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Russia Stiff Arms International Vote Monitors

Showdown looms with US & EU in bid to keep observers at a distance

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 25, 2007 5:11 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Russia may be headed for another showdown with the US and the European Union over its proposals to severely limit the authority of international election monitors. The Kremlin wants to cut the number of observers and ban their reports from publication until after elections. The move comes just months before the country’s parliamentary and presidential contests, the New York Times reports.

One diplomat accused Moscow of trying to “deconstruct” reforms. An election monitor called the latest move “part of an overall strategy to emasculate” monitoring efforts. But Russia’s foreign minister said the practice is “becoming an instrument of political manipulation and a destabilizing factor.” Russia has already delayed inviting international monitors to observe elections for its lower house of parliament.

Members of local election committee and observers watch as other election officials count ballots at a polling station in Kiev, Ukraine, early Monday, Oct. 01, 2007. The Orange Revolution allies made a strong combined showing in early parliamentary elections Sunday and could win a majority that would allow them to...
Members of local election committee and observers watch as other election officials count ballots at a polling station in Kiev, Ukraine, early Monday, Oct. 01, 2007. The Orange Revolution allies made...   (Associated Press)
Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen during a congress of Russian local leaders in Moscow, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday urged mayors from across Russia to get out the vote in parliamentary elections that could provide him with a base to maintain power after he steps...
Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen during a congress of Russian local leaders in Moscow, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday urged mayors from across Russia to get out the...   (Associated Press)
Activists of Molodaya Gvardia (Young Guards), pro-Kremlin youth movement, protest in front of a hotel where a conference of the opposition movement Other Russia is taking place in Moscow, Saturday, July 7, 2007. Other Russia, led by former chess great Garry Kasparov, is made up of activists opposed to President...
Activists of Molodaya Gvardia (Young Guards), pro-Kremlin youth movement, protest in front of a hotel where a conference of the opposition movement "Other Russia" is taking place in Moscow, Saturday,...   (Associated Press)
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World • US

 
Russia • European Union • Vladimir Putin • Soviet Union • United States • Orange Revolution • Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe • Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights • Russian parliament • election monitors • election • Russian elections

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