Russian elections again without OSCE observation

OSCE will not be able to deploy an international election observation mission to the State Duma elections scheduled on 17-19.09, 2021. This was announced¹ on 4 August by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) leaders. Matteo Mecacci, ODIHR Director, said the institutions were not able "to independently determine the number of observers necessary for us to observe effectively and credibly."

Both institutions had been invited to observe the elections by the Russian authorities but were subsequently restricted to sending 50 and 10 observers, respectively. Already on 25 June, the ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission' (NAM) reported that it aims at deploying 80 long-term 420 short-term observers after several NAM' interlocutors "stressed the importance of a long-term and country-wide presence to cover all aspects of the process." The Russian authorities argued that the sanitary-epidemiological does not allow for sending a full-fledged international observation mission. However, currently, there are no pandemic-related restrictions to entry and moving within the country, which would prevent the deployment of a full mission.

In the run-up to the elections, the Russian authorities cracked down on the opposition, civil society, and media. Many opposition figures were deprived of running in the upcoming elections. Several restrictive laws were introduced to significantly shrink the space for independent non-governmental organizations and active citizens. Regime-controlled 'monitors' are formally replacing independent domestic election observation. Recent restrictions on media accreditation further affect the transparency of the election process and may actively support election fraud.

This is the third time in the last 15 years that the OSCE has faced obstacles in sending an international election observation mission to the federal elections in Russia. In 2007, three years after the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, the Russian authorities delayed the invitation and imposed 'unprecedented restrictions' on the mission, demanding that ODIHR significantly reduce the number of observers. The government later refused to issue entry visas for experts and observers. In 2008, the Russian authorities and the OSCE again clashed over the timing of the observers' deployment in the country. The mission could not start observations in time to monitor such aspects of the election process as the registration of candidates. Ultimately, its deployment did not take place. In 2021, the restrictions on international observers could be linked to the mass protests against the massive fraud in Belarus in the 2020 presidential elections, as the Russian authorities fear a similar scenario in at least some Russian regions.

The prevention of the OSCE election observation mission is a clear violation of OSCE rules. Currently, the only independent sources of information on the upcoming State Duma elections are independent national election observers such as the Golos Movement, Citizen Observer, St Petersburg Observers, and others. Moreover, the lack of direct accreditation opportunities for citizen observers forces them to act on behalf of other participants in the process. This restriction imposed on citizen observers by the Russian authorities is contrary to international standards, which Russia has endorsed as a member of the OSCE.

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¹ No OSCE observers for Russian parliamentary elections following major limitations