Originally published at Belarus Digest. Please leave any comments there.

The Belarusian authorities ran the elections taking no chances to ensure the maintenance of the political status quo. Opposition candidates who offered even the hint of a threat were not registered, some TV debates were not broadcast to prohibit any advocating of an election ( Read more... )

Originally published at Belarus Digest. Please leave any comments there.

The 2012 parliamentary election in Belarus is over. The Central Elections Committee announced those who will be in the new parliament.

A typical MP is a non-partisan male aged between 50 and 60. He made his career in state sector - either working for government institutions or ( Read more... )

Originally published at Belarus Digest. Please leave any comments there.

The 2012 parliamentary campaign election campaign ended in defeat of all political actors in Belarus.

On the one hand, the Belarusian opposition was unable to mobilise society. On the other hand, the authorities received the expected results from a made up "political depression ( Read more... )

Originally published at Belarus Digest. Please leave any comments there.

The international observers monitoring the parliamentary elections in Belarus present their preliminary post-election statement at a news conference in Minsk.

The international observation is a common endeavour involving the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human ( Read more... )

Originally published at Belarus Digest. Please leave any comments there.

Today's parliamentary elections are the simplest for Belarusian election committees. Because the majority of the opposition has boycotted the elections, the election committees have almost no need to rig the votes. In any event, when neither the observers nor even individual ( Read more... )

Originally published at Belarus Digest. Please leave any comments there.

In about a month, Belarusians will vote in parliamentary elections.

Although parliamentary elections have become a mere formality since the late 1990s, each time they arise the Belarusian opposition actively discusses whether it makes sense to participate in them. The ( Read more... )

Originally published at Belarus Digest. Please leave any comments there.

In September 2012, Belarusians will be asked to elect a new parliament. The opposition is still deciding whether to take part in the elections. They are not sure for a good reason: election fraud has become common practice in the country at all levels. Although Lukashenka ( Read more... )