"The assessment of the elections in Belarus by an observer mission from the OSCE ODIHR, whose leadership believes that the OSCE cannot recognize the elections as fully free and democratic, can only evoke disappointment," it said.

"Moscow believes the elections have displayed not only the high civic activity of the population but also the Belarusian people's desire of continuity and stability," it said.

The observers from the CIS said in their statement that the elections were held at a high organizational level, in line with the electoral laws existing in the country and commonly accepted international standards of democratic elections, it said.

"The CIS observer mission also believes that the election commissions and Belarus's government and executive bodies have provided adequate conditions for involving as many political forces acting in the country in the election process as possible and ensured protection and support for the people's voting rights during the parliamentary elections," it said.

"There is a question arising in this connection: What other improvements should the Belarusian authorities have made to the election process to have the elections recognized as free and democratic?" it said.

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