Yarmoshyna didn’t like OSCE/ODIHR final report on “parliamentary elections”

Head of the Belarusian Central Electoral Commission said the report of European observers was a “step backward”.

“The Central Commission had analyzed the OSCE/ODIHR final report on the parliamentary elections. I think it is a step backward in comparison with the previous one,” CEC head Lidziya Yarmoshyna told in an interview to BelaPAN.

“Nevertheless,” she emphasised, “it was probably the first time when we haven’t filed remarks on complaints and wishes of the OSCE. It doesn’t mean we have no remarks. But we think it is ineffective just to hold correspondence instead of discussing the issues at a round table seeking for a compromise.”

L. Yarmoshyna also noted a visit of the OSCE/ODIHR mission to Minsk scheduled for late January would have “significant meaning for our further relations with our European partners”.

According to the CEC head, the representatives of the OSCE/ODIHR will choose the points they would like to discuss. “Any agency they will choose will discuss issues in its competence with them. I don’t know who they want to meet. They will certainly meet with representatives of the Central Electoral Commission. The recent elections, their final estimation by the OSCE, and perspectives of possible reforming of the electoral laws will be discussed,” she said.

L. Yarmoshyna said “a rather wide discussion with local organizers of the elections over the OSCE/ODIHR final report” was scheduled for the beginning of February. “We have already sent copies of the report to the regions in order representatives of organization departments of region executive committees can prepare for the discussion,” she noted.

It should be reminded that the ODIHR final report says “despite some minor improvements”, the elections in Belarus fell short of OSCE commitments. In particular, electoral laws don’t allow “genuine political competition, and equal treatment of election competitors by the authorities” and continue “to present obstacles to the conduct of elections” in line with democratic commitments. Experts note the Electoral Code of Belarus “does not provide any clear mechanism for securely keeping the ballot boxes after the start of early voting, nor does it provide specific regulations for enhancing the integrity of the ballot”. Most opposition nominees were denied registration “for minor breaches of formal requirements,” the report underlines. According to experts of the mission, it creates conditions for falsification.