OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission for Russian presidential election

MOSCOW, 26 January 2012 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened its election observation mission to monitor the upcoming 4 March presidential election in the Russian Federation.

ODIHR was invited by the Russian Federation’s Central Election Commission to observe the election.

The election observation mission is headed by Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini and consists of 15 international experts based in Moscow and 40 long-term observers to be deployed throughout the country. In addition, ODIHR will request 160 short-term observers to monitor election-day proceedings and the counting process.

Observers will assess these elections for compliance with principles for democratic electoral processes, including the commitments agreed to by all the OSCE participating States, as well as national legislation. The mission will analyse the legislative framework and its implementation, and will follow campaign activities, media coverage, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, as well as the resolution of election disputes.

Short-term observers arriving for election day will be deployed in teams of two throughout the country to monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results at all levels.

A statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued on the day after the election.

ODIHR will issue a final report about two months after the end of the electoral process.