RThe decision was made due to Moscow’s “insistent demands” to limit the number of observers against the background of the epidemiological situation, the organization said. The Federation Council believes that the presence of election observers “does not determine their legitimacy”
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will not be able to send observers to the State Duma elections in September, according to its statement.
As stated by the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) OSCE Matteo Mecacci, the decision was made due to the “persistent demands”of the Russian authorities to limit the number of observers. “The ability to independently determine the number of observers we need for effective and reliable observation [of elections] is important,” he noted.
The ODIHR has notified the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the Russian Permanent Mission to the OSCE about this decision.
Moscow invited the OSCE and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) to observe the elections on September 17 and 19, but limited the permissible number of observers to 50 and 10 people, respectively. The authorities called the sanitary and epidemiological situation in Russia the reason.
The ODIHR indicated that they determine the required number of observers based on a “needs assessment” several months before the elections. In Russia, the organization’s mission worked from May to June, experts considered that it was necessary to send 80 long-term and 420 short-term observers.
According to Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, quantitative restrictions apply to all observation missions without exception, they are related to preventing the spread of coronavirus. “Moreover, the quota for the OSCE/ODIHR, as far as I know, was the maximum possible under the circumstances, no discrimination,” he told RBC. The senator believes that “the absence or presence of ODIHR observers does not in any way determine the legitimacy of the elections and their democratic character”.
Vadim Dengin, a member of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, believes that all public organizations that have extensive experience in observing elections at the international level should be present. “Because the presence is a reflection of the real situation. It is not only correct, but also prestigious to monitor large parliamentary elections in any country! And it is a surprise to me to see the refusal, ” he said.
State Duma deputy from the LDPR, member of the International Affairs Committee Anton Morozov told RBC that the parliamentarians met with the OSCE delegation in the lower house of parliament, and there were no prerequisites for the organization’s refusal to participate in the elections. “We invite everyone. Our elections will be absolutely transparent: the more observers there are, the more legitimate they will be in the eyes of the Western community, ” he added.
According to the deputy, if the OSCE sends an application with a namesake list of observers, Russia will consider it.
Voting in the State Duma elections of the eighth convocation will take place within a few days from September 17 to 19, along with voting in regional elections of different levels. 225 deputies will be elected by lists and 225 by single-mandate districts, the heads of nine subjects of the country (three more will be elected by regional parliaments) and deputies of legislative authorities in 39 regions.
In mid-July, the CEC announced a new procedure for video surveillance at polling stations during the elections of State Duma deputies. The Commission decided to abandon public broadcasts from the polling stations, they can be viewed on the service portal, which is available to election commissions, parties and candidates. Also, the broadcasts can be seen inmonitoring centers at the public chambers of the regions. The Yabloko party considered that the CEC’s decision creates the ground for violations of citizens ‘ electoral rights, preventing them from controlling the electoral process, and filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court, but it did not accept the statement of claim.Instagram Live broadcasts and instant news on our Instagram