“Lukashenko refused OSCE observers at the “elections” in Belarus Belarus did not invite OSCE observers to the presidential elections on January 26. The OSCE expressed regret over the impossibility of conducting an independent assessment of the election process.”, — write on: unn.ua
Details
The decision of the Belarusian authorities not to invite OSCE member states to observe the presidential elections on January 26 is deeply regrettable and hinders an impartial and independent assessment of the electoral process, says the joint statement of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE and the Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA). .
I deeply regret the decision of the Belarusian authorities not to invite the OSCE states through the ODIHR to observe the upcoming presidential elections, which deprives the citizens of the country of a transparent and complete assessment of the entire process
She pointed out that “this decision highlights the continued lack of readiness of the Belarusian authorities to invite other OSCE states to observe and provide an independent assessment of the election’s compliance with OSCE commitments and international democratic standards.”
It is noted that due to the fact that there are less than three weeks left before the election day, the ODIHR was unable to monitor key stages of the process.
“The Belarusian government has again decided to ignore its commitment as a signatory of the 1990 Copenhagen document to invite observers from other OSCE participating states to its elections,” said the President of the OSCE PA Pia Kauma. “This decision is deeply regrettable. The lack of cooperation on the part of Belarus further weakens the spirit of trust that underpins the OSCE, and the lack of transparency further undermines confidence in the electoral system of Belarus.”
This is the third time since the presidential elections in August 2020 that ODIHR cannot observe the elections in Belarus due to the lack of a timely invitation.
Although the ODIHR will not monitor the upcoming presidential elections, the Office continues to monitor events in Belarus in all areas covered by its mandate, the OSCE said.
We will remind
The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus has registered five candidates who will participate in the presidential elections of the country, which are to be held on January 26, 2025. These are Oleksandr Lukashenko, Oleg Haydukevych, Serhii Syrankov, Anna Kanapatska and Oleksandr Khizhnyak.