Foreign diplomats to be permitted to monitor local elections in Belarus
MINSK. Jan 16 (Interfax) - Foreign diplomats accredited in Belarus have said they would like to monitor upcoming elections to the country's regional legislatures, Belarusian Central Elections Commission (CEC) head Lidiya Yermoshina said.
"Usually, we do not invite international observers to local elections, but foreign diplomats are entitled to conduct short-term observation at elections," Yermoshina said at a CEC meeting in Minsk on Tuesday.
The United States embassy was the first to voice a desire to monitor the local elections and has already submitted an application, she said. Nine representatives of the U.S. diplomatic mission will monitor the upcoming elections.
"Other diplomats [from other countries' embassies] have also expressed an interest," Yermoshina said.
In response to the interest shown by foreign diplomatic missions in the upcoming elections, the Belarusian CEC adopted a resolution on Tuesday regulating foreign observers' activities.
Elections to Belarus' local legislatures of the 28th convocation will be held on February 18, 2018.