Parliamentary elections in Belarus 2008

Minsk, Belarus. Two days after election - love is all around us.

The most warm and nice welcome we recived in small committee in the outskirts of Gomel in the psychatric hospital. We had to wait for the chief around 20 minutes because all the patients voted before we came /200 voters, 100% voted/. When he arrived he invited us for a cup of tea, very good cake and small snacks.

Ironically the most normal commission members I had chance to meet were in the pychiatric hospital.

/Secretary of the chief has recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. Congratulations!

Flowers and greetings cards in the background of the photo/

You can hear it from over 200 metres. It’s loud and positive. No matter what music was played the lyrics on this day were always the same: “Come and vote” !

Just after the polls will be closed on Sunday evening at 8 pm, opposition is organising demonstration again elections in center of Minsk.

Hanging of above poster is illegal, one can be arrested for that…

One of the election commities on Saturday In Gomel, last day of preliminary elections. Foreign journalist is definetely a big surprise for them, and I guess voters also,  - guard was watching movie from DVD…

Two days before election day, I took a train from Minsk to Gomel. Through the wagons speakers Belarusian radio was broadcasted. Seven women and five men were listening to music. They were reacting to the music, made eye contact.
Until the news started at 7pm. They freezed. Four minutes long, the speaker was talking about elections and candidates. All started looking in the middle of nowhere. No-one blinked positively or negatively. No-one commented. No-one made any body reaction. Nothing. Then the music started again. Everyone came alive again. They shared the joy of music.

Two days berofe Parliamentary Elections 2008. In dictatorship country - love is all around me. In Minsk there are few spots were freshly marriend couples do photo sessions. This is one of many I run into in 45 min

Woman in upper right corner is an opposittion candidate in ofe of the Minsk districts. My guide was explaining me that in one of the shops and I noticed that the teenage girl was carefully listening to us. So when Ira said “The woman is ok, but those three. They are… u know… Lukashenka” - the girl smiled.

Ironically.

The first election comittee I have visitted. Because I arrived to Misnk only an hour before, I didnt’t manage to pick up my official press accreditation. At the beginning they didn’t allow me and my colleagues to take pictures but when some of us showed copy of document, they didn’t see any more problems.

And they were very nice to us. That was first sign of different approach to this elections. Peaceful one. Too peaceful.

Those posters can be found everywhere - on the bus, in shops, in election committies, in hotels - everywhere.

In the background of the first poster one can see magnificent library built by Lukashenka as a gift to Belarusian nation.