Belarus parliament elections

MINSK, 26 July (BelTA) – Mass media of different forms of ownership should provide equal opportunities to all candidates running for seats in the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, Deputy Head of the Belarus President’s Administration Igor Buzovsky said at a working meeting with heads of the country’s leading media companies and representatives of executive bodies hosted by the Belarusian TV and Radio Company, BelTA has learned.

Parliamentary candidates should be provided with all opportunities for presenting their policy statements which, I am sure, will be thoroughly elaborated by the candidates and their teams. All candidates should be given equal opportunities for this, Igor Buzovsky stressed.

He pointed out that pre-election campaigning that includes interaction with the media will start on 11 August. The meeting considered matters related to the organization of debates and candidates’ TV and radio appearances. Details concerning the publication of policy statements in print media were also discussed.

Igor Buzovsky said that all the media companies, including those calling themselves independent, which have online editions should adhere to the principle of providing equal opportunities during the pre-election campaign. “However, we see that some resources have already started promoting individual candidates. These PR activities clearly contain elements of pre-election campaigning,” the official emphasized.

He said he is confident that the media companies that will provide platforms for campaigning will comply fully with their obligations and ensure equal opportunities to all candidates.

Igor Buzovsky also stressed that when evaluating the pre-election campaign, election observers will take into account the professionalism of media specialists in covering the elections and the degree of their compliance with the Belarusian electoral laws.