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Belarus creates conditions for holding democratic parliamentary election - CIS observers

The CIS mission comprises 330 observers

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MINSK, September 18 (Itar-Tass) — Head of the mission of observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States /CIS/ Sergei Lebedev said Belarus has created the condition for holding democratic parliamentary elections.

"Everything is ready for the citizens to express their free will and vote for the candidates they regard as worthy for the House of Representatives," Lebedev told reporters on Tuesday.

CIS observers are now in various regions of the republic. "In general, we have a good impression about the readiness of all the bodies responsible for the election. A careful organization of the preparations for the election, the openness of the election which we have seen, will help hold them democratically and put up a barrier to possible fraud," the head of the CIS observer mission said.

"Belarus has created conditions for the observers to monitor the whole election process," he added, noting that the observers hoped to see the vote count as well.

The CIS mission comprises 330 observers. "We believe this number is sufficient to have a complete idea about the election campaign," Sergei Lebedev said.

Commenting on the decision by two Opposition parties to withdraw their candidates, he said he agreed with the statements by representatives of Belarus' Central Election Commission that "they are snubbing the voters."

"All the candidates have been given an excellent opportunity to bring home their position to the people; but somehow they have not used it," he said.

Belarus will hold its parliamentary election on September 23. Two hundred and ninety-four candidates contend for 110 seats in parliament.

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