OSCE explained request to send 500 observers to elections in Russia

The Organization for Safety and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) planned to send 500 observers to the election in the State Duma, focusing on a number of factors, including the size of the country. This was stated by the representative of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Nat Perry in a conversation with RIA Novosti.

He also explained that the OSCE Bureau on Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) justifies the request on the basis of “Definitions made by the Mission for Evaluating Needs (MOS) and the established methodology for observing elections.” Another important factor is the previous election observation experience.

Perry acknowledged that often observational missions consist of more than 100 observers: it was in the presidential election in the United States in 2020. In Russia, they wanted to send 80 long-term observers and 420 – short-term. The first should have traced the election process across the country, the second – for the procedures on the day of elections.

/Media reports.