The Central Election Committee of Belarus expects around 700 international observers to be present during elections of deputies to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Lidia Yermoshina said as she met with Sergei Lebedev, head of the monitoring mission of the CIS Executive Committee, Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee.
Judging by the information presented by the two major organisations (the CIS and the OSCE) the number of observers will be around 700, said Lidia Yermoshina. A record number of observers (1,235) was present during the 2006 presidential elections in Belarus. More than 1,000 international observers for such a small country as Belarus is too much, believes the CEC head.
In turn, Sergei Lebedev said, around 35 long-term CIS observers will start working on August 10. He reminded, the headquarters of the monitoring mission had been set up in Minsk, with affiliates to be created in all oblasts of the country and the capital city. Around 300 short-term observers will start working 2-3 days before the election day, specified Sergei Lebedev. He remarked, the number of CIS and OSCE observers will be roughly equal.
Lidia Yermoshina added, domestic Belarusian observers are already working hard in all election commissions, including the Central Election Commission.
Written by belta.by
