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
- EconomyFarm criticized by Łukašenka six years ago will get $1m to buy equipmentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsJournalist Pavieł Dabravolski at KGB detention centerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusian farms to miss out on millions after China cracks down on chicken feet re-export schemeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityFuneral held in Ukraine for Belarusian volunteer fighter “Miesiac”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Economy
- EconomyMinsk hotels see growth in guest numbers – officialThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityForeign troops to arrive in Belarus for CSTO drillThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ employed workforce shrinks 0.1 percent in JulyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ trade deficit nearing $1 billionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka greenlights interior ministry’s training collegeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: Belarus border checks used to identify dissentersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security, Society
- SecurityPoland records migration peak at Belarus borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyRussia accounts for nearly 70 percent of Belarus’ exports of goods and servicesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SecurityBelarusian defense industry seeks closer cooperation with ChechnyaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarusian signal troops drilled ahead of Zapad-2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLithuanian military intelligence sees low hybrid threat from Zapad-2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBySol Foundation leaders sentenced to 18 years in absentiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja to visit Denmark this weekThe material is available only to POZIRK+