IPA CIS Observers Continue Long-term Monitoring of Parliamentary Elections in Belarus

The IPA CIS International Observers discussed the progress of preparations for the elections of deputies of the House of Representetives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus with representatives of the election headquarters of the parties. The meeting was held online as a part of the long-term monitoring.

Deputy Head of the IPA CIS Council Secretariat – Director of the International Institute for Monitoring Democracy Development, Parliamentarism and Suffrage Protection of Citizens of the IPA CIS Member Nations Ivan Musket said that in accordance with the invitation of Speaker of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko IPA CIS International Observers were taking part in monitoring the parliamentary elections in Belarus.

The Director of the IIMDD said that a group of observers was currently being formed from representatives of the parliaments of the member states of the IPA CIS IIMDD. The Central Election Commission of Belarus has accredited 34 observers. Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Konstantin Kosachev was appointed coordinator of the group.

Chair of the Republican Party of Labor and Justice Alexander Khizhnyak said that 22 people had been nominated for deputies of the House of Representatives, and 484 candidates had been announced for local Councils.

478 observers from the party who are undergoing the necessary training will take part in monitoring the elections. Based on the voting results, they will provide a written report.

The IPA CIS International Observers also discussed the current election campaign with representatives of the Communist Party of Belarus (CPB).

First Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPB Alexey Sokol spoke about the number of nominated candidates: 33 for deputies of the House of Represantitives, 700 for local Councils.

A meeting took place with the election headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus (LDPB).

In a conversation with international observers, Deputy Chair of the LDPB, member of the Supreme Council of the LDPB, Deputy of the Minsk Regional Council of Deputies Oleg Chesalov emphasized the high professionalism of the leadership of the Central Election Commission of Belarus.

The LDPB has nominated 36 candidates for deputies of the House of Representatives, and 215 for deputies of local Councils.

As of today, the party has nominated 304 observers. Most have already taken part in the electoral process.

The International observers also held a meeting with representatives of the Belarusian party “White Rus”.

Party Chair Oleg Romanov reported on the number of nominated candidates: 112 members for the House of Representatives and 5187 in the local Councils.

Parliamentary elections in Belarus are scheduled for 25 February 2024. The pecularity of this election campaign is that for the first time in the Republic of Belarus the entire deputy corps will be formed on a single voting day.

110 deputies of the House of Representatives and 12514 deputies of local Councils will be elected in single-mandate constituencies. The new composition is elected for five years.

The events were attended by Adviser to the Secretary General of the IPA CIS Council Sergey Koravaev, Deputy Director of the IIMDD IPA CIS Elena Eremenko, experts of the IPA CIS IIMDD Dmitriy Baryshnikov, Roman Romashov, and employees of the IPA CIS IIMDD.