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Russia’s 2021 Parliamentary Elections

CEC chief unveils number of foreign observers to monitor Russian parliamentary elections

Ella Pamfilova also noted that the main criterion for the legitimacy of the upcoming elections still would be the trust of Russian citizens

Chairwoman of Russian Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova Vyacheslav Prokofyev/TASS

Chairwoman of Russian Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova

© Vyacheslav Prokofyev/TASS

MOSCOW, September 15. /TASS/. As many as 249 international observers from 55 countries will visit Russia to assess the 2021 legislative elections, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova said on Wednesday.

"As of now, according to preliminary data (these results are not final), some 249 international observers from 55 states have confirmed their participation. I emphasize, these are precisely those who have the status of an international observer, not an expert," the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper quoted Pamfilova as saying.

According to the chairperson, the CEC treats foreign observers with great respect and will provide them with all the necessary conditions for full-fledged monitoring. "Foreign institutions and international organizations invited through the State Duma (lower house) and the Federation Council (upper house), as well as through the Russian Foreign Ministry (the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization), the CEC (partner agencies from 36 countries and seven global organizations) responded with great understanding to our invitations, considering the restrictive measures amid the pandemic. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which sent its mission to monitor the Russian elections, did likewise," the head of the CEC stated.

Pamfilova noted that the main criterion for the legitimacy of the upcoming elections still would be the trust of Russian citizens.

Elections to the 8th State Duma are scheduled for September 19, 2021. They will span across three days - September 17, 18, and 19. The single voting day will also include elections of nine governors and 39 regional legislatures.

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Ella Pamfilova Russia's Central Election Commission Russia's domestic policy Elections Russia’s 2021 Parliamentary Elections

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