International observers: “The very sense of election observation in Belarus reduces to zero”

Conditions for holding elections in Belarus won’t be improved after amendments in the electoral legislation are adopted, international observers think.

Experts suppose the harmful practice of not allowing observers to vote count will be used at the local elections 2010, “Belorusskkie Novosti” writes.

We remind that on November 30, the “house of representatives” adopted in the first reading the draft law on amendments to the Belarusian electoral legislation. According to Lidziya Yarmoshyna, the head of the Central Election Commission, the amendments fulfil 90% of the OSCE recommendations.

As leaders international project “Election Observation: Theory and Practice” say, they do not have illusions that the amendments to the Belarusian electoral legislation adopted by the “house of representatives” will make the electoral process in the country more democratic and transparent.

“We welcome any signs of progress towards liberalization of the Belarusian electoral legislation, which does not answer the spirit of time,” Tomas Tamilinas, the project director, said. “The fact that the amendments provide wider opportunities for parties and NGOs to delegate their observers is a step in the right direction.”

However, experts worry that head of election commissions still have power to isolate observers from vote count. According to observers, this is the main obstacle for effective observation of elections.

An amendment on access for observers to vote count wasn’t included in the draft law on changes in the electoral legislation, the CEC head said.

“Observers have the same power as before: an observer has the right to observe the vote count. Describing conditions for visability of the vote count was found subjective and excluded,” Yarmoshyna said.

She stressed that “any law is a product of a compromise”. “Organizers of elections have their opinion. Heads of polling stations feel they are less protected than observers. They demand to introduce norms giving more authority to members and heads of polling station commissions and protecting their rights. We have reached a compromise,” the CEC head said.

But the only thing observers can see during the vote count is backs of the commission members.

“The foreign observers we cooperate with state: elections in Belarus are differ from those in other countries. Commissions are so hostile to international observers, especially during vote count,” Tamilinas says. “The very sense of election observation reduces to zero. Unfortunately, this harmful practice seems to preserve after adoption of the amendments. It may be used at the elections to local councils next year.”