Observers condemn 'undemocratic' Belarus elections

Monday, 20, Mar 2006 05:22

European observers have condemned yesterday's presidential elections in Belarus, claiming they were rigged and undemocratic.

Incumbent president Alexander Lukashenko earlier today declared himself the winner, claiming an 82.6 per cent share of the vote.

However, election monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who oversaw the election, have questioned the legitimacy of the result, with monitors suggesting a widespread "disregard for the basic rights of freedom of assembly, association and expression".

"I would have liked nothing more than to be able to make a positive statement about the election we just observed. Unfortunately, there were too many serious violations of international election standards," said Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, head of the OSCE observation mission in Belarus.

"It was deeply saddening to witness the deterioration that occurred towards the end of the election campaign. A positive assessment of this election was impossible."

Among the violations of international electoral standards reported by monitors were widespread harassment of opposition activists, biased media coverage in favour of Mr Lukashenko and the withholding of basic information by polling station officials.

News of the OSCE's reservations has been met with dismay by EU politicians, with Elmar Brok, chairman of the European parliament's foreign affairs committee, branding the elections a "mockery".

"By claiming to have received 82 per cent of the votes, Lukashenko makes a mockery of all democratic elections," Mr Brok said.

He called on his EU colleagues to back the imposition of further sanctions on the Minsk government in order to show that the rest of Europe would not tolerate such apparently undemocratic practices.

"We have to closely observe the situation in Belarus and increase the pressure on the regime by further sanctions," he added.

EU external affair commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told reporters earlier that action against Belarus was "very likely" but added that it was unlikely to take the form of economic sanctions.

Opposition leaders in Belarus have refused to recognise the results, with the main rival candidate to Mr Lukashenko branding the election "a farce".

A US report on the Lukashenko regime in Belarus earlier this year branded the state Europe's last "outpost of tyranny".