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Old Saint Basil's Cathedral in MoscowJohnson's Russia List title and scenes of Saint Petersburg
Excerpts from the JRL E-Mail Community :: Founded and Edited by David Johnson
#8 - JRL 2007-177 - JRL Home
Russia Welcomes International Observers - Central Election Commission Member

MOSCOW. Aug 16 (Interfax) - International observers at upcoming elections in Russia will operate under an optimal set of host country laws, member of the Russian Central Election Commission Igor Borisov said.

"In this regard, we are ahead of the rest of the world, because our laws are the most democratic ones. They require the presence of international observers," Borisov said on the Mayak radio station on Thursday.

Russian laws do not limit the number of international observers at voting stations, he said. "This is why theoretically it is possible that a platoon, or a company of international observers may arrive and thereby block the work of a voting station. This never happened though, as it would be against the fundamental principles of international observance," he said.

During election campaigns in Russia attempts were made by international observers to exert certain pressure, Borisov said. "In particular, demands are being made by the OSCE Office for democratic institutions and human rights to remove law enforcement officers from voting stations, who they believe pressurize the voting process," he said.

The same organization has suggested inking Russian voters' fingers, Borisov said.

"By this marking, they put us on the same level with African countries and Afghanistan. They are trying to force these standards on us," he said.

"This is an attempt to set certain development conditions which are politically favorable for another country and we assume that organizers of elections in Russia will be pressured by interested parties," he added. "We are trying to maintain the balance and live up to Russia's commitments in line with international standards," Borisov said.