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).

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SUMMARY
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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.

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Invitation to be Sent
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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.

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CEC Prepares for Elections
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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



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Democracy NGOs
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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