Reports

Manual for the media identifying fake election observers

EPDE

Open
Document

This manual helps journalists identify politically biased or "fake" election observers during election processes.

 

EPDE Publication

Media and Freedom of Expression in the EU – Eastern Partnership and Russian Federation

EPDE

Open
Document

This report is published at a time of Russian invasion of Ukraine. It underscores the central role of freedom of expression in the maintenance of democracy at home, as well as international order and security abroad. This report provides the analysis and conclusions on the state of freedom of expression and the work of the media in seven countries of the EU Eastern Neighborhood, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and Russia.

 

Election report

Referendum 2022: Final report

BHC & Viasna
Belarus

Open
Document

Significant violations of national legislation and the fundamental principles of holding fair and democratic elections during the referendum, including depriving observers of the opportunity to witness the vote count, does not give grounds to trust the election results announced by the CEC.

 

Belarus

Constitutional referendum – findings and conclusions

BHC & Viasna
Belarus

Open
Document

The constitutional referendum took place against the backdrop of a profound socio-political crisis that began immediately after the 2020 presidential election and the pervasive atmosphere of repression targeting those disloyal to the authorities, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections issued their preliminary report of their expert mission to this referendum, examining the lack of any electoral reforms since the 2020 post-election crisis; the intransparent manner in which the draft amendments were presented and discussed publicly without outside critical involvement; the numerous violations of international standards and national legislation in preparing and conducting the referendum. There was no independent monitoring of all types of voting or the vote count due to the CEC restrictions on the number of observers at polling stations.

 

Belarus

No opposition nominees selected for PEC seats

BHC & Viasna
Belarus

Open
Document

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" within their joint campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" released an analytical report on the formation of precinct election commissions for the National Referendum scheduled for February 27, 2022. None of the nominated opposition representatives (42 persons) secured a seat on the commissions.

 

Election Report

Belarus: Discrimination of opposition and NGOs in formation of TECs ahead of constitutional referendum

BHC & Viasna
Belarus

Open
Document

The process of forming territorial election commissions (TECs) ahead of the constitutional referendum in Belarus has started. Entities eligible to nominate their representatives to the TECs were given an extremely short period of time, only one working day, which could seriously affect the nomination process. The bulk of nominees to the TECs are representatives of the five largest pro-government organizations. Of the 20 nominees from the opposition parties, none was authorized.

 

Election Report

Belarus: first report on the eve of the National referendum

BHC & Viasna
Belarus

Open
Document

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" within their joint campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" released the first report on the eve of the National referendum sheduled for February 27, 2022.

 

 

Analytical Review

Human Rights Situation in Belarus in 2021

Viasna
Belarus

Open
Document

Viasna released an analytical review on the human rights situation in Belarus in 2021. Human rights observers state that criminal and administrative persecution, arbitrary arrests, dismissals and expulsions have become the main tools of authorities for retaining power and repressing opponents, critics of the regime, and dissidents.

 

Presidential Election

What are the minimal conditions under which a free and fair presidential election could be conducted in Belarus?

EPDE & DRI
Belarus

Open
Document

In the context of Belarus’ current political crisis, demands for minimal conditions needed for the holding of free and fair presidential elections in Belarus could be made by the Belarusian public and the opposition if snap elections were to be called. This paper proposes recommendations for all stages of the election cycle and concludes that a competitive election could be held in Belarus without changes to existing laws if the government demonstrates the necessary political will to safeguard certain minimal conditions.

 

Presidential Election

Final observation report shows electoral process did not comply with international standards

Belarusian Helsinki Committee / Human Rights Center "Viasna"
Belarus

Open
Document

The electoral process at all its stages did not comply with a number of basic international standards for holding democratic and fair elections and was accompanied by numerous violations of these principles and provisions of national legislation. Significant violations, including the deprivation of observers of the opportunity to observe the counting of voting results, does not give grounds to trust the election results announced by the CEC.

 

EPDE Publication

Money and politics – need for new rules of the game

EPDE

Open
Document

In recent years, election experts observed significant increase of spending on election campaigns. The transparency of party and campaign financing became one of the key requirements to ensure the integrity of today's election processes. To raise awareness about the urgent need to increase transparency, our newest comparative study analyzes the regulation and oversight of political party and campaign financing in the EU - Eastern Partnership and Russian Federation.

 

Presidential Election

Belarus Election Alert #7

EPDE
Belarus

Open
Document

Photo: Viasna

A volunteer coordinator of EPDE’s member organization, the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, as well as her husband were detained yesterday over charges of causing mass riots. Meanwhile, her husband has been released. There is a growing pressure on civil society in the country as authorities' repressions continue. Human rights organizations as well as the European Parliament and UN experts call for a cessation of violence by authorities against protestors and for the release of now over 80 political prisoners in the country.

 

Presidential Election

Preliminary report on the presidential election

Belarusian Helsinki Committee / Human Rights Center "Viasna"
Belarus

Open
Document

The Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections state in their preliminary report on the conduct of the presidential election that the electoral process at all of its stages did not comply with a number of basic international standards for democratic and fair elections and was accompanied by numerous violations of these principles and requirements of national legislation. Full report now available.

 

Presidential Election

Belarus Election Alert #6

EPDE
Belarus

Open
Document

Photo: www.newsabc.net

Following the presidential election on August 9 and the declaration of Lukashenka's victory, protests broke out across Belarus. They were dispersed violently by law enforcement agencies, resulting in numerous injuries, at least one casualty, and thousands of arrests. In this post-election edition Election Alert, we share the preliminary report and post E-Day statements of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections and of other election monitors and experts.

 

Presidential Election

Weekly Report - early voting

Belarusian Helsinki Committee / Human Rights Center "Viasna"
Belarus

Open
Document

From the first days of early voting, observers from various civic initiatives faced obstacles from PEC members and police officers. Numerous observers were removed from polling stations, deprived of accreditation, and even detained. The restrictions imposed by the CEC on the number of observers at polling stations during early voting made this electoral phase completely non-transparent for independent citizen observation. These restrictions were aimed at disrupting independent observation of this stage, rather than pursuing the declared medical safety measures in connection with the pandemic.

 
latest