Warsaw, 5th December 2013: On December 11th 2013 will be held an Experts’ Discussion on Citizens’ Election Observation in the Eastern Partnership and the Russian Federation in 2013 at 10:00 in the Stefan Batory Foundation, Sapieżyńska 10a, Warsaw.

Elections in Eastern Europe in 2013 have demonstrated once again the decisive role of citizens’ election observation on political transformation processes. The election observation in Georgia has prevented a roll-back and has contributed to the legitimization of the newly elected Georgian President. The presence of citizens’ observers during the Moscow city major elections in September has prevented notorious falsification and has safeguarded the votes for Aleksej Navalny. At the same time we observe pressure on election observers and influence on members of international observation missions in order to legitimate rigged elections as lastly during the Presidential elections in Azerbaijan. How do citizens’ election observers address these challenges? How can international institutions and civil society support independent citizens’ election observation throughout Europe? How do election observation networks prepare to the upcoming elections in 2014 and 2015 in Moldova, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Ukraine?

Welcome words: Ewa Kulik-Bielińska, Stefan Batory Foundation

 Lilia Shibanova, Association GOLOS, Russia

Anar Mamadli, EMDS, Azerbaijan

Nino Lomjaria, ISFED, Georgia

Artur Sakunts, HCAVanadzor, Armenia

Berit Lindeman, NHC, Norway

Facilitation: Stefanie Schiffer, European Exchange, Germany

Please find attached full program of the discussion. (English and Polish)