Foreign observers must not give assessments of State Duma elections during voting

MOSCOW, June 24. /TASS/. During elections for members of the ninth State Duma (lower house of the parliament), international observers are obligated to refrain from making public assessments, commentaries for the media and holding press conferences until the end of the voting across the entire country, the resolution of the Central Election Commission on the clarification of their activities reads.

The document determines how foreign observers can work during State Duma elections, which will take place on September 18-20. They will pass accreditation in the Central Election Commission, can visit polling stations, observe the voting process and counting of ballots, get information from commissions and read documents related to elections. At the same time, their activities must be independent, unbiased and must not interfere with election commissions’ work.

"Foreign (international) observers must <...>. refrain from publication (also on the Internet) of any remarks, assessments, suggestions and recommendations, considering their observation of the elections, starting from appealing to the media officials and holding press conferences, until the end of voting across all of Russia," the document reads.

After the voting ends across Russia, foreign observers will be able to publicly express their opinion on the elections legislation, preparing and holding the election campaign, talk to media representatives, hold press conferences and present conclusions on their observation results.

According to the document, the foreign observer’s term of office begins on the day of their accreditation in the Central Election Commission and ends on the day of the official publication of State Duma elections’ results. Observers must have a certificate of the Central Election Commission and an identity document.

Duties and powers of observers

The clarifications state that foreign observers must act in accordance with the Russian Constitution, federal laws and international law, maintain political neutrality and impartiality, respect Russian national sovereignty. They are also obligated not to express sympathy for any candidates, parties, authorities and other participants of the election process.

Foreign observers can meet candidates to the State Duma, representatives of political parties and public associations, get information, needed for the observation, and certified copies of protocols of polling stations and territorial commissions on the voting results from election commissions.

They are also allowed to be at polling stations, observe the distribution of ballots, the counting of votes, and the determination of voting and election results. They also have the right to observe remote electronic voting. During multi-day voting, foreign observers can watch the presentation and sealing of empty stationary and portable ballot boxes, the transfer of ballots to safe packages, the opening of safe packages and boxes, as well as the counting of ballots after the end of voting.

At the same time, the document determines restrictions. Foreign observers are prohibited from giving ballots to voters, signing for them, including at their request, filling out ballots, violating the secrecy of voting, participating directly in the counting of ballots, conducting election campaigning, taking part in the decision-making process of the commission or interfering with its work.