MINSK, 28 August (BelTA) – A needs assessment mission sent by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE ODIHR) is busy studying progress in preparations for elections to the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament, BelTA learned from Chairwoman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Lidia Yermoshina on 28 August after top CEC officials met with the OSCE ODIHR mission.
According to Lidia Yermoshina, the CEC informed the OSCE representatives about progress in preparations for the elections. “They asked what resolutions the Central Election Commission had passed, wondered how voter lists are compiled and whether anything had changed in that regard. It was a fact-finding conversation,” Lidia Yermoshina said.
It is yet unclear when long-term and short-term observers of the organization will come to Belarus. Experts of the needs assessment mission will report results of their work in Belarus to the OSCE ODIHR administration. “The decision will be made after that,” Lidia Yermoshina explained.
Elections to the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament are scheduled for 17 November. Elections to the upper chamber are scheduled for 7 November.
