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Russian State Duma Election 2016

Nearly 120 foreign observers accredited for Russian parliamentary elections

Earlier reports said that the ODIHR was planning to send 500 observers to Russia

© ITAR-TASS/Valery Matytsin/archive

MOSCOW, August 18. /TASS/. About 120 observers from various international organizations have received accreditation from the Russian Central Election Commission for upcoming elections to the State Duma (lower house of parliament), the commission has reported on its website.

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US observers accept invitation to monitor Russia’s State Duma elections

To date, 117 representatives of various international organizations have been accredited to monitor the election campaign and the September 18 vote. These are observers from the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (36), the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) (76), representatives of the CIS monitoring mission (4) and one observer from the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly.

Earlier reports said that the ODIHR was planning to send 500 observers to Russia, including 80 long-term and 420 short-term who will arrive just before the elections. The first groups of observers have already come to Russia and began working. The mission is led by former Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen.

On August 16, Ella Pamfilova, the head of Russia’s Central Election Commission, held a meeting with the head of the international CIS monitoring mission, Vladimir Garkun. According to Garkun, the mission will include about 200 observers.

Elections to the 450-seat Russian State Duma will be held on September 18 under a mixed system: 225 lawmakers will be elected in one-seat constituencies and another 225 will be elected by party tickets. On June 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree setting the elections, which was published on the same day the election campaign officially got underway. In addition to the State Duma elections, 39 regions will elect their legislative assemblies, while seven constituent regions will hold direct elections of their top officials. Concurrently, municipal elections will be held in about 5,000 constituencies.

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Russia's domestic policy Duma election 2016

Nord Stream gas leak investigation

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International cooperation needed to investigate Nord Stream incidents — Russian diplomat

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Moscow slams NATO drills near Russian borders as inflammatory

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Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

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Israel eliminates one of al-Jamaa al-Islamiya commanders in Lebanon — IDF

The strike was conducted by Israel Air Force’s aircraft in the area of Meidoun in Lebanon

West reluctant to punish those responsible for Nord Stream blasts — Russian diplomat

According to Vasily Nebenzya, the situation is as though a year-long probe into a murder yielded a conclusion that "the victim was murdered"

Erdogan moves back from May 9 his trip to US — report

The report hasn’t been officially confirmed

Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

In Maxim Buyakevich words, neither the talks nor their outcome can change the existing political and territorial realities

Cooperation of Serbia, Russia in military-technical sphere at highest level — president

Earlier, Aleksandar Vucic expressed his admiration for Russian technology several times

Istanbul accords could have stopped hostilities in Ukraine — German newspaper

The deal still looks advantageous even after two years of war, Welt am Sonntag said

Insurers refuse to pay compensation for Nord Stream — Russian envoy to UN

Vasily Nebenzya stressed that insurers conclude on their own that the "explosion at the gas pipelines was made using an explosive devices, willfully and due to political motives," thereby confirming its terroristic nature

Russia grateful to DPRK for unconditional support of special operation in Ukraine — MFA

Ivan Zhelokhovtsev said that the agreements that were reached during the DPRK leader's visit to Russia represent "evidence of the mutual desire of the sides to consistently implement and expand the rich heritage" that was passed down from previous generations

Russia to hold next international security meeting in 2025 — top security official

The date and location will be announced later

IAEA chief to have working contacts with Rosatom, no meeting with Putin is planned

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

EAEU trade turnover reaches record high level of $8.7 bln in 2023 — Russian Prime Minister

The trade turnover between Russia and Belarus reached 4 trillion rubles ($43.8 bln)

Russia, India plan to launch ‘green corridor’ project in trade shortly

The sides supported the early launch of the green corridor project aimed at the simplification of customs operations

Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

Timur Ivanov was removed from the office of deputy defense minister of the Russian Federation of the federal government’s civil service

Space station’s orbit raised by 1 km — Roscosmos

According to preliminary information, the average altitude of the orbital outpost was increased to 414.8 km above the Earth’s surface

Press review: US tries to strong-arm China and Zelensky's bid to bring men home

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 25th

West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that, "according to some parameters, companies in Europe and other regions can hardly maintain their competitiveness if they completely abandon our products"

Miguel Salgado’s ‘Shame’ wins main prize at Moscow International Film Festival

The film is focused on two teenagers Pedro and Lucio, who are forced to fight each other to the death in order to survive after being abducted