Delegations from Russian regions will arrive at the regional "Dazhynki" in Senno
Guests are always welcome
As reported to "Vitebskiye Vesti" by Vladimir Terentyev, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies, invitations to attend the agricultural workers' forum have been sent to the heads of the Pskov, Tver, Bryansk, and Smolensk regions, as well as to the district administrations of Russia bordering the Dvina region. "The basis of the relationship between the two countries is regional cooperation, therefore the Vitebsk region consistently implements the tasks set by the President of Belarus following the Third Forum of Regions," he noted.
In particular, this topic became the main focus during a recent working meeting between the delegation of the Vitebsk region, led by Vladimir Terentyev, and the Governor of the Pskov region, Andrey Turchak, and the Chairman of the Regional Assembly of Deputies, Alexander Kotov. The parties discussed the development of socio-economic cooperation and humanitarian ties between the regions in the context of building the Union State of Belarus and Russia, and strengthening interaction at the level of local self-government bodies. During the conversation, the Russian partners gladly responded to the invitation to visit the festival of agricultural workers, as well as the winter sports event for civil servants, which is becoming traditional in the Vitebsk region, added Vladimir Vladimirovich. It is expected that the Pskov delegation will also include the heads of the Sebezh and Opochetsky districts.
Observation experience will be useful
A delegation from the Vitebsk region, led by Vladimir Terentyev, Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies, participated in monitoring the elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
As part of the international observers' mission from the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, representatives from the Vitebsk region, including heads of local self-government bodies and public associations, monitored the organization and conduct of the Unified Voting Day in the Pskov region.
области.The Vitebsk delegation held meetings with the chairman of the election commission of the Pskov region, Nikolai Tsvetkov, and the head of the territorial election commission of the regional center, Vladimir Krotov, as well as experts, journalists, and domestic observers. In total, our representatives visited 40 polling stations of the Pskov single-mandate constituency No. 148, while monitoring not only the voting process but also the organizational and technical support of the electoral campaign.
– The elections were held in conditions of public stability and high competition. A total of 14 political parties participated, so voters had a choice of whom to cast their vote for, – noted Vladimir Terentyev.
Polling stations were equipped with the necessary information materials, law and order was duly ensured, and appropriate conditions were created for observers. During their mission, representatives from Vitebsk studied the experience of using ballot counting machines (KOIB-2010) in the electoral campaign. Their use, to a certain extent, increases the transparency of electoral procedures, and therefore, trust in the election results. It is important to emphasize that during the visits to polling stations, there were no cases of interference in the work of precinct election commissions by representatives of political parties, proxies of candidates, or other persons, nor were there any obstacles to the free expression of citizens' will. Commission members demonstrated a high level of training, showing tact, politeness, and correctness. On September 19, 2016, the Vitebsk delegation participated in a press conference on the results of the electoral campaign for federal and regional media.
Vladimir Terentyev noted that the practical experience gained as international observers will be useful for improving the electoral process in similar campaigns in Vitebsk region.
Sergey Antonov, "Vitebskiye Vesti". Photo from open sources.