Belarus parliament elections

“The more freedom they enjoy, the fewer restrictions and controls there are on the part of the authorities, the freer the observers feel, and the more impartial their opinions are. Because they have a wider circle of contacts and can receive information from many people and organizations,” Lidia Yermoshina noted.

Lidia Yermoshina said that she cannot evaluate the work of election observers in Belarus. “I do not have the right to do this. They observe the activities of public authorities and election commissions, not me. They are totally independent, they work according to their own programs which they do not coordinate with the Central Election Commission,” Lidia Yermoshina noted.

According to her, the CEC used to keep closer contact with observers before. But in the age of the Internet, everything changed. “Now they can see everything: the program of action, telephones, schedule, working hours of district and territorial commissions. They directly contact these organizations. I met the head of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission once: during an introductory meeting. Now she works together with her mission independently. Some experts come to us, but they contact mostly our legal department to consult with lawyers, inquire some information, copy the complaints to the CEC and replies to them. As far as I know, today they meet with the leadership of the Supreme Court. They meet with diplomats, political parties. I know that they will publish an interim report shortly. This is the only evidence for the CEC that they are present,” Lidia Yermoshina noted.