Russian Presidential Candidates Shared Information and Opinions on Election Process with IPA CIS Observers

The IPA CIS International observers met with candidates for the post of the President of the Russian Federation in Moscow.

At the meeting with representative of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) Nikolai Kharitonov they discussed the conditions created by the candidate for campaigning and interaction with the election administration bodies.

Coordinator of the group, Chair of the Standing Commission of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus for Regional Policy and Local Self-Government Mikhail Rusyi, said that the group included 60 people - deputies and senators of the Commonwealth countries, as well as experts of the International Institute for Monitoring Democracy Development, Parliamentarianism and Suffrage Protection of Citizens of IPA CIS Member Nations (IPA CIS IIMDD).

Nikolai Kharitonov spoke about his political path and parliamentary experience, informed that during the campaign period he visited a number of Russian regions, where he met with voters. He noted that conditions had been created in the localities to present his political program and campaigning, and an effective dialogue had been established with the election administration bodies. The IPA CIS International observers also met with Leonid Slutskiy, candidate for President of Russia from the LDPR party.

In the course of the conversation the candidate emphasized the importance of the development of multifaceted cooperation in the CIS region, and first of all - parliamentary dialogue, especially in the conditions of the formation of a new world policy. Traditions of parliamentary diplomacy are developing on the platform of the IPA CIS, emphasized Leonid Slutskiy. He noted the high level of professionalism of the observers working in the Assembly group.

Following the results of previous elections, the party had comments on remote electronic voting, home voting, as well as on the organization of conditions for the disabled.

The observers noted the broad information about the elections and high voter activity: by the middle of 15 March, according to the CEC, more than 50% of voters had voted.

International observers discussed the electoral campaign with Vladislav Davankov, presidential candidate from the New People party, who called the campaign colorful and pointed out that it was conducted within the law. The party, established four years ago, is participating in the elections for the first time.

Answering the observers' questions, Vladislav Davankov said that no serious violations had been recorded by the party representatives.

As a reminder, a group of the IPA CIS international observers , which includes MPs and experts from the IPA CIS IIMDD, is monitoring the elections in the capital and eight regions of Russia, as well as at foreign polling stations.

During the short-term monitoring in Moscow, the observers met with the leadership of the CEC and both chambers of the Russian parliament, and visited the Situation Center of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation.