Election commission claims new record on third day of early voting

February 23, Pozirk. Belarus’ central election commission reported yesterday that 24.44 percent of registered voters cast ballots on the third day of early voting in Belarus’ parliamentary and local elections.
The early voting takes place from February 20 to 24 with the main election day set for Sunday, February 25.
International organizations, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and Belarusian election monitoring groups have criticized the early voting procedure as vulnerable to abuse. Belarusian human rights organizations say that early voting is the key element of the government’s vote rigging machine.
The third day’s official early voting turnout rose from 9.6 percent in the 2004 parliamentary election, to 12.3 percent in 2008, 12.5 percent in 2012, 16.71 percent in 2016 and 19.43 percent in 2019.
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) concluded that all these polls fell short of democratic standards for free and fair elections.
Minsk has not invited any ODIHR observers this year, but said that nearly 300 international monitors have been deployed. Most represent the Commonwealth of Independent States and other Russia-led bodies.
The central election commission has not registered a single opposition candidate for the contests. The opposition is also not represented in the election commissions.
The Belarusian pro-democracy forces have urged voters to sit out the vote and watch a live YouTube event titled “I Choose a New Belarus!” on February 25 instead.
“Make the right choice and stay home on the non-election day. They are offering us to pretend that we have a choice, but it is a lie,” Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja’s office appealed to voters. “Do not participate in the deception and watch the YouTube marathon.”
The show will feature more than 20 speakers, including artists, activists and economists. They will share their vision of “moving from a dictatorship of lies and fear to a new Belarus.”

Election commission claims another record on second day of early voting
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja meets with US diplomat who took prisoners out of BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus to build 4.5 million sq. m of housing this year, more than in 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyMore than 27,000 genetic passports issued in Belarus – scientistThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityBelarusian drill draws on the experience of war in UkraineThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityCIS draft anti-terrorist program sent for revisionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SportInvestigators launch probe against dissident athlete's ex-husbandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyAliyev optimistic about Azerbaijan-Belarus relationsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SocietyMedical tourism up 20 percent in 2024 – officialThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsFlying object shot down over Homiel as Russia attacked Ukraine last night – reportsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyCoE local body to appoint a special rapporteur on BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBelarus, Cuba set to expand trade in goods by 2030The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsRFE/RL hopes for release of journalist ŁosikThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja’s adviser rejects speculations of US lawyer’s releaseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPundit: Belarusian propaganda diverts attention from inmate releaseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyLithuania has intercepted 82 balloons with Belarusian contraband cigarettes since year's startThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- EconomyBelarus ranks third in EEU by gasoline, diesel fuel prices in Q4The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SocietyBulgarian buyer of Belarusian trolleybuses suspected of fraudThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBySol warns of impersonation by law enforcers after Biełaruski Hajun leakThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOver 1,000 extremist content requests sent by Minsk region prosecutors since 2021The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityTop security official, border chief discuss Ukraine sector build-upThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyDirect flights to Moscow top recent Biełavija saleThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCoE local and regional body invites Belarus’ opposition to participate in sessionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsZelensky: Russia may use Belarus to invade Poland or Lithuania in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsBelarus’ envoy discusses expanding ties with CubaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBiełstat: foreign investment down 10 percent in 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyHealth ministry raises salary bonuses for nursesThe material is available only to POZIRK+