News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 12 February (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has given instructions to set up an interagency expert group to study the OSCE recommendations and come up with proposals regarding their application as soon as possible. The head of state gave the instructions as he met with Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Lidia Yermoshina on 12 February, BelTA has learned.

We need to briefly discuss the results of the 2015 Belarus president election presented by the OSCE/ODIHR mission, the Belarusian leader said.

Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that it took OSCE/ODIHR unusually long – three and a half months – to prepare the final report on the 2015 president election in Belarus. “It took them a lot of time. I have noticed that the final report is not much different from the interim one. Still, it contains some recommendations, requirements,” the President noted.

Lidia Yermoshina said that the interagency group of experts will be established already on 12 February. Its work will be monitored by the Central Election Commission. The group is expected to submit proposals regarding the OSCE recommendations in a month.

Lidia Yermoshina told journalists that the CEC will sum up the recommendations of the interagency expert group and present proposals on how to streamline the election process to the head of state ahead of the parliamentary elections.

"Nevertheless, I can say right away that there is no changing of the electoral laws in the immediate future. These recommendations will be implemented via improving the regulatory enforcement practice which is defined in the methodological guidelines of the Central Election Commission,” Lidia Yermoshina noted.

Lidia Yermoshina noted that the international partners said they want Belarus to give serious consideration to these recommendations. “This is a demonstration, first and foremost, of our commitment," she said.

“The Central Election Commission has long been working to study these recommendations and apply them in practice in the course of the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Nevertheless, we believe that an integrated approach is needed to make sure that this procedure should involve not only the Central Election Commission but also our most authoritative government bodies at the level of experts who would offer their opinion on these OSCE recommendation and also the ways to implement them,” Lidia Yermoshina said.

Alexander Lukashenko suggested discussing the issues related to the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Belarus, and also some other matters.