IPA CIS Observers: Elections to State Duma of Russia were Held in Accordance with Country’s Legislation

International observers from the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS) held a meeting at the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

Coordinator of the IPA CIS observer group, member of the Committee of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic on International Affairs, Defence, Security and Migration Gulya Kozhokulova reported that the Assembly had formed a representative group comprising 96 observers.

In their work, the observers are guided by Russian legislation and international documents regulating elections and the protection of electoral rights, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on Standards of Democratic Elections, Electoral Rights and Freedoms in the Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

IPA CIS observers visited polling stations in nine constituent entities of the Russian Federation and observed voting at polling stations in 20 countries abroad.

The international observers visited the Public Observation Centre in St Petersburg, organised by the Public Chamber of the city. The Centre opened simultaneously with the polling stations and operated continuously until the completion of the vote count. The observers familiarised themselves with the organisation of public monitoring and the use of video surveillance at polling stations.

The observers also met with Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Foreign Affairs Elena Afanasyeva. She noted that the CIS observers were well prepared and understood the specifics of the electoral process, stressing that their comments and proposals would contribute to improving the electoral process. She also highlighted citizens’ interest in independent international observation of elections.

In Moscow, the international observers met with Chairperson of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation Ella Pamfilova. The meeting focused on ensuring the security of the electoral process and countering external interference. Ella Pamfilova informed the observers about measures being taken to protect the electoral system and ensure citizens’ rights during voting.

The observers also met at the CIS Executive Committee in Moscow with Head of the CIS Observer Mission for the elections to the State Duma of Russia, Deputy Secretary General of the CIS Ilhom Nematov, and Secretary General of the CIS Sergey Lebedev.

Sergey Lebedev reported that the CIS Mission comprised 207 people from nine states. Ilhom Nematov spoke about the findings of observers during the opening of polling stations in the Moscow Region, noting that voting started on time, the polling stations were prepared for work, and members of the election commissions acted in accordance with the established rules.

In St Petersburg, the IPA CIS monitoring group discussed the course of the election campaign with Governor Alexander Beglov. He spoke about the city’s preparations for the elections, describing them as a “dialogue between society and the authorities”, and stressed the importance of international observation and the usefulness of the experience of IPA CIS monitoring groups.

At the Mariinsky Palace, the international observers met with Chair of the Legislative Assembly of St Petersburg Alexander Belsky as part of their monitoring of the electoral process.

On voting day, Coordinator of the IPA CIS observer group, MP of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic Gulya Kozhokulova, and Secretary General of the IPA CIS Council Dmitriy Kobitskiy were present at the opening of polling station No. 2244 in St Petersburg. The observers witnessed that all necessary procedures had been carried out in full and that voting opened as scheduled, at 8 a.m.

Following the monitoring, the CIS Observer Mission summarised its findings. According to the Mission, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation had carried out extensive work to prepare for the elections and provide timely information to the population.

The Mission members concluded that the elections were conducted at a high organisational level and in full compliance with Russian electoral legislation. They stated that the elections were fair, open, transparent and competitive, complied with the principles of democratic elections and ensured the exercise of citizens’ right to freely express their will.

The findings were presented by Head of the Mission, Deputy Secretary General of the CIS Ilhom Nematov.

Coordinator of the IPA CIS international observer group Gulya Kozhokulova noted the high level of organisation of the work of precinct election commissions and the conduct of law enforcement agencies responsible for ensuring security at the polling stations.