Members of the opposition claimed that the organisation of the referendum involved several serious violations of legislation, including the constitution.
[3] Before becoming president in 1994, Alexander Lukashenko had tried to hold a similar referendum on state symbols in 1993 while still an MP, but had failed to obtain parliamentary support.
[10] He agrees with the point that numerous issues related to national history, traditions, culture and language were put to the referendum in violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus.
[11] According to Pastukhov, Pahonia and the white-red-white flag remain the state symbols of Belarus de jure.
[13] The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stated that the referendum violated international standards and noted concerns over governmental control over the media, interference with the voting process, and obstacles to the opposition's activities.