Presidential election 2015 in Belarus

MINSK, 2 September (BelTA) – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has deployed its long-term election observation mission throughout Belarus, BelTA informs.

The OSCE/ODIHR formally opened its election observation mission for the 11 October presidential election in Belarus on 26 August. The mission is led by French diplomat Jacques Faure and consists of a core team of 11 experts (representing 10 countries) based in Minsk and 36 long-term observers (from 16 countries) to be deployed in teams of two across the country. In addition, ODIHR will request 400 short-term observers to monitor proceedings on election day.

Observers will closely monitor the candidate and voter registration process, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, and the resolution of election-related disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.

In the course of its observation, the mission will meet with representatives from state authorities and individual candidates, representatives of the civil society, the media and the international community.

On the election day, observers will monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results. For the election day, the mission plans to join efforts with delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and other parliamentary partners.

A statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued on the day after the election, on 12 October. A final report on the observation of the entire election process will be published approximately two months after the completion of the election process.

The CIS election observation mission has been also deployed in Belarus.