Belarus parliament elections

OSCE/ODIHR mission meets with BRSM activists

Photo courtesy of BRSM

MINSK, 24 October (BelTA) – Cornelia Willemien Anke Jonker, head of the election observation mission deployed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to monitor Belarus’ parliamentary elections, has met with representatives of the BRSM Youth Union, BelTA learned from Olesya Sazankova, international youth cooperation coordinator of the Central Committee of the BRSM Youth Union.

Cornelia Willemien Anke Jonker and Azerbaijan-based Rashad Shirinov, a political and election analyst at the OSCE/ODIHR, met with Second Secretary of the Central Committee of the BRSM Youth Union Oleg Dikun and the head of the Central Control Commission at the BRSM Youth Union Yekaterina Petrashkevich in the House of Youth. “Long-term observers spoke about the main objectives of the mission related to the analysis of the election campaign, elections and preparations of reports, and asked about the union’s participation in electoral processes ongoing in Belarus. They discussed the work of BRSM activists at election commissions of all levels and as observers, their functions, training and electoral experience,” Olesya Sazankova said.

They also discussed the number of BRSM activists registered as parliamentary candidates, their campaigning plans, signature collection, nomination of youth candidates by labor collectives and political parties, and the way the youth union will support its members during the election campaign. “The meeting lasted for 1.5 hours. The BRSM representatives provided detailed answers to all questions, including questions about seminars and training sessions for activists, as well as youth initiatives aimed at encouraging broader participation in the elections and other matters,” she said.

The BRSM Youth Union always takes part in electoral processes. The ongoing parliamentary elections are not an exception. District election commissions include 93 BRSM members, territorial commissions include 6 BRSM members, while precinct election commissions feature 3,800 BRSM members. BRSM also nominated its members to monitor the elections. More than 800 activists have already been accredited as observers. In addition to that, during the elections BRSM volunteers will be deployed at polling stations to help people with disability, the elderly and mothers with strollers.

Ten representatives of the BRSM Youth Union stand for election. They were nominated by labor collective and political parties, as well as by initiative groups.

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