Constructive attitude: how presidential elections are held in Belarus

Presidential elections are in full swing in Belarus, with 27% of voters having cast their ballots over the first three days. The main day of the electoral procedure is expected on Sunday, law enforcers have been transferred to a reinforced duty regime on the eve of the decisive events. Details - in the material "Izvestia".

The CEC reports a record turnout

January 21, early voting for the presidential elections started in Belarus. According to the CEC, a record 27.15% of voters came to the polls for three days. For comparison, the figure amounted to 24% at the parliamentary elections last year, while at the previous presidential elections in 2020 - 22.4%.

CEC Chairman Igor Karpenko explained the high turnout by the fact that citizens understand the special importance of the presidential office. "The head of state has broad powers, the strategic course of the country depends on him, including the main directions of domestic and foreign policy," he said, emphasizing the high activity of students and working youth in the elections.

In turn, chairman of the House of Representatives of the Belarusian Parliament Igor Sergeenko emphasized that people go to vote without any pressure. According to him, the premises of polling stations are bright, equipped with everything necessary, members of election commissions are friendly to those who come, "on Sunday, buffets should be opened and concerts will be held.

It is interesting that at some polling stations entire labor collectives, army units and sports teams voted early. Thus, in Hrodna, 50 people from the soccer club "Neman" participated in the electoral procedure. The head coach of the team Igor Kovalevich explained the collective campaign by a tight schedule. In addition, track and field athletes from the national team, hockey players from "Dinamo-Molodechno" and soccer players from Brest "Dynamo" came to the polling stations together.

At the same time, the CEC reminds a number of rules, which are in force during the current elections. First, voters are forbidden to photograph ballots. Secondly, there are no foreign polling stations, but all Belarusians can come home to participate in the elections. Finally, it is forbidden to collect data on members of election commissions; the Prosecutor General's Office of the country has already initiated a case for violation of this regulation.

External view

Belarusian elections are observed by 45 thousand local observers and 480 international representatives. The largest delegation is from the CIS, while the second place is taken by experts from the SCO, as well as many delegates from individual countries. Head of the CIS mission Sergei Lebedev said that the organization is represented by 40 observers. "All doors are open to us, conversations in all structures are frank. There's nothing to reproach the organizers, people are well prepared," he stressed.

Chairman of the Russian Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova also flew to Minsk. "I can say that everything complies with the law, everything is well organized. Colleagues, who observed the early voting, speak about the high turnout, that the polling stations are perfectly prepared. In my opinion, the work that has been done is brilliantly organized," she said.

At the same time, Western structures harshly criticize the electoral process. Thus, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on January 22, calling not to recognize the results of the vote, as well as to strengthen sanctions against Minsk. The document was supported by 567 deputies, 25 were against, 66 abstained. In turn, the OSCE ODIHR refused to send its observers to Belarus.

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry of the country reported that they had received a statement, which had already been prepared by the European Diplomatic Service. It is emphasized that Brussels expects to publish the document after the Belarusian elections, it says about the non-recognition of the voting results. "The electoral process has just begun, while everything is already condemned and not recognized there," said representative of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Anatoli Glaz.

He added that some provisions of the document can't withstand criticism. Thus, the statement refers to the restriction of press freedom, but 330 foreign journalists from 23 countries were accredited for the elections. "It did not do without the traditional set of clichés about the EU's support for democratic rights and freedoms. This is pure hypocrisy against the background of illegal sanctions imposed by the EU on ordinary Belarusian citizens. The EU countries restrict their freedom of movement, financial, economic, civil and other rights," said Anatoli Glaz.

Minsk does not rule out that the West will go further than declarations. Thus, the state TV channel "Belarus 1" showed a story with the participation of former militant Vasili Veremeichik. According to him, the Western and Ukrainian security services were developing a plan to seize a part of the country by force in order to then appeal to the same foreign countries with a request for assistance. He named the town of Malorita in Brest voblast as a possible direction of the attack.

Alexander Lukashenko also spoke about the alarming situation on the borders during his visit to Minsk Automobile Plant. According to him, illegal armed groups continue to hatch plans for an invasion to "seize a piece of land and impose conditions." In this regard, he asked his compatriots to be especially vigilant. In turn, State Secretary of the Security Council of the country Alexander Volfovich reported that law enforcers are ready to confront destructive plans and are on duty in a reinforced mode.

What the experts say

Belarusian political analyst Piotr Petrovski notes that the election campaign is calm.

- The elections are free, without any restrictions, all candidates have been given the necessary opportunities, hundreds of observers are working. I myself am a member of the campaign headquarters of one of the candidates, we meet a lot with voters, I see the situation from the inside. I can say that people are very constructive and show great interest in the elections," he emphasizes.

Representative of the Institute of CIS countries in Belarus Nikolai Sergeev believes that there will be no serious provocations in the coming days.

- After the events of 2020, the law enforcement system has been strengthened, and the situation in the country is under control. Of all five candidates, Alexander Lukashenko is the clear favorite," he says. After all, the incumbent president has the most clear and well-thought-out program.