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PRESS RELEASE
Statement by the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the
Russian Federation on the outcome of observing the preparation and holding
of the elections to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of
the Republic of Belarus of the third convocation and of the nationwide
referendum
At the invitation of the National Assembly of the Republic of
Belarus delegations of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Parliamentary
Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia, deputies of the State Duma of
the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, as well as those of other
states and international organizations – altogether 689 foreign observers
from 53 states of the world - took part in observing the preparation and
conducting of the elections of Parliamentary deputies and of the nationwide
referendum, held on 17 October 2004. Nearly 25, 000 national public
observers took part in monitoring as well.
Deputies of the State Duma, sent as observers to the Republic
of Belarus, testify with full responsibility that all the necessary
conditions have been set up for carrying out their activities in accordance
with existing international democratic standards. All possibilities were
provided to obtain in time complete information on the activities of the
Central Commission of the Republic of Belarus on elections and nationwide
referenda, territorial, district and local commissions, to have free
communication with candidates to deputies and their representatives,
representatives of political parties and mass information media and to visit
freely polling stations. Throughout its activities, the delegation of the
State Duma executed its functions openly, individually and independently,
being guided strictly by the principle of neutrality.
The State Duma Deputies together with other international
observers on all the territory of the Republic of Belarus, in urban and
rural communities, acquainted themselves with the preparations for the
elections and the referendum, with functioning of territorial, district, and
divisional commissions during early voting and on the election day, and were
also present at the vote counting.
The State Duma Deputies, delegated as observers, noticed,
that:
- The Legislation of the Republic of Belarus, which regulates
election and referendum procedures, complies with international standards.
- Election and referendum commissions of all levels were
organized on the basis of broad participation of political parties and other
public organizations, production collectives, and citizens.
- Registration of candidates to deputies was carried out
without serious infringements, whereas mistakes, made by district voting
commissions, were largely corrected by the Central Commission.
On the election day all polling stations, where observers
were present, were opened in time. According to observers, voting process
was conducted in an organized manner in compliance with the national
legislation requirements. All necessary conditions were set up for equal and
free will expression by the citizens of Belarus through secret voting.
Elections to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Belarus were mainly conducted on the alternative basis. There
was wide representation of different social and political groups and strata
of the society. 330 candidates were registered to run for 110 seats in the
Parliament.
High turnout of voters at the elections and the nationwide
referendum reflects great interest and responsibility of the Belarusian
citizens for the destiny of their country.
Deputies of the State Duma, seconded as observers, consider
October 17, 2004 elections of the deputies to the 3rd House of
Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and the
nationwide referendum to be open, free, democratic and legitimate.
At the same time, the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of
the Russian Federation was seriously alarmed to receive the information from
its observers in the Republic of Belarus who attested to the fact that the
elections and nationwide referendum were held in the Republic of Belarus in
the atmosphere of unprecedented external pressure.
Distinctly negative assessments of the referendum announced
in Belarus, threats to take discriminatory measures, made by officials and
politicians of a number of European countries and the United States can only
be viewed as an attempt to interfere in the domestic affairs of a sovereign
state, as violation of universally recognized norms of international law.
The position of some of Russian TV commentators who covered
the elections to the Parliament and the holding of the nationwide referendum
was to proceed from a priori anti-Belarusian standpoint and play into the
hands of a part of the Belarusian opposition. Such position does not
increase the prospects of accelerated creation of solid and well-functioning
Union of Belarus and Russia, and does not correspond to the national
interests of Russia.
The State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian
Federation states its respect for the will of the citizens of the Republic
of Belarus, realized on October 17, 2004 during the elections to the House
of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus of
the third convocation and the nationwide referendum, and will continue its
efforts to strengthen traditional friendship between the people of Russia
and the people of Belarus, and to create well-functioning Union of Belarus
and Russia.
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