Russian Foreign Ministry: legitimacy of Byelorussian elections to be indubitable

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On March 20, Press and Information Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry published its statement on the results of 19 March presidential elections in Byelorussia. Mentioning that, according to preliminary information of Byelorussian CEC, more than 90% of the eligible voters participated in elections and about 80% of them voted for Alexander Lukashenko, Foreign Ministry of Russia stresses that the elections were conducted on alternative basis. “Interest in the election campaign in Byelorussia, which was demonstrated in Moscow, as well as in the situation arising around the republic and in it during the elections, is quite understandable. After all, Byelorussia is not only Russia’s nearest neighbor, it is Russia’s ally, perspective partner in economic ties, which plays important role in our trade relations with Europe,” is said in the statement.

“There are all necessary reasons to believe that the elections were conducted in accordance with universally recognized standards, and their legitimacy is indubitable. By the way, a big group of Russian and CIS observers, which monitored the elections, evaluates them on the same way. Course of the presidential election campaign has confirmed, that development of democratic institutions, as well as strengthening of foundations of civil society in Byelorussia, depend first of all on processes within the country, as well as harmonious development of the republic’s relations with the outer world,” believe statement’s authors at the Russian Foreign Ministry.