Watchdog cancels Russian poll review / Russia warns OSCE over elections

Europe’s main election monitoring group, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said on 16 November 2007 it was scrapping plans to deploy observers to Russia’s December 2007 parliamentary elections in a decision that could cast doubt on the integrity of the poll.

Europe’s main election watchdog (OSCE-ODIHR) may not be invited to monitor Russia’s presidential poll in March 2008 unless it adopts proposals that would weaken observation missions, ­Russia’s elections chief subsequent hinted on the 19 November 2007.

BBC News, 26.11.07: Putin says US behind poll boycott http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7112904.stm

Deutsche Welle, 16.11.07: Putin Supporters Call for an Unconstitutional Third Term http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2929480,00.html

BBC News, 21.11.07: OSCE MPs to monitor Russian poll http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7104382.stm

OSCE: Press Release, 16.11.07: OSCE Chairman takes note of ODIHR decision not to observe Russian parliamentary elections http://www.osce.org/cio/49180

OSCE: Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights - Elections http://www.osce.org/odihr-elections/

BBC News, 16.11.07: Watchdog cancels Russia poll plan http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7098015.stm

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