May 12th, 2011
Six people convicted of taking part in a political rally protesting the reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko were sentenced today. Vladimir Loban, Evgueniy Sekret and Serguey Kazakov were sentenced to three years in a labour camp and Andrey Fedarkevich, Dmitry Doronin and Vitaly Matsukevich were sentenced to three and a half years.May 11th, 2011
As politicians and journalists face trial for mass street protests, Olga Birukova explains the climate of fear and intimidation journalists face
Tags: Tags: Belarus, elections, Olga Birukova,
January 29th, 2011
Inspired by unrest in Egypt and Tunisia, the opposition has staged massive protests demanding President Saleh’s resignation but so far there is no sign of a grass-roots move for change. Iona Craig reports
Tags: Tags: elections, Iona Craig, Middle East, protest, Yemen,
December 19th, 2010
- Two opposition leaders beaten
- Tens of thousands gather in Minsk’s Independence Square
- Lukashenko claims 79 per cent of poll
- Index on Censorship told of 31 detentions prior to demonstrations
Belarus Free Theatre founders arrested
Up to 600 protestors detained
As the world’s attention turns to Europe’s last dictatorship, Index’s Mike Harris explains the bakground to today’s demonstrations
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December 14th, 2010
Two supporters of opposition candidates in the upcoming presidential election in Belarus have been attacked in the Western region of Hrodna. Kiryl Semyanchuk, who supports Uladzimer Nyaklaeu was assaulted by two men while he was distributing leaflets. A passer-by claimed she witnessed the two men leave a police car before the attack. In a second incident on the same day, Danila Kylauko, a supporter of presidential candidate Yaraslau Ramanchuk was hit and verbally abused by one man. Belarus’ presidential election is set to take place on 19 December.Tags: Tags: elections, free speech,
November 22nd, 2010
The Muslim Brotherhood has said that more than 1,000 of its members and eight of its candidates have been arrested ahead of next week’s parliamentary elections. Over recent days the group’s supporters have clashed with security forces in several cities. The Muslim Brotherhood is banned from the elections but it bypasses restrictions by putting up their candidates as independents. This tactic proved successful in the 2005 elections and the brotherhood currently control a third of the seats in parliament. The arrests have been criticised as part of a wider government crackdown on opposition electioneering.Tags: Tags: censorship, Egypt, elections, Muslim Brotherhood,
October 19th, 2010
Egyptian authorities have continued their pre-election crackdown on the independent media. Most recently private production companies that provide live broadcast services to independent television stations have had their licences revoked. It is reported that they will have to broadcast directly from studios affiliated with the state in order to receive new licences. The move follows the sacking of an opposition newspaper editor, the refusal to allow entrance to international monitors, and restrictions on sending out mass text messages. Critics say this is bound to inhibit reporting in the run-up to both November’s parliamentary elections and next year’s presidential poll.Tags: Tags: Egypt, elections, media censorship, television,
October 13th, 2010
Unconfirmed reports suggest the ruling military junta in Burma plans to release of thousands of prisoners early to allow them to vote in November’s elections. The total number of detainees set for release is reportedly 11,000. It is not yet clear whether any of Burma’s 2,200 political prisoners will be freed. Detained pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been banned from running in the elections — the first in the country for 20 years — and there are fears that the voting process will be heavily controlled by the government. Under the new constitution some 25% of seats are guaranteed for the military.Tags: Tags: Burma, elections, political prisoners, prisoners, Release,