OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission in Minsk :: Charter'97 :: News

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) opened its observation mission in Minsk on January 6. A first group of long-term observers arrived in Minsk on the same day, Urdur Gunnarsdottir, spokeswoman for the OSCE/ODIHR, told BelaPAN.

Another group, led by mission head Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, is expected to arrive on February 7. All 40 long-term observers are expected in Minsk before February 15. Twelve international staff will be deployed in Minsk and the long-term observers will be based in regional centers.

OSCE/ODIHR observers have not yet applied for accreditation to the central election commission, a Belarusian election official told BelaPAN.

The OSCE/ODIHR had conducted a needs assessment mission from January 24 to 27 that recommended the deployment of a standard observation mission to Belarus in early February.

The mission found that "the election preparations are taking place against a background of increased constraints on civil society, independent media and opposition political parties."

According to its report, not all political parties are represented on territorial election commissions and opposition candidates may have difficulty getting access to the media as many independent publications are no longer available from newsstands and are not distributed by subscription.