MINSK, 24 January (BelTA) - Inviting international observers to monitor the presidential election in Belarus is a sign of the country's openness, Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Nurlan Yermekbayev said during his meeting with Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Belarus Igor Karpenko, BelTA has learned.
“We would like to thank you for inviting the SCO to monitor the presidential election in Belarus. This is a sign of trust. This shows the openness of Belarus and its desire to carry out international observation of the election,” Nurlan Yermekbayev said. "It is also one of the important activities for the SCO. During its work, the SCO has already carried out over 70 election and referendum observation missions."
According to him, the SCO mission primarily assesses election campaigns for compliance with the national legislation and the countries' international obligations. “We proceed from the fact that elections are first and foremost the expression of will of the people of a certain state. They are held in the interests of the country and its people,” the SCO secretary general emphasized. "We are committed to working as unbiased as possible."
Igor Karpenko thanked the SCO for accepting the invitation to monitor the presidential election in Belarus.
Early voting in Belarus is running on 21-25 January 2025. Early voting is meant for voters who will not be able to cast their ballot on election day, 26 January. Precinct commissions will be open from 12.00 till 19.00 without break. On 26 January, voting will be held from 8.00 till 20.00.
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