“We need to move from permission to protection” – Rasto Kuzel (MEMO98) at FURIC2026
Rasto Kuzel, Executive Director of MEMO98 and EPDE board member, commented on the panel “Building a more resilient election observation ecosystem through regulatory safeguards and coordinated support” at FURIC2026, which took place on 30 September – 1 October 2026 in Brussels. “Thank you to all panellists for a very interesting discussion. I have been a […]
“I Want to Talk About Trust” – EPDE Board Member Zosia Lutkiewicz at the WHDC2026
On 12 October 2026, Zosia Lutkiewicz, President of the Political Accountability Foundation and board member of the EPDE, spoke at the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference on trust in elections and fundamental rights under attack in the OSCE region. “Today I would like to talk about trust. Trust in elections is difficult to build, easy to destroy, […]
“Furic is the place for citizen election observers” – Stefanie Schiffer opening FURIC2026
In a rapidly evolving electoral landscape, FURIC 2026 brought together election experts, observers, representatives from international institutions, national authorities, and political stakeholders to address the complex interplay between technology, democracy, and electoral integrity. “Furic is the place for citizen election observers. We are here to talk, to think, to learn, and to plan our work”. With these […]
Manufactured Legitimacy: Fake Observers at Russia’s 2026 State Duma Elections
The elections to Russia’s State Duma, held from 18 to 20 September 2026, were the first parliamentary elections since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This year’s so-called “Single Voting Day” took place in a tightly controlled political environment, without genuine competition and turnout managed through unprecedented pressure on voters and manipulations with e-voting, while election […]
Russian Election Monitor: Statement on the Russian election 2026
The Russian Election Monitor, a strategic partner of the EPDE, has published a statement on the 2026 State Duma elections. The original statement has been published in full on their website. The elections to Russia’s State Duma (ninth convocation, 2026–2031), held from 18 to 20 September 2026, were the first parliamentary elections since Russia’s full-scale […]
Serbia’s Leading Independent Election Watchdog CRTA joins EPDE
The European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) is proud to announce that CRTA, Serbia’s leading independent election watchdog, has joined the platform. On 17 September 2026, the EPDE General Assembly unanimously confirmed CRTA’s membership, making CRTA the platform’s first member organization from the Western Balkans. “We are happy to see EPDE grow with one of […]
Russia’s Staged “Elections” in Occupied Ukrainian Territories Are Illegal, Illegitimate, and a Part of Warfare, not of Suffrage
EPDE condemns the Russian Federation’s plan to hold State Duma “elections” between 18 and 20 September 2026 in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories of Crimea, Sevastopol, and parts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. We call on international institutions and media not to describe, cover, or treat this exercise as a genuine electoral process. […]
Promo-LEX launches election Observation Mission for regional elections in ATU Gagauzia
Today, 16 September 2026, in Comrat, the Promo-LEX Association launched its Election Observation Mission (EOM) for the regional elections scheduled for 15 November 2026 in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia (Gagauzia). The Mission will monitor both the elections for the People’s Assembly and the election for the position of Governor (Bashkan), which, under the […]
GNDEM Strongly Condemns the Excessive and Unjustified Sentence Announced Against Anar Mammadli
[The original statement was published on GNDEM’s website] The Global Network for Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM) received with indignation the announcement of the sentences against Anar Mammadli, a leading human rights activist and the Chairperson of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS) – a GNDEM member – in Azerbaijan. We call for his […]
Azerbaijan | EPDE Co-founder Anar Mammadli Sentenced to 13 Years of Imprisonment
Today, a court sentenced human rights defender and election observer Anar Mammadli to 13 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan. Anar has been held since 29 April 2024. The charges were then expanded in March 2025. The term handed down is the longest possible under the charges brought. What Anar Mammadli did is a matter of public […]
