Independent monitoring group records violations during elections

February 27, Pozirk. The February 20-25 parliamentary and local elections in Belarus did not meet international standards for democratic and free elections, says a preliminary report by Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections.

The independent monitoring group set up by the Viasna Human Rights Center and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee recorded numerous violations of electoral legislation. Authorities controlled and managed all stages of the electoral campaign to hold on to power, imitate popular support and public concord, it noted.

Elections took place amid relentless reprisals and violations of basic human rights, in an atmosphere of total fear and in a purged political landscape. Election commissions were formed in a non-transparent way, while authorities compiled lists of candidates and forced Belarusians to vote early, intimidating them by banning taking pictures of their ballots or taking their ballots home, the report said.

Vote counting procedure was not transparent, while independent monitors were not allowed to observe elections, it added.

In contrast to past election cycles, all candidates were pro-government and did not compete with each other, the group noted. Only 160 out of 265 registered candidates opened accounts to collect donations for funding the campaign, while 105 ran without having any funds. Some candidates in the same constituency made joint speeches, which would be nonsense in a real contest, it said.