Exaggeration of minor violations hinders an objective assessment of the elections in Belarus - CIS observer

September 24, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Generalization and exaggeration of insignificant violations hinder some observers from giving an objective assessment of the elections in Belarus. This point of view was expressed by Vladimir Kiku, head of the Vitebsk region branch of the CIS international observers' mission for the elections of deputies to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, in response to a question from a BELTA correspondent. According to the unanimous opinion of international observers, the elections in the Vitebsk region were held at a high organizational level in full compliance with the country's Electoral Code. "No violations of the law, no errors, even of a technical nature, were recorded by the groups of short-term observers in the districts and the regional center. The mission members were provided with complete freedom of movement and observation," said the head of the branch. The high quality of organizational work made it possible to ensure the comfort of the elections for voters, which ensured their high turnout. Vladimir Kiku noted with regret that the members of his branch did not manage to communicate with representatives of the observation mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). "The criteria for evaluating elections by the CIS and ODIHR observer missions are clear, but their approaches differ. The generalization and exaggeration of insignificant remarks by other observers are prioritized over an objective assessment," believes the CIS observer. -0-