INSK, 27 December (BelTA) – National observers have been actively engaged in the elections to local councils of deputies in Belarus, Chairperson of Belarus' Central Election Commission Lidia Yermoshina said in a video address published on the website of the Central Election Commission on 26 December, BelTA informs.
The election commissions have registered over 1,500 national observers so far, the official remarked. In her words, public associations have been the most active ones. The leaders are the BRSM Youth Union, the Belaya Rus public association, and the Belarusian Public Association of Veterans. “The elections in Belarus are kept under intensive observation,” Lidia Yermoshina noted.
The election campaign in Belarus is now at the stage of nomination of candidates to deputies of the local councils. Over 17,500 initiative groups are now collecting signatures. The election commissions have approved 99.9% applications for registration of the initiative groups, Lidia Yermoshina underlined. Local authorities have taken unprecedented democratic measures to provide them with as much freedom as possible. In Minsk, for instance, they were allowed to collect signatures in underground walkways, taking into account harsh weather conditions.
The election campaign is being held in line with the law in an open and democratic way, Lidia Yermoshina stressed. Belarusian courts have received only six complaints related to the registration and formation of election commissions. All of them have been rejected. The Central Election Commission has received only one complaint. Citizens mainly apply to it for a consultation.
Polling stations were set up in Belarus on 16 December. The authorities published the information about their location in print media ahead of schedule. “Thanks to this effort, political parties and public associations had an opportunity to nominate representatives to precinct election commissions in a timely manner,” Lidia Yermoshina added. On 31 December, the last day to submit the documents, local authorities will be on duty to register all the documents.
The nomination of candidates to deputies is now underway in Belarus. This stage will finish on 8 January. The local elections will take place on 18 February. More than 18,000 members of the local councils will be elected.
