MINSK, 1 February (BelTA) - The CIS observation mission for the national referendum on the amendments and additions to the Constitution of Belarus will be headed by Deputy Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee – Deputy Executive Secretary Ilkhom Nematov, Chairman of the Belarusian Central Election Commission (CEC) Igor Karpenko told the media in Minsk on 1 February, BelTA has learned.
Ilkhom Nematov is an experienced politician who has served as the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Russia, the United States of America, India, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan. In his current position, he twice headed the CIS observation missions for the elections in Armenia and Russia. His candidacy was agreed upon by the CIS Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives.
The work of the CIS observation mission will be based, as in all previous campaigns, on the principles of political neutrality, non-interference in the electoral process and in the internal affairs of the state, strictly in accordance with the Belarusian legislation.
On 20 January Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed Decree No.14 “On calling the nationwide referendum”. The main voting day is 27 February. Belarusians also have the opportunity to cast their votes during the period from 22 to 26 February.
