Representatives of the Central Election Commission promised to provide international observers full discretion at upcoming presidential elections in Belarus. "International observers have full freedom of action. We give them an opportunity to observe elections impartially and freely", CEC secretary, Nikolai Lozovik, said.
According to CEC official representative, an international observer acts independently, he chooses polling station to work at. «In practice, international observers inform neither us nor commission, they are going to visit, about their intentions», Nikolai Lozovik said.
«Those international observers, visited us already, have never complained they had no freedom of elections observation, we held some closed elections, or that they had no access to some polling stations», Nikolai Lozovik underlined.
CEC Secretary reminded that in the course of the last election campaign there was one single question: international observers were not allowed to visit polling stations located in border zone. «They should inform the head of a frontier post. We solved this question. Now, under certificate, issued by CEC, an international observer has a right to free access even to polling stations located in these zones. Thus, international observers may monitor the preparation and holding of elections in any part of Belarus», Nikolai Lozovik reported.
International observers will not be registered without invitation letter, Lozovik
According to CEC official representative, foreign international observers will be accredited by CEC when presenting two documents: an invitation letter and observer’s form. Belarusian legislation provides that specific bodies have a right to invite international observers: the president, government, parliament and CEC.
«There are clearly defined subjects, which examine this issue and invite observers. In practice, representatives of political parties and public associations turn to us sometimes. They ask to register their foreign guests, members of allied parties as observers. Belarusian legislation does not provide the registration as observers of those actors, who are not invited by the president, government, parliament or CEC «, Nikolai Lozovik stressed.
