CEC Chairman: observers are needed, so they will be present at 2024 elections in Belarus

All international observers who will come to Belarus for the 2024 elections, including not only missions and parliamentary structures, but also individual experts from various countries, including the European Union, will be accredited in accordance with the law and have the opportunity to observe the election process – as informed by the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Belarus, Igor Karpenko

In particular, Mr. Karpenko commented on the recent news that Belarus will refrain from inviting OSCE observers to the 2024 elections, “Firstly, we are holding elections for ourselves, not for foreigners. Secondly, the function of any observer, including an international one, is to answer the main question: whether the electoral process is organised in accordance with national legislation and whether everything meets the law. I read an interview with [Permanent Representative of Belarus to International Organisations in Vienna Andrei] Dapkiunas, in which he spoke of sending no invitation to the OSCE mission to observe the Single Voting Day elections. That was not a surprise for me. Back in May 2023, a report ‘on a serious threat to the human dimension in Belarus’ was posted on the OSCE website. It negatively assessed everything – in particular, the 2022 referendum and the political reform carried out then. In short, it was all predictable.”

At the same time, Mr. Karpenko noted, “We need observers, and we will have them. We are in touch with the CIS mission, and a meeting with its Secretary General is scheduled for the second half of January: he will come to Minsk to open an office of the long-term CIS mission. We also keep contacts with the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly. In short, the structures that have the authority to invite observers implement this process. All international observers who will come to our country, including not only missions and parliamentary structures, but also individual experts from various countries, including the EU, will be accredited in accordance with the legislation and have the opportunity to observe our elections.”