OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission for the State Duma elections in the Russian Federation

MOSCOW, 8 August 2016 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the 18 September State Duma elections in the Russian Federation. The mission’s deployment follows an official invitation from the Russian authorities.

The mission is led by Ambassador Jan Petersen and consists of a core team of 13 experts based in Moscow and some 60 long-term observers to be deployed in teams of two across the country. In addition, ODIHR will request 420 short-term observers to monitor proceedings on election day. The experts and observers are drawn from more than 30 countries.

The mission will assess the State Duma elections for compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards and obligations for democratic elections, as well as with domestic legislation. Observers will follow the candidate registration process, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, implementation of the legal framework and the resolution of election disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.

In the course of its observation, the mission will meet with representatives of relevant authorities, political parties, civil society, the media and the international community.

On election day, observers will monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results. For election day, the mission plans to join efforts with a delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

A statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued on the day after the election. A final report on the observation of the entire election process and including recommendations will be published approximately two months after the completion of the election process.

For further information please visit //www.osce.org/odihr/elections/russia or contact Inta Lase, OSCE/ODIHR Media Analyst at the election observation mission, at +79166214710
(mobile) or Inta.Lase@odihr.ru