Karpenko explained whether foreign observers will be present during 2024 elections

Today, Chairman of Belarus’ Central Election Commission (CEC) Igor Karpenko, before the start of the CEC meeting, at which it is planned to form electoral districts for the election of deputies of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus of the eighth convocation, told reporters whether there will be foreign observers at these elections

The CEC Head noted, “This issue is being studied by those entities who can invite foreign observers (alongside the Central Election Commission, the President of the Republic of Belarus, both houses of Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the Foreign Ministry have this right). But it’s too early to talk about an invitation, at least an official one, because we need to wait for the Head of State’s decree to be issued, which we expect in mid-November that will mark the beginning of the election campaign. From the moment the decree appears, nominations to commissions – territorial, district, and precinct – will begin, alongside the collection of signatures, registration of groups, and nomination of candidates for deputies. So it’s too early to talk about inviting observers.”

At the same time, Igor Karpenko said, I can say that at the meeting of the Advisory Council, which took place in Uzbekistan during the presidential elections in this country, which we observed as part of the CIS Observer Mission, I invited my colleagues – the chairs of the CIS central election commission who are members of the Advisory Council of the CIS Heads of Electoral Bodies – to come and take part in observing the single voting day.”

At the CEC meeting, attended by First Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Maksim Ryzhenkov, it is planned to form electoral districts for the election of deputies of the House of Representatives, as well as approve a methodological manual for territorial and district election commissions and a regulation on the CEC Scientific Expert Council.