The OSCE mission will begin long-term observation of the presidential elections in Belarus in November

October 19, Minsk / Ekaterina Nechayeva - BELTA /. The OSCE mission will begin long-term observation of the presidential elections in Belarus from mid-November, Secretary of the Central Commission for Elections and Republican Referendums Nikolai Lozovik told a BELTA correspondent. "The OSCE mission has informed Belarus that 40 long-term observers will start working in our country in mid-November," the CEC representative clarified. He added that on election day, December 19, the OSCE plans to send about 400 international observers to Belarus. The long-term observation by OSCE representatives will consist of studying the socio-political situation in the country, electoral legislation and its application, monitoring media coverage of the campaign, and overseeing the election campaign. The CEC explained that in accordance with Belarusian legislation, international observers have the right to attend meetings of election commissions at all levels, meet with presidential candidates and their proxies, and representatives of political parties and public associations. Another mission of international observers - from the CIS - has already received accreditation certificates from the Central Election Commission of Belarus and intends to begin long-term observation in full strength tomorrow, October 20. It is planned that 35 people will monitor the preparations for the elections, including employees of the CIS Executive Committee, diplomats from Commonwealth countries accredited in Minsk, as well as employees of the Secretariat of the Parliament Assembly of the Union State and the Secretariat of the Union State. In parallel, the dispatch of local observers to territorial commissions continues. Election commissions have already accredited 267 national observers, including 23 representatives from political parties, 149 from public associations, 29 from work collectives, and 66 from citizens. -0-