Belarusian authorities on January 8 said they will not invite observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to monitor the country's parliamentary and local elections in February. The move is the latest by authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka to further cement his control over the country's political institutions. Belarus "has informed the OSCE about its intention not to invite observers and offered its arguments and motivation," said Andrey Dapkiunas, Belarus's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna. OSCE observers have been the only international observers at Belarusian elections for decades.
Belarus Refuses To Invite OSCE Observers To Monitor February Elections
Riot police block a street during an opposition rally in Minsk in September 2020.