Preliminary report on the Kremlin-friendly international electoral observation
Several established organisations monitored the Russian presidential election on the 18th of March 2018. However, there were around 300 electoral observers who monitored the election upon individual invitations from the State Duma and Federation Council. Preliminary research suggests that these observers can be referred to as Kremlin-friendly, as their impressions about the electoral process were […]
Preliminary statement based on the results of election observation for the March 18, 2018 presidential elections in the Russian Federation
In the preliminarily assessment of the presidential elections, “Golos” acknowledges the definite strong result of the winning candidate but regretfully declares that the movement does not recognize these elections as truly fair, i.e. fully consistent with the Constitution, the laws of the Russian Federation, and international election standards because the election results were achieved in […]
EU calls on Russia to remove EPDE’s listing as “undesirable”
The European External Action Service (EEAS) has called on Russia to remove EPDE’s listing as an “undesirable organization”. This listing “further reduces the space for civil society and restricts the exercise of fundamental freedoms in Russia”, EEAS denounced. A statement by the EEAS spokesperson reads: “This week’s listing of the European Platform for Democratic Elections […]
Key European media report on EPDE’s listing as “undesirable” in Russia
Several key media from across Europe comment on EPDE’s listing as an “undesirable organisation” in Russia, for instance: http://www.faz.net/…/putin-im-wahlkampf-der-beschuetzer-von… https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-european-vote-…/29098628.html http://www.dw.com/…/russia-lists-german-ngo-euro…/a-42974765 See more links on Media About Us. On 13 March 2018, the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), a civil society network of independent election observation organizations, and its Lithuanian member International Elections Study […]
German goverment criticizes listing of EPDE as “undesirable organization” by the Russian Federation
The Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid, Bärbel Kofler, has criticized the classification of EPDE as “undesirable organization” in Russia. “I am outraged that the European Platform for Democratic Elections has been listed as an “undesirable foreign organisation” in Russia. In an attempt to discredit independent election observation, even before this […]
Results of candidate registration. Administrative mobilization of voters
In a situation characterised by a low level of political competition and a predetermined election result, this election campaign has acquired a pronounced “administrative mobilization” character. On the one hand, there are various initiatives to encourage voter turnout; on the other, there is widespread use of technologies of direct administrative coercion to persuade people to […]
Children, contests and threats: How authorities mobilize voters to participate in the presidential election in Russia
Experts from the Movement for the Defence of Voters’ Rights “Golos” found that the authorities in Russia are trying really hard to persuade electorates to vote in the presidential elections on 18 March 2018. “Golos” experts analysed information from long-term observers in the regions as well as information from the media and messages from […]
EPDE protests against classification as “undesirable organization” in Russia
Berlin, 14.03.2018 On 13 March 2018, the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), a civil society network of independent election observation organizations, and its Lithuanian member International Elections Study Center (IESC) were classified as “undesirable organizations” by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. Stefanie Schiffer, EPDE board member, commented: “We protest against the […]
Smokescreen: How pseudo-public organizations simulate civic participation in Russian elections
A low level of real political competition has been a marked characteristic of the 2018 presidential election campaign in the Russian Federation. The low level of political competition has largely been caused by a significant imbalance in resources that the candidates possess. The obvious abuse of administrative resources was a catalyst for this investigation. It […]
Golos investigation on how pseudo-public organizations simulate civic participation in Russian elections
Painting: Vasya Lozhkin http://vasya-lozhkin.ru/pictures/khor/ A low level of real political competition has been a marked characteristic of the 2018 presidential election campaign in the Russian Federation. The low level of political competition has largely been caused by a significant imbalance in resources that the candidates possess. Abuses of administrative resources are the most evident […]