The first groups of CIS long-term observers in the presidential elections will go to the regions this week, manager of the CIS observation mission at the Belarus presidential election Viktor Guminsky told the media after a recent meeting with CEC Chairwoman Lidia Yermoshina, BelTA has learned. The mission started working on Friday. Because of the epidemiological situation, observers start monitoring at a later stage - the campaigning period. They will examine the readiness of polling stations, election commissions, will monitor early voting and the main election day. These groups will be mainly formed from among members of the CIS Executive Committee and representatives of the CIS embassies in Belarus.

The process of establishment of the mission continues. The CIS Executive Committee sent out invitations to the CIS countries with a request to send their representatives. “We have already started accepting applications, in particular from the State Duma of Russia, from Milli Mejlis and the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan. There will be at least 15 people from the CIS IPA, MPs, and also staff of the IPA, the CIS IPA International Institute for Monitoring Democracy Development, Parliamentarianism and Suffrage Protection of Citizens,” Viktor Guminsky informed.