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On 18 February 2018, the local elections in Belarus were over. Independent Belarusian media once again reported high turnout, while voters generally show little interest.

One of the essential obstacles to the nomination of representatives of political parties and public associations to the PECs is a requirement to possess registered local branches.

Executive officials still demonstrated an obviously discriminatory approach to the opposition parties during the formation of the District Election Commissions (DECs). 

Belarusian authorities have not abandoned the repressive practices against their political opponents: peaceful protesters are still subjected to administrative liability, other civil and political rights are restricted, the country has new political prisoners.

The conditions for campaigning were improved as compared to the previous elections. However, the candidates were not provided with equal rights; pro-government candidates enjoyed better conditions for campaigning...

During the preparations for the parliamentary elections scheduled on 11 September 2016, Belarussian authorities ignored most of the recommendations made by citizens' observers.

Observers note the closed character of the electoral commissions, refusals of the election commissions to provide observers with relevant information are registered all over the country.

Authoritarian regimes "copy and paste" laws to restrict the watchdog function of independent election observers.