Monitoring launched

Long-term observers from OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights begin monitoring of Presidential elections in Belarusian regions

The ODIHR/OSCE officially opened its monitoring mission on August 26th, headed by French diplomat Jacques Faure. The mission comprises a team of 11 experts (from 10 countries), working in Minsk, as well as 36 long-term observers (from 16 countries) who will be placed in groups of 2-3 countrywide.

The ODIHR is to invite 400 short-term observers to monitor the election process in the Republic: the registration of candidates and voters; agitation events; the work of the electoral administration and corresponding governmental bodies; electoral legislation and its application; and the settlement of complaints regarding elections. The mission will also monitor media coverage of the campaign.

During the observation, meetings will be held with representatives of state bodies and separate candidates, with civil society, with the media and with the international community.

On October 11th, observers will be able to monitor the opening of electoral districts, the voting process, the calculation of voting papers and summing up of results.

On Election Day, the mission plans to unite efforts with delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and other parliamentary partners.

The announcement of a preliminary summary and conclusions will be released on October 12th, with a final report published within approximately two months. The CIS monitoring mission is already working in Belarus.