Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 11 September (BelTA) - All parliamentary candidates have had equal opportunities to present their positions, head of the CIS observation mission in the parliamentary elections in Belarus Sergei Lebedev said when visiting poling station No. 142, BelTA has learned.

The CIS observation mission is composed of 334 people, including 44 long-term observers. “We had the opportunity to closely monitor the election campaign. I monitored newspapers, saw several debates on TV and heard some speak on the radio. My colleagues and I shared the view that the conditions to present the views, positions were equal for all candidates,” Sergei Lebedev said.

According to the head of the mission, it was a bit surprising that not all candidates took advantage of the opportunity to participate in the discussion and to send timely the information materials to mass media.

All candidates had the opportunity to present their programs in public places.

Sergei Lebedev added that traditionally during election campaigns, every party tries to convince the voters of the benefits of their programs. For example, the election campaign is now underway in Russia. Every party tries to outline its position more vividly and harshly criticizes the programs of the competitors. This is a normal process,” the head of the CIS observation mission said.

He stressed that the mission is satisfied with the conduct of the elections in Belarus. Today, many observers have been at polling stations since they opened. Sergei Lebedev pointed to the high turnout.

Sergei Lebedev has visited already 10 polling stations. Everything is well organized, there is an ongoing exchange of views with local observers. On several occasions he had the opportunity to have a word with foreign observers. According to Sergei Lebedev, all observers shared their positive impressions on the elections, noted that they are proceeding calmly, without violations.

He noted that the election commissions are very well prepared. “We have an impression that the elections will be held in an orderly and calm manner because they have been organized well,” Sergei Lebedev.