Presidential election 2015 in Belarus

MINSK, 15 July (BelTA) – A needs assessment mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will stay in Belarus on 15-17 July, the OSCE ODIHR’s representatives told BelTA.

According to the source, the mission’s report will be published roughly three weeks after the mission has returned from Belarus. In Belarus participants of the mission intend to meet with representatives of government agencies and the civil society as well as the main political parties, mass media, non-governmental organizations, and probable presidential candidates.

In accordance with ODIHR standards the mission is supposed to evaluate the pre-election atmosphere and preparations for the election. The evaluation will be used to make recommendations whether the OSCE ODIHR should monitor the election and how the monitoring should be done.

BelTA reported earlier that representatives of the needs assessment mission are expected to meet with top officials of Belarus’ Central Election Commission on 15 July.