Presidential Election, 11 October 2015

Video from the press conference

Following an official invitation from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Belarus to the OSCE, and based on the findings and conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission, the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to the 11 October presidential election.

Long-term observation

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM, headed by Ambassador Jacques Faure, consists of 11 international experts based in Minsk. In addition, 34 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 2 September 2015.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM will assess the presidential election for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor candidate registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, the media environment, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

Short-Term Observers

The OSCE/ODIHR has requested participating States to second four hundred (400) short-term observers (STOs) to observe voting, counting, and the tabulation of results. Please consult the information sheet. STOs need register in our database: http://stodb.odihr.pl

Election day

The OSCE/ODIHR has requested 400 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 11 October election. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.

The day after the elections, ODIHR, together with its parliamentary partners, will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.

Co-operation with other partners

For election day observation, the OSCE/ODIHR will join efforts with a delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and other parliamentary delegations.

Previous elections

The OSCE/ODIHR has observed six elections since 2001, most recently the 2012 parliamentary elections.