Minsk hits back at Washington, denouncing next week’s presidential elections as undemocratic :: Charter'97 :: News

The Belarusian embassy in the United States has expressed "deep disappointment and concern" over US authorities` refusal to allow Belarusian diplomats to observe the voting process in three US States. The embassy reportedly applied to the election authorities in four states - Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia - for permission to monitor the November 2 poll. Virginia alone did not turn down the application.

"The American authorities’ decision to deny accreditation to independent international observers raises serious doubts that the upcoming presidential elections will be transparent, free, fair and democratic and will meet the OSCE`s standards," the embassy says in a statement. "This practice clearly shows that the United States is not ready to abide by the principles and standards of the OSCE 1990 Copenhagen Document and other international commitments regarding elections.”
"The United States evidently violates its international commitments to the OSCE that stipulate conditions for the direct participation of international observers in monitoring the preparations for elections and elections themselves," the statement says.

In this regard, Belarus urges the US authorities to "respect their international commitments and allow international observers to exercise their right to monitor the elections and the election campaign in accordance with the Copenhagen Document."

According to the Belarusian foreign ministry, the OSCE member countries pledged not to obstruct international election observation at home under the 1990 Copenhagen Document and the 1999 Istanbul Declaration. The US Department of State notified the Belarusian embassy in Washington earlier this month that the federal government was not imposing any restrictions on accredited diplomats wishing to monitor the elections.