The interim report of the ODIHR/OSCE on monitoring the Belarusian parliamentary elections is “quite positive”, as the Chairperson of Belarusian Central Election Commission Lidzija Jarmoshyna announced. “The report is quite objective and has no obvious mistakes, as it happens when the law is defined in a wrong way. The main evaluation will be given following the elections results,” she said.
At the same time, the downsides noted by the OSCE are “arguable”. Thus, as for the remark on the denial of broadcasting and printing of those candidates who urged to boycott, the CEC Chairperson considers it reasonable as “they fight with voters’ indifference all around the world.” “Agitating for the elections boycott contradicts the core aim of the elections,” she added, as BelTA reports.
Lidzija Jarmoshyna also noted that the mission’s report mentions worthwhileness of participation in the elections as the main issue of the elections campaign. “The matter of worthwhileness should not be raised especially by the mission, who came to monitor the elections. Why to come then? The discussion of this issue contradicts the goals of the mission itself,” she stated.
Besides, the CEC head considers ineffective the remark on the lack of a sole combined list of all voters in Belarus, which aim is to prevent double voting. “This remark is just for remarks’ sake. The lack of a sole list cannot discredit the elections in any way. Even the Belarusian opposition does not talk about the necessity of such list,” pointed out Lidzija Jarmoshyna, stating that not a single elections mission has witnessed double voting in Belarus.
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