Newsroom
OSCE/ODIHR expresses concern over unprecedented verbal attacks on Election Observation Mission in Belarus
WARSAW/MINSK 11 October 2004
WARSAW/MINSK, 11 October 2004 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission to the 17 October parliamentary elections in Belarus has recently been the object of sustained negative and aggressive comments in the Belarusian state media and from state officials.
The OSCE/ODIHR totally rejects any allegations of political bias and prejudiced conclusions. It is regrettable that, on the part of the Belarusian state media and others, there appear to be abundant unfounded preconceptions about the Mission.
The OSCE/ODIHR is also deeply concerned about repeated claims that the work of its long-term observers and core team analysts lacks transparency. The visibility and frequency of these baseless allegations are unprecedented from the side of a host State towards an OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission.
The core team in Minsk maintains regular working relations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Election Commission. Activities of the core team analysts have included attending all Central Election Commission sessions dealing with registration appeals - to our knowledge, the only international observers to do so.
Eleven teams of long-term observers have already been working for a month in Minsk and eight other cities: Brest, Grodno, Vityebsk, Mogilyov, Gomel, Baranovichy, Novopolotsk and Mozyr. They have met the District Election Commissions, many Precinct Election Commissions, representatives of the administration, candidates, nominees, journalists and others.
The long-term observers work in a manner that is open and accessible to all interlocutors and consistent with the standard methodology of OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Missions. The energy, professionalism and objectivity of all observers are indisputable. Short-term observers seconded by OSCE participating States will arrive later this week.
The OSCE/ODIHR is confident that the statement of preliminary conclusions and findings to be issued on Monday, 18 October, will represent an accurate and credible assessment of the parliamentary elections as measured against the 1990 OSCE Copenhagen commitments.
The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission is deployed in the Republic of Belarus at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and is financed from the core budget of the OSCE/ODIHR.
For further information, please visit the website of the Election Observation Mission.
The OSCE/ODIHR totally rejects any allegations of political bias and prejudiced conclusions. It is regrettable that, on the part of the Belarusian state media and others, there appear to be abundant unfounded preconceptions about the Mission.
The OSCE/ODIHR is also deeply concerned about repeated claims that the work of its long-term observers and core team analysts lacks transparency. The visibility and frequency of these baseless allegations are unprecedented from the side of a host State towards an OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission.
The core team in Minsk maintains regular working relations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Election Commission. Activities of the core team analysts have included attending all Central Election Commission sessions dealing with registration appeals - to our knowledge, the only international observers to do so.
Eleven teams of long-term observers have already been working for a month in Minsk and eight other cities: Brest, Grodno, Vityebsk, Mogilyov, Gomel, Baranovichy, Novopolotsk and Mozyr. They have met the District Election Commissions, many Precinct Election Commissions, representatives of the administration, candidates, nominees, journalists and others.
The long-term observers work in a manner that is open and accessible to all interlocutors and consistent with the standard methodology of OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Missions. The energy, professionalism and objectivity of all observers are indisputable. Short-term observers seconded by OSCE participating States will arrive later this week.
The OSCE/ODIHR is confident that the statement of preliminary conclusions and findings to be issued on Monday, 18 October, will represent an accurate and credible assessment of the parliamentary elections as measured against the 1990 OSCE Copenhagen commitments.
The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission is deployed in the Republic of Belarus at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and is financed from the core budget of the OSCE/ODIHR.
For further information, please visit the website of the Election Observation Mission.