Belarus parliament elections

Preparations for parliamentary elections in Belarus hailed as calm, well-administered

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MINSK, 16 October (BelTA) – The CIS observation mission hails calm and well-administered preparations for the elections to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev told the media, BelTA has learned.

The CIS launched its election observation mission on 4 September. A headquarters has been set up at the CIS Executive Committee. Its head and members have already met with representatives of the Prosecutor-General’s Office, the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Internal Affairs Ministry. The parties discussed preparations for and the organization of the parliamentary elections. The mission is in contact with the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus. Members of the CIS headquarters attend CEC sessions. Representatives of the CIS observation mission (and these are representatives of different states) have already visited all Belarusian oblasts to see how the preparations for the elections proceed.  

“We are happy with calm and well-administered preparations for the elections,” said Sergei Lebedev.

According to the CIS mission, great attention is paid to the preparations for the elections from all the government structures. The major task set forth at the highest level is to secure a good organization of the campaign and ensure the Belarusians’ right to the freedom of expression.

The registration of the CIS observers is underway. Applications are submitted from all member states. “As many as 302 observers from the CIS countries have been registered so far. They will be deployed some three or four days ahead of the election day. We believe that the total number of our mission will make up some 400 people,” Sergei Lebedev said.

The mission comprises MPs of the CIS member states, representatives of central election commissions, and CIS diplomats accredited in Minsk.

“We have received no information related to any complaints submitted to the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Internal Affairs Ministry with which we are in close contact. We are following the situation. If there are any complaints, we will register them, while the appropriate agencies of Belarus will have to respond to them,” Sergei Lebedev said.

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