OSCE criticises Belarus election campaign

Campaigning in a parliamentary election seen by the West as a test of Belarus's democratic credentials is giving voters an incomplete picture of the issues and candidates, Europe's top rights body said yesterday.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe said there was little evidence of full-fledged campaigning and few opportunities for debate, with state media devoting most air time to praising the authorities.

In a second interim report before the September 28 parliamentary poll, the OSCE also said election officials had failed to provide assurances that observers could witness the vote count.

"The campaign is being conducted in an extremely low-key manner throughout Belarus and few candidate meetings have taken place thus far," the OSCE report said.

It said media coverage "has focused primarily on procedural aspects of the election process", giving voters little chance to become acquainted with candidates or issues.

President Alexander Luka-shenko, accused of crushing fundamental rights during 14 years in power, appealed to the West this week to recognise the election and work to improve relations and lift sanctions against the former-Soviet state.

The rights group said that Belarus's Central Election Commission "has not given its assurances that observers will have meaningful access to the vote count".

No election held in the former Soviet republic since the mid-1990s has been deemed free or fair and the liberal and nationalist opposition, frequently beset by internal rows, was shut out of Parliament in the 2004 race.

But Mr Lukashenko has sought to improve ties with the US and EU after quarrelling with Russia over energy prices and Western countries have held up the election as a test of his commitment to democracy.

The group said campaigning has proved dull, with no public meetings, no street posters and only a handful of leaflets being distributed. Air time on state TV has been confined mostly to formal five-minute spots allotted to candidates under election law. Most news stories remain focussed on praise for the President, his government and senior election officials.

Opposition groups are demanding greater representation on commissions at polling stations that oversee the vote count.

An opposition council is to debate the issue tomorrow and take a decision on taking part in the vote. Analysts predict that the opposition will split.

Both the EU and the US have imposed travel bans and financial sanctions on Belarus on the grounds that the President rigged his re-election in 2006.

Mr Lukashenko has said he would like to see opposition members win seats this month if only to undermine Western criticism.