Vote count procedure termed “bad” by OSCE

The OSCE/ODIHR has not recognized the presidential election to be democratic.

“The presidential election showed that Belarus still has a considerable way to go in meeting its OSCE commitments, although some specific improvements were made. The election night was marred by the detention of most presidential candidates and hundreds of activists, journalists and civil society representatives”, - says the OSCE/ODIHR statement.
OSCE representatives noted that the vote count was not transparent and was conducted silently. Observers were limited and not allowed to watch the process in many cases. The numbers indicated in the voting process reports drawn up in election centres were changed when delivered to the CEC.

According to the news programmes monitoring conducted by the OSCE/ODIHR mission, 89% of political and election news were dedicated to the current President.

The OSCE added that the legal framework still did not adequately guarantee an effective mechanism of complaint and appeals and it was impossible to appeal the election results.

Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu’s wife also made a speech at the conference and described the severe detention of candidates. OSCE representatives supported the woman and urged the authorities to report Nyaklyayeu’s whereabouts.