RUSSIA TO INVITE ODIHR OBSERVERS, WANTS SMALLER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 005180 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2017 TAGS: PGOV KDEM OSCE PREL RS SUBJECT: RUSSIA TO INVITE ODIHR OBSERVERS, WANTS SMALLER MISSION REF: A. MOSCOW 5119 ¶B. SECSTATE 148638 Classified By: DCM Daniel A. Russell. Reasons 1.4 (B/D). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Russia's invitation to the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to observe the December 2 Duma elections will be sent no later than November 2, according to Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairman Vladimir Churov. Churov described the invitation as unconditional and said it would request that work get started immediately to organize the mission. Despite the unconditional nature of the invitation itself, Churov spoke of changing the "norm" for observation and indicated there would be follow up with ODIHR on such issues as harmonizing rules for international observers and domestic observers and the size of the observer mission. Churov reported the CEC is finalizing certification of party lists and he predicted that 11 or 12 parties will be on the ballot. End summary. -------------- Invitation to be Sent -------------- ¶2. (C) In an October 25 meeting, CEC Chairman Churov told the Ambassador invitations to bilateral partners and international organizations, including ODIHR, to observe the upcoming Duma elections would be issued no later than November 2. The Ambassador, recounting the U.S.'s unconditional, timely invitations to ODIHR three years ago, urged Churov to take the same approach in honoring its OSCE commitment to election observers. In response, Churov said the invitation would be unconditional and that ODIHR would definitely participate. He indicated that ODIHR staff preparing for the observer mission could come to Russia as soon as the invitation was issued. At the same time, however, Churov said the GOR intended to change the "norm" for observation. The GOR would ensure that international observers followed the same rules under Russian law that govern domestic observers. He specifically noted that domestic observers cannot comment on the elections until all polling stations have closed. Churov said this restriction on public comment on the day of the election itself will be applied to international observers. ¶3. (C) Churov said that the "quality of observers not the quantity is important," based on their experience of four years ago. He said they have worked to increase the quality of their domestic observers through the production of special materials and direct work with political parties. The CEC wanted to work intensively and transparently with a smaller group of international observers. Churov viewed observers as a necessary and important element in the development of electoral processes, and he agreed that there must be European verification of the systems involved, including such elements as the electronic voting system that Russia is testing. The Ambassador urged the CEC to observe both the spirit and letter of the Copenhagen Document, pointing to the U.S. experience of 2004. ¶4. (C) Churov told Ambassador about his recent meeting with ODIHR Director Strohal in Poland; a meeting that lasted more than three hours. Churov emphasized that he had tried to initiate earlier meetings, but Strohal had been unable to come to Moscow for personal reasons. -------------- CEC Prepares for Elections -------------- ¶5. (C) Churov reported that the CEC is about to finalize verification of party candidate lists. He said he expected 11 or 12 parties to be on the final ballot. He told us three parties are in the "risk zone:" the Green Party, the Party of Peace and Unity and the People's Union. November 3 will mark the official start of the campaign, Churov confirmed, and parties from that date can begin campaigning through the mass media. ¶6. (C) Churov said one of the biggest challenges facing the CEC is dealing with information disputes. The CEC has created a working group on this issue and Churov noted that for the first time, the CEC is monitoring the mass media with the help of an independent research institute. Two monthly reports have been issued so far which detail the amount of news coverage each party has received. MOSCOW 00005180 002 OF 002 -------------- Democracy NGOs -------------- ¶7. (C) Ambassador urged Churov to help ensure that well-known, legitimate NGOs, such as the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute, and Golos can continue to do their work supporting Russia's electoral process. The Ambassador expressed concern about a recent documentary on state television that negatively portrayed the work of Golos. Churov was aware of NDI's work with the Foundation for Free Elections and said he saw no reason for destroying their ties. Churov requested that Ambassador keep him informed but noted that, under Russian law, such questions must be addressed to the court, not the CEC. Burns