The CEC confirmed the right of Belarusians living in the Russian Federation to participate in local elections

Citizens of Belarus who permanently reside in Russia will be able to participate in local government elections both as voters and candidates on a single voting day in 2026. This was announced on April 15 by Nikolai Bulaev, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.

"We will have the opportunity <...> to accept citizens of Belarus permanently residing in Russia and having a residence permit at polling stations and as voters. <...> These citizens will probably be nominated as candidates for local governments," he said at a meeting of the commission.

According to Bulaev, the protocol on amendments to the agreement between Russia and Belarus became the legal basis for this. The agreement is mutual in nature: Russians permanently residing in the Republic of Belarus also receive the right to participate in local elections in that country.

He also said that a working group had been set up in the CEC of the Russian Federation in April last year to prepare for the implementation of the new rules. She developed methodological recommendations for election commissions on the participation of foreign citizens in voting at the local level.

According to these rules, a citizen of Belarus will be included in the voter list if he has reached the age of 18, is legally capable, is not in prison and has a residence permit in the Russian Federation with a note on registration at his place of residence.

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In July last year, Putin signed a decree according to which Belarusian citizens permanently residing in Russia have the right to participate in local government elections. Belarusians can choose themselves or be elected to Russian local government bodies.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.