannikov are the…
First-hand monitoring of vote count in Belarus president election promised
MINSK, 23 November (BelTA) – Observers will be able to watch the vote count procedure, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Lidia Yermoshina said during an online conference on 23 November. Hosted by BelTA, the conference was dedicated to "The presidential election in Belarus: new ways of pre-election campaigning".
"Observers will be able to watch the vote count procedures. Moreover, the CEC has passed a resolution to allow…
Ten presidential candidates registered in Belarus
MINSK, 18 November (BelTA) – The Central Election Commission of Belarus has registered ten people as candidates for the Belarus presidency, BelTA has learned.
The candidates are incumbent president Alexander Lukashenko as well as Grigory Kostusev, Aleksei Mikhalevich, Vladimir Nekliaev, Yaroslav Romanchuk, Vitaly Rymashevsky, Andrei Sannikov, Nikolai Statkevich, Viktor Tereshchenko, and Dmitry Uss.
The Central Election Commission has denied registration to Vladimir Provalsky because only 118 signatures he had submitted turned out…
OSCE/ODIHR long-term observers to arrive in Belarus on 17 November
MINSK, 15 November (BelTA) – Long-term observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) will arrive in Belarus on 17 November, head of the mission Ambassador Gert Arens told reporters on 15 November, BelTA has learnt.
“OSCE/ODIHR long-term observers will come to Belarus as early as on Wednesday. On Friday they will be deployed at their posts across the country,” Gert Arens said.
According to him, the…
Six candidates for Belarus presidency submit registration papers
MINSK, 12 November (BelTA) - Six people have filed documents with the CEC to get registered as presidential candidates, BelTA learned from Secretary of the Central Election Commission of Belarus Nikolai Lozovik.
The Central Election Commission has received registration documents from incumbent head of state Alexander Lukashenko and also from Yaroslav Romanchuk, Vitaly Rymashevsky, Andrei Sannikov, Nikolai Statkevich and Vladimir Provalsky. However, the latter stands no chance for registration as…
Ten people line up for race for Belarus presidency
MINSK, 9 November (BelTA) – Ten people have real chances of becoming the president of Belarus, Secretary of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Nikolai Lozovik told BelTA.
Following preliminary examination of the authenticity of signatures given in support for nominating the presidential candidates, ten aspirants, who have provided over 100,000 signatures, except for Vladimir Provalsky, retain the right to continue the election campaign and the possibility of becoming presidential…
EU: freer election campaign in Belarus this year
The European Union praises a freer presidential election campaign in Belarus in 2010. This statement was made by Bundestag member, Chief of Staff of the German Chancellery and Federal Minister for Special Affairs Ronald Pofalla in Minsk on 4 November, BelTA has learnt.
“We see that the situation has improved in Belarus. The restrictions that existed before, in particular on collecting signatures for potential candidates, have been lifted,” he said.
Ronald…
Belarus’ CEC: No blind eye to violations of election laws
MINSK, 1 November (BelTA) – The Central Election Commission of Belarus is not going to turn a blind eye to violations of election laws during the collection of signatures, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Lidia Yermoshina told media on 1 November.
Asked whether the liberal approach that the Central Election Commission showed during the collection of signatures will stay in place for the registration of candidates, Lidia Yermoshina said…
OSCE ODIHR observation mission to arrive in Minsk in early November
MINSK, 27 October (BelTA) – Long-term observers from OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights are expected in Minsk in early November, Head of the OSCE Office in Minsk Benedikt Haller told media on 27 October.
A total of 40 long-term and nearly 400 short-term observers are expected to arrive.
OSCE long-term observation mission will focus on the social and political situation in the country, election legislation and its application, monitor…
Strictly legal presidential election in Belarus, Lukashenko vows
MINSK, 25 October (BelTA) – President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko will do his best to make sure that the forthcoming presidential election will be in strict compliance with national laws and international standards. Alexander Lukashenko made the relevant statement as he received credentials from foreign ambassadors on 25 October, BelTA has learned.
The Belarusian head of state told the foreign diplomats that the country's political and economic life is open to…
Lukashenko urges EU to give up stereotypes about presidential elections
MINSK, 20 October (BelTA) – The European Union needs to give up the stereotypes regarding presidential elections, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko told media following the meeting with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite on 20 October.
“If the EU is still in the grip of the stereotypes which have developed in previous years, they have to put them aside,” Alexander Lukashenko said. He stressed Belarus’ direct interest in “having no one pointing at…
OSCE to deploy long-term observation mission in Belarus in November
MINSK, 19 October (BelTA) – The OSCE mission will deploy its long-term observation mission in Belarus in November, BelTA learnt from Secretary of the Central Election Commission Nikolai Lozovik.
“The OSCE informed Belarus that it plans to send 40 long-term observers to the country in mid November,” Nikolai Lozovik stated. He added that the OSCE is set to send nearly 400 international observers to Belarus on the election day, December 19.
The…
Belarusian Reporters Union advocates duty and honor in election coverage
MINSK, 14 October (BelTA) – Delegates of the 12th congress of the Belarusian Reporters Union that took place in Minsk on 14 October passed a resolution regarding the coverage of the Belarus president election campaign in mass media, BelTA has learned.
The resolution reads that tension in mass media is usually high in such times. The Belarusian Reporters Union calls upon all colleagues in Belarus and abroad to keep in…
Belarus’ CEC to specify procedures for declaring incomes of presidential candi …
MINSK, 12 October (BelTA) – The Central Election Commission of Belarus intends to consider procedures for declaring incomes of presidential candidates and for using mass media during elections at its session on 14 October, BelTA learned from Secretary of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Nikolai Lozovik.
The CEC is expected to give the candidates a 20% leeway for calculating their income and incomes of their relatives. The 20%…
Polotsk-Steklovolokno to sell more firefighting blankets in eastern countries
MINSK, 4 October (BelTA) – The Belarusian company Polotsk-Steklovolokno intends to expand the market of firefighting blankets, which are made of siliceous fabric, in eastern countries. Traders from China, South Korea and Singapore are among potential buyers, Polotsk-Steklovolokno representatives told BelTA.
The company established new contacts as it took part in an expo of fire-fighting technologies and materials in Shanghai, China in September. At the expo the company presented siliceous…
