OSCE/ODIHR final report on parliamentary elections in Belarus recommends review of legislation, ensuring an equal playing field and respect for fundamental freedoms

The final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on Belarus’s 11 September 2016 parliamentary elections recommends a comprehensive review of the legislation in line with international obligations and standards for conducting democratic elections, and ensuring an equal playing field for contestants, genuine competition, the free expression of the will of the voter and the integrity of the electoral process. The report, published on 8 December 2016, also recommends that provisions on election commission composition, candidacy and observer rights be reviewed.

The report emphasizes that electoral reform be undertaken early enough ahead of the next elections. It suggests that authorities should formulate concrete and effective steps to address the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and adds that the reform process should be transparent and inclusive.

To enhance transparency and confidence in the election results, the report recommends establishing and strictly implementing clear and transparent procedures for counting votes and publishing complete preliminary and final results by polling station.

It also recommends that restrictions on voter and candidate rights of citizens in prison or pre-trial detention should be proportional and clearly outlined in law, and that the legal framework should be amended to ensure that all decisions by election commissions are subject to judicial appeal.

Citing concerns about political pressure on the media, the report recommends reforming the legal framework for media, including decriminalizing defamation to ensure full protection of freedoms of speech and the press, both offline and online. In addition, to promote an open campaign environment, it recommends revising the legislation on the right to peaceful assembly so that the notification procedure for staging events is applied equally to all stakeholders and widened to include pre- and post-election activities.

Noting a significant number of procedural irregularities and a lack of transparency during early voting, the report recommends conducting early voting with the same safeguards as on election day. Additional recommendations relate to unrestricted access of citizen and international observers throughout the entire electoral process, including voting, counting and tabulation.   

The final report follows the preliminary statement of findings and conclusions, issued by ODIHR, along with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe which joined ODIHR for election day observation.