The Belarusian Central Election Commission limited the number of observers at polling stations to 5 people. The decision drew criticism not only from the opposition, whose candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya called on supporters to register as observers.
Pro-Russian Belarusian circles believe that such a decision will only increase the number of protesters in the square after the elections.
Artem Agafonov, chairman of the “Civil Harmony in Belarus” movement, stated this in an interview with the PolitWera YouTube channel, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“Our elections are already largely delegitimized. This decision will make the situation even worse. Because it becomes possible to weed out unwanted observers. Those who receive accreditation first will pass. Naturally, these will be proven, reliable people who will not ask unnecessary questions,” Agafonov said.
According to him, out of 60 thousand members of election commissions, only a few people represent the obvious opposition.
“Even in the eyes of the population, this greatly undermines confidence in the elections. It also undermines the confidence of international observers. This plays into increasing the number of protesters who will be after the elections,” Agafonov said.
Ранее ПАСЕ и ОБСЕ отказались от предложения белорусского МИД направить на выборы президента своих наблюдателей. Они объяснили это тем, что до выборов осталось «ограниченное время», а в Белоруссии отсутствуют «обычные партнерские организации». Кроме того, европейцам неясна ситуация в коронавирусом в стране. В то же время наблюдатели от СНГ собираются присутствовать на выборах в Белоруссии.