Belarus parliament elections

MOSCOW, 6 September (BelTA) - Early voting in the elections to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus kicked off in four Russian cities, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian embassy in Russia.

“Four polling stations have opened in the Russian cities with large Belarusian presence. These are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, and Rostov-on-Don,” the press release of the press service reads. “Both Belarusian citizens permanently residing in Russia and people temporarily staying there can vote in these four cities. They need an ID to prove their Belarusian citizenship.”

According to Minister Counselor of the Belarusian Embassy, chairman of the election commission at polling station No. 740 Yuri Yaroshevich, the biggest overseas polling station is located in Moscow. “We are doing our best to encourage our citizens to come to the polls,” the diplomat said. “As for the Belarusians spending their vacations in Russia, particularly in Sochi, two members of the election commission will stay in the Belarus Hotel on the election day and enable the voting.”

On the opening day of the early voting the polling station was visited by the workers of the Embassy and Belarus’ representatives in integration associations. Director of the Integration Development Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission Sergei Shukhno noted that necessary conditions for the elections have been created in the Russian Federation. He expressed confidence that the voter turnout will be traditionally high.