Training of International Observers Discussed at Round Table at Headquarters of CIS Interparliamentary Assembly

Within the framework of the international conference “30 Years of International Election Observation in the CIS: Experience and Practical Results” to be held on 21 November, a round table “Training of International Observers: Results and Prospects” was held.

The organizers were the International Institute for Monitoring Democracy Development, Parliamentarianism and Suffrage Protection of Citizens of IPA CIS Member Nations (IPA CIS IIMDD) and the Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov.

Opening the round table, Deputy Head of the IPA CIS Council Secretariat – Director of the IPA CIS IIMDD, Doctor of Law, Professor Ivan Mushket emphasized the importance of training international observers. Future international observers master professional competencies, international and national law, and the peculiarities of the states where they will observe.

Rector of the Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov Sergey Glagolev addressed the participants of the round table.

Deputy Dean of the Faculty of International Relations of St. Petersburg State University, IPA CIS IIMDD expert Dmitriy Baryshnikov in his speech noted the importance of developing educational programs in the field of electoral observation and stressed the need to systematize knowledge and practical skills in this area.

Ivan Mushket told participants in detail about the content of the course “International Observation of Elections and Referendums”, which is being read for students of the Faculty of International Relations for the third year already. The course is aimed at the formation of basic theoretical knowledge and professional competencies in the field of international election observation.

Chair of the Election Commission of the Belgorod Region Igor Lazarev told about the observation of the presidential elections of the Russian Federation on 15-17 March 2024 in the Belgorod Region as a border region. The head of the Commission noted that for the region these elections had become especially difficult because of the special requirements for all participants of the electoral process, the work of election administration bodies, media representatives and observers.

Head of the Center for Election Law and Process, Training of Election Organizers and International Observers of the Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov Oksana Vladimirova told about the process of training of foreign citizens in the Center and their experience of work as international observers.

Citizen of Syria, senior lecturer of the Department of World Politics of the Faculty of International Relations of the St. Petersburg State University Ziad Shahoud shared his experience of working in the IPA CIS International Observers Group.

The round table participants noted the importance of further cooperation and knowledge sharing to improve the quality of international observation of elections and referendums.