MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has been going downhill for a long time, Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairperson Ella Pamfilova said.

Earlier, the OSCE ODIHR refused to take part in monitoring Russia’s upcoming presidential election.

"This organization has long been on the decline in the eyes of many of our colleagues and governments; it’s just that not all of them have the courage to say it. It’s an organization that <...> demands we be open, transparent and committed to democracy, while it itself is completely undemocratic, closed and non-transparent," Pamfilova noted at a meeting on preparations for the Russian presidential vote.

She pointed out that a lot of international observers would monitor the Russian presidential election. "This election is different because many countries, including neutral ones, are watching us to see how it all goes here and whether Russia will stand its ground. It’s very important for us to ensure the broad presence of international observers in the election. However, our voters remain our main focus and we are doing everything we can for them," Pamfilova emphasized.

The Federation Council (upper house of parliament) formally designated March 17, 2024, as the date of Russia’s presidential election. The Central Election Commission decided that the vote would take place over three days, on March 15-17, 2024, making it the first ever three-day presidential election in Russian history.