MOSCOW, 18 November (BelTA) – The elections to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus were free, democratic and legitimate. This statement was made by observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Belarus-Russia Union State who monitored the elections as part of the CIS mission, BelTA learned from the press service of the Parliamentary Assembly.
“The MPs pointed to a high turnout and excellent election administration. They noted that all the conditions were in place for holding free and fair elections. The Parliamentary Assembly observers noted that the electoral process was run in line with Belarusian laws. The elections to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus were open, democratic and legitimate,” the press service emphasized.
The observation mission comprised MPs representing both chambers of the Russian parliament and members of the Secretariat of the Union State Parliamentary Assembly. They conducted short-term and long-term observation, during which they inspected 162 polling stations in Minsk, Vitebsk Oblast, Grodno Oblast and Minsk Oblast. “Performing the functions of international observers, the MPs attended opening and closing of polling stations, met with heads of district election commissions, international and domestic observers and heads of oblast councils of deputies and executive committees. On the eve of election day, the observers from the Parliamentary Assembly met with Chairperson of the Central Election Commission Lidia Yermoshina and were updated on the preparations and conduct of the elections. The delegation members also visited the Russian Embassy in Belarus and met with Russian Ambassador Dmitry Mezentsev.
