OSCE/ODIHR sees no amendment to Electoral Code of Belarus

Belarus has violated agreements with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

As spokesperson of the OSCE/ODIHR Jens Eschenbaecher says, the Belarusian party didn’t give the opportunity to the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to get acquainted with the amendments to the Electoral Code. Jens Eschenbaecher noted it had happened in spite of the agreement achieved in February to give such an opportunity, BelaPAN reports.

Thus, the spokesperson notes the OSCE/ODIHR can’t comment on the amendments adopted by the Belarusian parliament in the first reading on November 30. However, the spokesperson added the Office was ready to estimate the draft law if sufficient time was be given and the Belarusian “parliament” was taken into account the conclusion of the OSCE/ODIHR.

“The OSCE/ODIHR encourage a broad and inclusive dialogue in Belarus on electoral reforms involving a wide array of election stakeholders in order to build a large agreement over the necessary reform and to build confidence,” Eschenbaecher stressed.

As we have already informed, on November 30, the “house of representatives” adopted in the second reading the draft law on amendments to certain laws of the Republic of Belarus on holding elections and referendums and on annulment of the Law on the Central Commission of the republic on Belarus on Elections and National Referendums.