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New Report: Undermining Institutions: How the Kremlin Involves International Election Management Bodies in Fake Observation Activities

Context, analysis, and recommendations by Łukasz Kondraciuk, Stefanie Schiffer

Russia’s local elections in September 2024, concentrated on the so-called Single Voting Day, were marked by unprecedented restrictions on independent opposition, media, and election observers. To legitimize the elected politicians in the eyes of the Russian voters and international audiences, the Russian Central Election Commission invited multiple representatives of state election commissions to Moscow and St. Petersburg. All of them misused the authority of their institutions to lend legitimacy to these fraudulent elections.

Our research shows that the Kremlin increasingly targets election commissions from the Global South, strategically leveraging their participation to craft an image of broad international approval. By co-opting officials from these nations—often under the guise of technical exchanges or observer invitations—the Kremlin manipulates their credibility to validate undemocratic practices. These tactics undermine the integrity of these institutions and aim to shield Russia’s electoral malpractice from global scrutiny.

Recommendations to International Election Management Bodies and Other International Institutions

EPDE proposes several calls to action to discourage the continued participation of fake observers, to protect the integrity of the institutions they represent in the Russian public, and to hold individuals accountable for undermining democratic processes:

  1. EPDE calls on election management bodies to introduce / update transparency regulations and codes of conduct to prevent their staff members and experts from intentional or unintentional involvement in politically biased fake observation missions.
  2. The institutions could assess career and financial disincentives for individuals intentionally participating in these activities, such as banning participation in international travel and missions or in international academic exchange.
  3. To reinforce these measures, EPDE encourages peer election management bodies to apply institutional pressure and public censure against commissions found enabling or tolerating participation in fake observation missions, creating accountability within the professional network of CECs.
  4. EPDE encourages media outlets globally to raise awareness and educate citizens about the dangers of fake election observation and the role certain individuals or organizations play in legitimizing fraudulent elections abroad to reduce their credibility and discourage others from participating.
  5. EPDE urges election monitoring bodies and election commissions to adopt stricter transparency measures when holding elections and accrediting domestic and international observers. These should include publishing a complete, detailed list of all observers and their affiliations to simplify the identification and discreditation of biased election observers.

Our report and our fake observers database provide a valuable resource for journalists, researchers, and advocacy groups seeking to understand electoral disinformation tactics, networks of malign influence, and learn more about our recommendations for democratic safeguards. 

Get in touch with Lukasz Kondraciuk, Head of Electoral Integrity at EPDE, via email: kondraciuk@european-exchange.org

(January 15, 2025)
Russia

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