Equal numbers of CIS and OSCE observers to monitor Belarus’ parliamentary elections

The numbers of CIS and OSCE observers for Belarus’ parliamentary elections will be equal, Mikalay Lazavik, secretary of the central election commission, told BelaPAN on July 22. OSCE officers who will deal with the technical aspect of monitoring will begin arriving in Minsk on August 11, Mr. Lazavik said. According to him, members of the long-term observation mission of the OSCE will start arriving on August 18. The mission is to include 40 people who will stay in all major cities. Shortly before the main voting day, set for September 28, 300 short-term observers of the OSCE are to arrive in Belarus, Mr. Lazavik said. The CIS observation mission will follow roughly the same schedule, he added. “The CIS mission could be larger, but a decision was made to form it on a parity basis,” Mr. Lazavik... [read full story]