ODIHR OSCE Experts Readying for Regional Monitoring :: Charter'97 :: News

16 experts, representing the Bureau for democratic institutes and human rights of OSCE are heading August 21 into Belarusian regions to engage in monitoring over the course of presidential elections there. Another 13 observers will continue the work in the Minsk mission’s affiliate. The mission is set to assess the elections according to the requirements of the OSCE Copenhagen treaty of 1990 and the concomitant documentation.

Observers will also examine the election campaign. In the official mission’s release, circulated on August 21, it is written that “the scope of mission’s work is seriously restricted as a result of late invitation of observers on August 15, followed by delays in the issue of visas.”

29 mission members represent 20 countries, including Bulgaria, USA, Croatia, Russia, Lithuania, Slovakia and others.

ODIHR also invited about 150 short-time watchers, due to arrive on the eve of the day of voting. Plus there’ll be coming over 50 parliamentarians from the OSCE member-states. These will eye the ballot and the count of votes afterwards.