Belarus expects hundreds of international observers at presidential poll

October 24, Pozirk. The central election commission (CEC) expects more than 440 international observers at the upcoming January presidential election, its head Ihar Karpienka has told the commission members.
The number of international observers will double, compared to this year’s parliamentary election, he said, noting that Belarusian authorities are already discussing invitations with foreign election commissions.
Minsk seeks flattering assessments from the Russian-dominated Commonwealth of Independent States and election officials from government-friendly countries.
Belarus has not held a single free and fair election since 1996 by the standards of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The government stopped inviting OSCE monitors after the 2020 disputed presidential election.
At today’s meeting, the CEC also approved procedures governing the work of observers, setting for January 20, one day ahead of the start of the early voting, as the deadline for the accreditation of domestic observers.
Authorities plan to set up 153 territorial commissions and more than 5,000 precinct commissions for the presidential election.
The registration of initiative groups to collect ballot-access signatures is to be completed by November 1, Karpienka said.
Belarus will hold the presidential election on January 26, the country’s legislature announced yesterday. The poll will be held five months ahead of the deadline provided by the law, limiting the whole presidential election cycle to just three months.

Łukašenka to run for president
- Economy
- Politics, SecurityŁukašenka accuses West of militarization ahead of Zapad 2025 drillThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyPrivate companies’ overdue loan debt rises six-fold year on yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyIndividuals’ overdue debt on loans up 23.6 percentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityDead Eritrean found near shared border with Latvia, Belarus saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Germany news, PoliticsGerman MPs join For a Democratic Belarus group’s new lineupThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyPutin’s crony delivering goods from occupied Ukraine to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: concerns grow over jailed pundit Kaściuhova’s healthThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyLibyan delegation in MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyUpper house approves fines for vegetable shortagesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka says Belarusians should be grateful to his government for staying out warThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyWoman killed by hit-and-run Belarusian in PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsFour more people recognized as political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUpper house passes bill to ban “extremists” from educationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarusian universities to offer 1,000 tuition-free places for Russians this yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- SocietyPoland seizes medical products from Belarus with Interpol involvementThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyKuźniacoŭ replaces Jafimaŭ as industry ministerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRights defenders label seven as political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+