MINSK, 16 December (BelTA) - A total of 7.2% of voters cast their votes on the first two days of early voting in Belarus, Secretary of the Central Election Commission Nikolai Lozovik told BelTA. So far, 5.9% of voters have cast their ballots in Brest Oblast, 11.4% - in Vitebsk Oblast, 6.1% - in Gomel Oblast, 8.1% - in Grodno Oblast, 6.3% - in Minsk Oblast, 8.2% - in Mogilev Oblast and 5.8% in the city of Minsk. An estimated 9% of voters took part in early voting outside the country....

MOSCOW, 16 December (BelTA) – Belarus’ policy of economic integration with Russia deserves absolute support and respect, Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin said during a call-in session broadcast live on 16 December, BelTA has learnt. The Russian Premier admitted that the relations between the governments of the two states are not always easy. “But I should say that the Belarusian government has embarked on fair economic integration with Russia. This choice definitely deserves...

MINSK, 15 December (BelTA) – The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus has accredited 1,015 international observers to monitor the presidential election in Belarus, BelTA learnt from the CEC. According to the CEC, they include 406 representatives of the OSCE/ODIHR, 261 representatives of the CIS and six members of the CIS Permanent Committee. Besides, the CEC accredited MPs from other states (82 members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, 45 members of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary...

MINSK, 15 December (BelTA) – A total of 3.4% of voters cast their votes on the first day of early voting in Belarus on 14 December, Secretary of the Central Election Commission Nikolai Lozovik told belTA. The lists of citizens eligible to vote number almost 7.044 million people. Nearly 237,000 of them have already taken an opportunity to vote early. 2.6% of voters cast their ballots early in Brest Oblast, 5% - in Vitebsk Oblast, 4.2% - in Gomel Oblast, 3.1% - in Grodno Oblast, 3% - in...

MINSK, 14 December (BelTA) – President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said he expects unbiased and fair assessments from the American analysts as he met with representatives of the top United States’ analytical centers on 14 December. “I am confident that as true professionals you will be unbiased and impartial,” the President said. Alexander Lukashenko stressed that he would like the American analysts to see everything by themselves in normal working environment and get answers to...

MINSK, 14 December (BelTA) – President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko suggests creating a permanent mechanism for cooperation and information sharing between Belarus and the USA. The Belarusian head of state put forward the initiative as he met with representatives of the top USA analytical centers on 14 December. “I hope that our contacts will continue and that your first visit to Belarus will not be the last one. We should probably think about creating some permanent mechanism for the...