Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

MINSK, 21 September 2012 - The international observers monitoring the parliamentary elections in Belarus will present their preliminary post-election statement at a news conference on Monday, 24 September, in Minsk.

The international observation is a common endeavour involving the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA).

The statement will be delivered by Matteo Mecacci, the Special Co-ordinator to lead the short-term OSCE observer mission and Head of the OSCE PA delegation, followed by Antonio Milošoski, the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission.

This common endeavour comprises some 330 accredited observers from 37 countries, including 48 long-term observers and experts from the OSCE/ODIHR, some 200 short-term observers seconded by participating States upon request by the OSCE/ODIHR, as well as more than 70 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA.

Journalists are invited to attend the news conference on Monday, 24 September, at 14:00, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kirova 13, Minsk.

Live stream of the press conference will be available at www.oscepa.org
or http://www.ustream.tv/channel/belarus-2012

For further information contact:

Neil Simon, OSCE PA, +375 33 616 4198 or +45 60108330, neil@oscepa.dk
Thomas Rymer, OSCE/ODIHR, +374 96 698024 or +48 609 522 266, thomas.rymer@odihr.pl