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OSCE/ODIHR begins election observation in Belarus
WARSAW/MINSK 2 September 2004
WARSAW/MINSK, 2 September 2004 - The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has deployed an Election Observation Mission for the parliamentary elections in Belarus on 17 October 2004.
The Mission, headed by Ambassador Audrey Glover from the United Kingdom, includes 11 international staff based at the Minsk head office and 22 long-term observers deployed in the regions. Two of these were recruited through a voluntary fund established to diversify the national composition of election observation missions.
The Mission will assess the entire election process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation. It will focus on the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, the legislative framework and its implementation, the election campaign, the media situation, and the resolution of election-related disputes.
Shortly before election day, the ODIHR plans to deploy some 300 short-term observers across Belarus in teams of two. They will monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results at all levels.
ODIHR observation of the 2004 parliamentary elections follows the Technical Assessment Mission to the 2000 parliamentary elections and the Limited Election Observation Mission to the 2001 presidential election.
The day after the election, the Election Observation Mission will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions. A comprehensive final report will be released approximately six weeks after the completion of the election process.
The ODIHR Election Observation Mission operates separately and independently from the OSCE Office in Minsk.
For further information, please visit the special website of the Election Observation Mission.
The Mission, headed by Ambassador Audrey Glover from the United Kingdom, includes 11 international staff based at the Minsk head office and 22 long-term observers deployed in the regions. Two of these were recruited through a voluntary fund established to diversify the national composition of election observation missions.
The Mission will assess the entire election process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation. It will focus on the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, the legislative framework and its implementation, the election campaign, the media situation, and the resolution of election-related disputes.
Shortly before election day, the ODIHR plans to deploy some 300 short-term observers across Belarus in teams of two. They will monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results at all levels.
ODIHR observation of the 2004 parliamentary elections follows the Technical Assessment Mission to the 2000 parliamentary elections and the Limited Election Observation Mission to the 2001 presidential election.
The day after the election, the Election Observation Mission will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions. A comprehensive final report will be released approximately six weeks after the completion of the election process.
The ODIHR Election Observation Mission operates separately and independently from the OSCE Office in Minsk.
For further information, please visit the special website of the Election Observation Mission.