Opinions & Interviews

“The report is quite constructive, it reflects positive points. It has some subjective elements. The expert who wrote it, first of all, puts his/her personal opinions and preferences in the list of recommendations. Still, I should say that I am quite satisfied with the report, and, the main thing, with the interaction between the OSCE and Belarus,” Lidia Yermoshina said.

In her words, the final report repeats the interim one to a great extent. “Maybe, it has been somehow made tougher since they collected additional reports from the so-called independent observers,” Lidia Yermoshina pointed out.

She said that she met with OSCE/ODIHR Director Michael Georg Link on 28 January to discuss the recommendations given in OSCE’s final report. “The report came to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Election Commission immediately prior to the meeting. During the meeting, we determined some recommendations that can be implemented, for example, through amendments to the Constitution, to the election legislation. We also paid attention to some points that can be applied through improving the election process, that is through law enforcement practice. These points were thoroughly discussed.”

“Michael Georg Link said that the report will be carefully discussed at the level of experts in the near time. Either OSCE experts will come to Minsk, or our specialists will be invited to Warsaw to talk over the ways to improve the regulatory enforcement practice,” Lidia Yermoshina added.