Belarus’ CEC Chairman: when observing elections, we are guided by principles of objectivity and respect for sovereignty

Close co-operation has been established between the CIS electoral authorities – as stated by the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Belarus, Igor Karpenko, during today’s meeting between President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko and heads of the CIS electoral authorities

photo: www.president.gov.by

“We have built quite close co-operation between our electoral bodies in the CIS area within the Advisory Council and bilaterally. We have especially established close co-operation in the framework of monitoring the electoral campaigns that are taking place in our countries. Here, we are guided solely by the principles of objectivity, impartiality, and respect for sovereignty. In the context of close international co-operation, we assess the election campaigns taking place in various countries,” Mr. Karpenko said, adding that this assessment is based primarily on the norms of the Convention on Standards of Democratic Elections, Electoral Rights and Freedoms in the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States. “This is a unique document that has been ratified by our national parliaments. Of course, we relate it primarily to the national legislation of each country.”

The CEC Chairman stressed, “The amendments to the Constitution of Belarus, which were adopted at the republican referendum in 2022, marked the beginning of a large-scale political modernisation of our country – which is symbolic. On September 17th, we celebrated a state holiday: National Unity Day. 85 years ago, our ancestors defined the ideology and creative vector of the unification of the Belarusian people, divided against their will by the then geopolitical players. We have learned this historical lesson, therefore, in modern realities, we are carrying out state-building, including improving the electoral system, in order to strengthen the sovereignty and independence of the country, ensure democracy and consolidate civil society.”

Mr. Karpenko noted that, guided by the updated legislation, deputies of all levels were elected in Belarus on Single Voting Day in February 2024. The election cycle lasted almost until the end of April. Members of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly and delegates of a new constitutional body – the Belarusian People’s Congress – were elected.

“The electoral cycle in the context of constitutional reforms will be completed by the presidential elections in 2025,” Mr. Karpenko stressed.