Refusal of OSCE/ODIHR to monitor Duma elections to have no effect on their legitimacy - CEC head Pamfilova
MOSCOW. Aug 5 (Interfax) - The decision of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) not to send observers to the Russian parliamentary elections due to take place in September 2021 will have absolutely no effect on the legitimacy of the elections, Russian Central Elections Commission (CEC) Chairperson Ella Pamfilova said.
"There will be absolutely no effect. The attitude of our citizens toward the elections and the way public control over the election process is organized are the only factors that can have an effect on the legitimacy of the elections," Pamfilova told Interfax on Thursday, in response to a question whether the refusal of the OSCE/ODIHR to monitor the elections might affect their legitimacy.
"As to the OSCE/ODIHR, of course, we regret that, so we have sent them a letter to that effect, saying there is still time to change their minds," she said.
The CEC believes that an election observation mission from the OSCE/ODIHR could be the largest of all missions sent by organizations to monitor the elections in Russia.
The OSCE/ODIHR made a statement on Wednesday, saying it would be unable to send observers to the State Duma elections in September because of the restrictions imposed by the Russian authorities.
