DISINFO: OSCE refused to observe the elections in Belarus
SUMMARY
Belarusian authorities invited the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to observe the presidential election of 9 August, but the body did not accept it. This suggests that the stance concerning the results of the election was prepared in advance.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Russian narrative about election meddling. The article relies solely on an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin and lists no evidence for his claims. The ODIHR stated that the lack of invitation to observe the presidential election precluded ODIHR from observing the ongoing process. ODIHR Director Sólrún Gísladóttir said that "The lack of a timely invitation more than two months after the announcement of the election has prevented ODIHR from observing key aspects of the electoral process." Six or seven weeks of preparations are needed to prepare a real independent and reliable observance mission. Moreover, the conditions were already very difficult: the presidential election campaign in Belarus was accompanied by unprecedented violence since the very early stage of the campaign. No evidence was presented that would suggest any countries would have had a pre-determined stance on the outcome of the Belarusian presidential election.