OSCE ODIHR observers to begin work in Belarus
MINSK. Aug 24 (Interfax) - Long-term election observers from the OSCE ODIHR have begun arriving in Belarus, Thomas Rimer, spokesman for the OSCE ODIHR office in Warsaw, told Interfax.
Rimer said all OSCE ODIHR election observers will have arrived in Belarus by Sunday.
Rimer recalled that the OSCE ODIHR has sent 36 long-term election monitors to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections in Belarus, which are scheduled for September 23. The experts will work in pairs in different regions of the country and will monitor the pre-election period, the election day, and the day after the elections.
In addition, 270 short-term OSCE ODIHR election monitors will monitor the elections directly before the elections. The monitors will work in pairs and will be present at polling stations at opening time for voting, ballot counting, and determining the election outcome.
According to earlier reports, the main team of OSCE ODIHR observers consisting of 11 officials representing eight OSCE countries began working in Minsk on August 21.
"The mission will assess these elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation. Observers will follow campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant state institutions, implementation of the legislative framework, and the resolution of election disputes. As part of the observation, the EOM will conduct comprehensive monitoring of the media," the OSCE ODIHR said on its website.
After the elections, the ODIHR will issue a statement on the tentative outcome and its conclusions at a press conference. The final report on the election observation will be issued approximately eight weeks after the completion of the mission's work.
A total of 362 registered candidates will be competing for 110 seats in the Belarusian House of Representatives of the Belarusian National Assembly (lower house of the parliament). The Belarusian Central Elections Commission has denied registration to 124 candidates, and another seven decided not to run.
