The latest statement from the head of the Central Election Commission of Belarus was quoted by the government website BELTA on Friday.
Chairman of the Central Election Commission: Belarus has not organized polling stations for voting abroad
“Belarus has not organized polling stations for voting abroad. Karpiyenko said this legal innovation was due to the lack of security measures in polling stations previously set up on the territory of other countries, as well as the lack of safety measures in place for diplomatic corps officials. He said that this was the result of a reduction in the number of people.
As the CEC Chairman asserted, Belarus is not “the only country with such experience.” At the same time, conditions for organizing a vote for citizens of the Republic of Belarus with permanent residence abroad and consular registration are to be created within Belarus.
See also: Lukashenko announces relinquishing power. “They will take Belarus into their own hands.”
– Such citizens will be able to vote at one of six polling stations and five regional centers in Minsk. Karpienko said the addresses of these polling stations are published on the CEC website.
He also expressed the hope that “neighboring countries will not create obstacles for Belarusians to cross their borders” in order to allow Belarusians to exercise their right to vote.
Tsikhanouskaya: “Lukashenko will plan another farce”
Belarusians are due to elect their president on the last Sunday of January (January 26). Alexander Lukashenko has already eliminated opposition representatives who threatened him in advance and is likely to resort to fraud, as he has known in past elections.
The Belarusian Central Election Commission said the election campaign has so far been carried out as planned and in accordance with the deadlines and stages set by law.
See also: New trends on the border with Belarus. the situation has changed
On Friday, Poland hosted a meeting between Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Community of Democracies Secretary-General Mantas Admenas. Both sides signed a memorandum of cooperation at the Permanent Secretariat of the Community of Democracies.
Tsikhanouskaya stressed that Belarus’ aid “is not a handout, but an investment in democracy and freedom around the world.” She also expressed confidence that on January 26, “dictator Lukashenko will organize a new farce called elections.”
2020 “Presidential Election”. wave of protest
Prior to this, Belarusians had voted in the 2020 presidential election. Tsikhanouskaya’s husband, Sialhei, announced his intention to run for president, but he was deprived of his freedom after making this declaration and is now one of the politicians still imprisoned in Belarus.
In 2020, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya competed in the race in her husband’s place after his imprisonment. Despite protests and accusations of election fraud, Lukashenko officially won 80.1% of the vote in those elections. Tikhanovskaya was expected to receive 10.1% of the vote. voters.
Opposition parties considered these results fraudulent, and a wave of protests spread across the country demanding fair elections. These were the largest mass protests in Belarus’ history. Authorities responded to civil society protests with a massive crackdown. After the election, Tikhanovskaya herself was forced to emigrate by the authorities.
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