OSCE observers saw no competitors for Putin
The presidential elections on March 18 in Russia were held under conditions of excessive control, while at the same time the Central Election Commission “acted effectively and openly,” a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
This was stated in a statement by the OSCE observation mission , published on March 19 on the organization’s official website.
Observers also noted that “restrictions on fundamental freedoms [of citizens] and candidate registration led to a lack of genuine competition” in the elections, apparently referring to Alexei Navalny, who was not allowed to participate in the elections.
“Elections without real competition, which we have seen here, are not real elections. Where the legal framework restricts many fundamental freedoms and the outcome is beyond doubt, elections almost lose their purpose of giving people the opportunity to choose their leaders,” said Michael Georg Link, Special Coordinator and Head of the OSCE short-term observer mission.
The electoral legislation of the Russian Federation, despite the introduction of some amendments based on the recommendations of the Bureau for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, was called complex by the mission and restricting the rights of voters and candidates.
Observers noted that current Russian President Vladimir Putin did not participate in debates or election campaigning, but “the wide coverage of his official activities provided him with a dominant presence” in the media.
“Constant pressure on civil society, a lack of critical perspective in much of the media and a concerted effort to increase turnout characterize the political environment of these elections. Election day was well organized, despite some irregularities,” said the head of the election observation mission, Jan Petersen.
OSCE observers see no competitors to Putin