Belarus seeks to prevent foreign interference in elections

May 25, BPN. Belarus’ top election official has said that the country needs to create a “legal, informational, financial, organizational and technical barrier” to stop external meddling in its electoral process.

Ihar Karpienka, chairman of the central election commission, spoke at a conference in Minsk on the theory and practice of electoral process. He said measures should include ensuring the security of election organizers and participants, preventing illegal actions by citizens and upholding the constitutional status of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, a pro-government forum.

He also stressed the importance of “creating a new effective system of collective security in the global context,” as quoted by the commission’s press office.

Belarus has faced international criticism for its crackdown on opposition and civil society after the disputed presidential election that triggered mass protests in 2020. The country has not held a free and fair election since 1996, according to independent observers.