Veterans, vigilantes, youths to patrol areas around polling stations

February 9, Pozirk. Veterans’ associations, vigilante groups and activists of the state-run youth union will assist the police in guarding polling stations during the parliamentary and local elections, interior ministry’s official Alaksandar Kupčenia has told journalists.
Starting February 19, the interior ministry and internal troops will be on high alert, guarding all polling stations 24/7, he noted.
Police officers will be stationed near the polling stations ready “to react and provide the necessary assistance to the election commissions in maintaining law and order,” the official said.
Rapid response groups will assist them, while all polling stations will be equipped with alarm buttons and video surveillance systems.
These measures should prevent offenses and incidents during the elections, Kupčenia stressed.
Belarus will hold elections for the House of Representatives and local councils from February 20 to 25.
The country has not held a single free and fair election since 1996, by standards of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Last year, the government decided against inviting OSCE observers.

Defense official warns of harsh reaction to possible airspace violations during elections
- Politics, SocietyNational University of Kyiv to host Belarusian resistance exhibitionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: designated political prisoner walks freeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus, EEU eye new economic partnershipsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsKGB adds 15 people to "list of terrorists"The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyRussian Orthodox Church to open temple for children in northern BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyOpposition politician urges KGB to declassify archivesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- EconomyHouse of Representatives votes to restrict foreign currency loans, protect homeownersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka defends labor migration, citing staff shortagesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsMPs approve bill on international road transportation with PakistanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka set to boost trade with Kaliningrad despite complicated logisticsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyNumber of Europeans using Belarus’ visa waiver growingThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- EconomyEDB links Belarus’ reserves rise to foreign currency supply growthThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsIrregular Belarus-EU crossings soaring since JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsChina's parliamentary delegation to visit Belarus this weekThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyThree die in car crashes involving unlicenced driversThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyThunderstorm aftermath: 176 toppled trees, properties damagedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyJob openings exceed 210,000 in early JuneThe material is available only to POZIRK+