ONE CANNOT GET ELECTED WITHOUT A BOTTLE OF VODKA

A new Election Code has been elaborated by independent experts in Russia

Author: Dmitry Kamyshev

[The draft Election Code authors suggest that a renovated personalized mixed election system based on advanced electoral technologies that have been tested abroad be introduced in Russia]

Association of non-commercial organizations in defense of voter rights “GOLOS” conducts long and short term observation of the electoral process. Monitoring is carried out by long term observers, correspondents of the newspaper “Grazhdanskiy golos” and activists of the Association. Association receives information from media and expert interviews with representatives of political parties, NGO leaders, members of electoral commissions, and also from ordinary citizens, who report violations through public “Hotline” at 8-800-333-33 50.

Association “GOLOS”, as an organization that operates based on internationally accepted standards of election monitoring, strictly observes principle of political neutrality, since it is one of the main conditions for independent and objective monitoring of elections. “GOLOS” takes all possible measures to ensure that its activists and observers comply with these principles.

In monitoring the electoral process, GOLOS Association pays particular attention to the following aspects: 1. Respect for citizens’ voting rights and election procedures; 2. Activities of election commissions; 3. The use of administrative resources in election campaigns; 4. Availability of equal opportunities for campaigning for all candidates and political parties; 5. Compliance with the procedures for voting, vote counting and announcement of election results.

This statement is the first in a series of statements on monitoring March 14, 2010, regional elections. It covers the period from December 2009 to February 15, 2010.

Until the end of the campaign GOLOS will release two more statements on the results of monitoring of political agitation and Election Day.

On a single election day, March 14, elections to the legislatures of 8 Russian regions will be held, along with elections to local self-governance bodies and municipal councils, and elections of 5 mayors. Official announcement of elections to regional parliaments, scheduled for a single election day, March 14, 2010, began in December 2009.

Agitation period in the media in all regions will begin on February the 13th and will end at midnight on the 12th of March.

To the attention of media representatives!

Latest developments of the situation with international observers that monitor early Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova

“GOLOS” Association, Karelian subdivision of IRF “GOLOS-North-West” with the help of its experts and activists – correspondents of the newspaper Grazhdanskiy golos conducted civic monitoring of the electoral process during early elections for the Head of the Petrozavodsk municipal district in the city of Petrozavodsk.

Throughout the pre-election period and on the Election Day the correspondents of the newspaper Grazhdanskiy golos monitored the work of election commissions in all districts of the city of Petrozavodsk.

During the Election Day “GOLOS” also conducted parallel partial vote tabulation (PPVT) and analyzed voter turnout in the city of Petrozavodsk.

Also, operators of the Association registered calls about violation of electoral legislation and irregularities from citizens at its “Hotline” (8-800-333-33-50). The messages/calls received were posted on the webste www.88003333350.ru. Association applies all possible efforts to verify the received information.

This is a third statement prepared by“GOLOS” Association members on Election Day findings at the mayoral elections in the city of Sochi, scheduled for April 26, 2009. In the course of elections the Association issued two statements and two press releases, available at www.golos.org.

The Association of Non-Profit Organizations “In Defense of Voters’ Rights «GOLOS»“conducts long-term and short-term monitoring of the electoral process. This monitoring is carried out by long-term observers, correspondents of Grazhdanskiy GOLOS newspaper, and the Association’s activists. The Association receives information both from mass media and from expert interviews with representatives of political parties, NGO leaders, elections commissions members, and from ordinary citizens reporting violations in the course of campaigns to the Association’s representatives and via a “hot line” (phone number 8 800 333 3350). During Sochi elections GOLOS received 42 calls regarding possible irregularities.

As an organization guided in its work by election monitoring standards accepted throughout the world, GOLOS Association strictly observes political neutrality as one of the main conditions of independent and objective election monitoring. GOLOS takes all possible measures in order to ensure that all its employees and activists observe the said principles.

In its electoral campaigns monitoring, GOLOS is guided by general and universal international electoral standards (the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948; the International Pact on Civil and Political Rights, was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 6, 1966 and took force on March 23, 1976; the Declaration on Criteria for Free and Fair Elections adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on March 26, 1994) as well as by regional international electoral standards and by provisions of the Russian legislation.

When monitoring the electoral process, among other things the organization focuses on: 1) respect for citizens’ electoral rights and compliance with the electoral procedures; 2) the elections commissions’ activities; 3) use of the administrative resource during the electoral campaign; 4) equal opportunities for all candidates; 5) developments on the Election Day.

Moscow, April 24, 2009.

The Statement is the first statement of Golos Association on findings of long-term monitoring of the elections campaign of Sochi city mayor elections set for April 26th, 2009.

Within the monitoring Golos Association will present 2 reports on its website ( www.golos.org ) on preliminary findings of the long-term and short-term elections monitoring.

The Association of Non-Profit Organizations “In Defense of Voters’ Rights «GOLOS»“conducts long-term and short-term monitoring of the electoral process. This monitoring is carried on by long-term observers, correspondents of Grazhdanskiy GOLOS newspaper, and the Association’s activists. The Association receives information both from mass media and from expert interviews with representatives of political parties, NGO leaders, elections commissions members, and from ordinary citizens reporting violations in the course of campaigns to the Association representatives and via a “hot line” (phone number 8 800 333 3350).

As an organization guided in its work by election monitoring standards accepted throughout the world, GOLOS Association strictly observes political neutrality as one of the main conditions of independent and objective election monitoring. GOLOS takes all possible measures in order to oblige all its workers and activists to observe the said principles.

In its electoral campaigns monitoring, GOLOS is guided by general and universal international electoral standards (the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948; the International Pact on Civil and Political Rights, was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 6, 1966 and took force on March 23, 1976; the Declaration on Criteria for Free and Fair Elections adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on March 26, 1994) as well as by regional international electoral standards and by provisions of the Russian legislation.

When monitoring the electoral process, the organization concentrates attention first of all on: 1) respect for citizens’ electoral rights and compliance with the electoral procedures; 2) the elections commissions’ activities; 3) use of the administrative resource during the electoral campaign; 4) equal opportunities for all candidates; 5) developments on the Election Day.

The Association of Non-Profit Organizations “In Defense of Voters’ Rights «GOLOS»“ conducts long-term and short-term monitoring of the electoral process. This monitoring is carried on by long-term observers, correspondents of Grazhdanskiy GOLOS newspaper, and the Association’s activists. The Association receives information both from mass media and from expert interviews with representatives of political parties, NPO leaders, electoral commissions members, and from ordinary citizens reporting violations in the course of campaigns to the Association representatives and via a “hot line” (phone number 8-800 333 3350).

As an organization guided in its work by election monitoring standards accepted throughout the world, GOLOS Association strictly observes political neutrality as one of the main conditions of independent and objective election monitoring. GOLOS takes all possible measures in order to oblige all its workers and activists to observe the said principles.

In its electoral campaigns monitoring, GOLOS is guided by general and universal international electoral standards (the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948; the International Pact on Civil and Political Rights, was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 6, 1966 and took force on March 23, 1976; the Declaration on Criteria for Free and Fair Elections adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on March 26, 1994) as well as by regional international electoral standards and by provisions of the Russian legislation.

When monitoring the electoral process, the organization concentrates attention first of all on: 1) respect of citizens’ electoral rights and compliance with the electoral procedures; 2) the electoral commissions’ activities; 3) use of the administrative resource during the electoral campaign; 4) ensuring equal opportunities for all candidates; 5) developments on the Election Day.

Association of non-commercial organizations in defence of voter rights “GOLOS” conducts long and short term observation of the electoral process. Monitoring is carried out by long term observers, correspondents of the newspaper “Grazhdanskiy golos” and activists of the Association. Association receives information from media and expert interviews with representatives of political parties, NGO leaders, members of electoral commissions, and also from ordinary citizens, who report violations through public “Hotline” at 8-800-333-33 50.

Association “GOLOS”, as an organization that operates based on internationally accepted standards of election monitoring, strictly observes principle of political neutrality, since it is one of the main conditions for independent and objective monitoring of elections. “GOLOS” takes all possible measures to ensure that its activists and observers comply with these principles.

“GOLOS” monitors progress of electoral campaign in accordance with Russian electoral legislation and universal international electoral standards, such as: the UN Declaration of Human Rights – 1948, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – 1966, Inter-Parliamentary Council Declaration on Criteria for Free and Fair Elections – 1994, 1990 Copenhagen Document, and regional international electoral standards.

When monitoring electoral process, “GOLOS” pays particular attention to: 1) observation of electoral rights of voters and compliance with electoral procedures; 2) work of electoral commissions; 3) use of administrative resource; 4) equality of candidate’ abilities to conduct political agitation; 5) course of Election Day.

This is the third statement on findings of the short term observation of the election of deputies of legislative bodies of the subjects of Russian Federation, heads of the administrative centres of the subjects of Russian Federation, representative bodies of the municipal districts and other municipal establishments held on March 1, 2009.

“GOLOS” ASSOCIATION

STATEMENT No.1

On long-term monitoring findings during regional elections of March 1, 2009: nomination, registration of candidates and beginning of electoral campaign

GOLOS Association’s Press-conference: “Election monitoring findings: regional electoral campaigns and voting on the 1st of March, 2009”

On March 2, 2009, at 2 pm GOLOS Association will hold a press-conference dedicated to long-term and short-term election monitoring findings in IA «Rosbalt» (Moscow, Skaternyi pereulok, 4/2, b. 1).

On February 25, 2009, at 12:00 GOLOS Association will hold a press-conference dedicated to long-term election monitoring findings in IA «Rosbalt» (Moscow, Skaternyi pereulok, 4/2, b. 1).

*Since January GOLOS conducts monitoring in the regions, where elections are called on the 1st of March, 2009. GOLOS 1st Statement (Russian version) can be found at: http://golos.org/a2159.html

Dear Partners!

GOLOS Association is pleased to announce expert round table: “Concept and structure of Electoral Code”, which will be held on November 25, 2008, from 3 to 6 pm in Georgievsky Hall of Russian Socio-Political Center (РОПЦ) located on Luchnikov pereulok 4, b.1, entrance 3.

On November 5 the President of Russia Dmitriy Medvedev addressed the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

The President draws conclusions about the colossal scales of the administrative resources, including in election processes. The evaluation of the President coincide with the views of the Association “GOLOS”, which we express in our Statements throughout years.

Moscow, October 12, 2008

Possible Preparations for Falsifications in Irkutsk Region

of «GOLOS» Association based on the results of long-term monitoring of regional electoral campaigns

(The campaigning stage)

Dear Journalists and Partners!

On the Day of Regional Elections, October 12, 2008, GOLOS Association will open independent Information Center «VOICE of Elections - 2008» in the Independent Press Center (17/9 Prechistenka Street, off. 44, entrance from Barykovskiy per.)

Time of operation of the Information Center:

October 12, from 11:30 a.m. till 10:00 p.m.

On September 18, 2008, at 1:30 pm in the Independent Press-Center “GOLOS” Association will hold a press-conference:

Political landscape after registration “clean up” of the political party lists for the October 12 local elections

To the Chairman of the Central Election Committee of the Russian Federation Mr. Churov V.E.

Copy: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

In Joshkar-Ola (Marij-El Republic) GOLOS organized street action «Answer the questions for the President».

In Irkutsk GOLOS together with partner organizations held an expert round table «Does Russia need an Electoral Code?», where election commissions’ members, political parties’ representatives, journalists and independent experts came together to discuss drawbacks of the Russian electoral process and legislature.

STATEMENT # 3 OF GOLOS ASSOCIATION ON THE RESULTS OF SHORT-TERM MONITORING OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ON MARCH 2, 2008

Moscow, March 3, 2008

STATEMENT No. 2 of “GOLOS” Association on findings of long-term observation of the 2008 Presidential campaign (Period of political agitation)

Moscow, 28th of February, 2008

Moscow, February 29, 2008

Press-release:

A press conference of the “GOLOS” Association will take place on March 3, 2008 at 13.00 at the information agency “Rosbalt” (Moscow, Skaterniy per., 4/2, bld.1).

“Election campaign of the Russian Presidential candidates: long term monitoring and E-Day observation”

Dear Journalists!

To make easier your work of covering the Presidential Elections in Russia GOLOS Association will open independent Information Center «VOICE of Elections - 2008»

On February 28, 2008, at 12.00, in the “Rosbalt” Informational agency GOLOS Association together with Transparency International-Russia will hold a press-conference:

“Long-term election monitoring of the 2008 Presidential campaign: mechanisms and findings”

WHAT: 24-hour Independent Informational Center “The Voice of Elections”, organized by “GOLOS” Association

WHEN: 2nd of March, 11 am

WHERE: Independent Press Center (Moscow), Prechistenka str. 17/9, r. 44

“GOLOS” Association Statement No. 1 Registration of candidates and the beginning of political agitation

GOLOS Association is implementing a long-term monitoring project of the Presidential Elections starting from December 2007 up to Elections Day scheduled for March 2, 2008. Receiving information from correspondents of “Grazhdansky Golos” (Civic Voice), a newspaper founded by the Association, and its activists the monitoring covers the following 38 Russian regions: Adyg Republic, Altai Krai, Arkhangelskaya oblast, Astrakhan Oblast, Bashkortostan Republic, Vladimir Oblast, Volgograd Oblast, Voronezh Oblast, Irkutsk Oblast, Kabardino-Balkaria Republic, Kaliningrad Oblast, Kaluga Oblast, Karelia Republic, Kostroma Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, Kursk Oblast, Mariy-El Republic, Novgorod Oblast, Novosibirsk Oblast, Omsk Oblast, Oriol Oblast, Perm Krai, Primorsk Krai, Pskov Oblast, Rostov Oblast, Ryazan Oblast, Samara Oblast, St.Petersburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Stavropol Krai, Tatarstan Republic, Tver Oblast, Tomsk Oblast, Ulyanovsk Oblast, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Chuvash Republic, Yaroslavl Oblast, and Moscow.

GOLOS receives information both from the regional press and from expert interviews with representatives of political parties, NGO leaders, members of electoral commissions, as well as from regular citizens who report electoral campaign violations to the hot-line established by GOLOS. Starting from January 2007 every two weeks long-term observers submitted their observation reports to the central office of GOLOS.

GOLOS Association is focusing on the following aspects in its monitoring efforts:

• Fulfillment of all necessary electoral procedures

• Activity of electoral commissions

• Equality of campaigning opportunities for all candidates

• Abuse of the administrative resource

• Procedures on the Election Day

This statement is the first among the series of statements describing the course of the electoral campaign, and covers the period from the announcement of elections to February 1, 2008. By the end of the campaign, ”GOLOS” plans to issue two more statements covering the agitation period and the Election Day observations.

“GOLOS” finds Russian Election Law in need of substantial improvement and, based on its international election monitoring experience, initiates a series of expert discussions of Russian electoral procedures in comparison with those of other countries. As the result of these discussions a number of electoral norms and procedures optimal for Russia should be developed in order to be lobbied later for inclusion into the Russian Electoral Code.

On January 17, 2008, in the Independent Press-Center (Prechistenka str., 17/9, off. 44) “GOLOS” will hold first Expert Press Club “Election Law in Russia, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan: comparison and possible changes of Russian electoral norms”.

The event will last from 3 to 6 pm.

Moscow, December 11

General findings on the results of analysis of the statistical data on the observations of the E-Day December 2

“GOLOS” Association election monitoring findings on Election Day 4 December, 2007

Around 2500 activists of «GOLOS» Association have been observing voting procedures on over 20 000 polling stations in 38 Russian regions starting from 8 am until the counting of votes was over and final protocols were signed. «GOLOS» was also analyzing messaged received through its hot-line Transparent elections, which were coming throughout Election Day. If citizens left their contacts then, on their permission, «GOLOS» recorded an interview with them and with more detailed information on reported violations. «GOLOS» was also informing the CEC about the most systematic and serious violations through operators of hot line run by Russian Foundation for Free Elections.

Press-conference on “GOLOS” election monitoring findings.

Dcember 4, 12:00. At the Independent Press-Center (Moscow)

December 1, 2007

“GOLOS” Association has received messages from the regions, proving that the pressure on the organization and its activists has grown. Such cases are reported in Krasnoyarsk, Oriol, Voronezh, Samara, Irkutsk and other regions. “GOLOS” staff and activists are being detained or invited for the “preventive talks” with the law-enforcing authorities without proper documents.

December 1, 2007

To: Chairman of the Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation Ella Pamfilova

Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation Vladimir Lukin

Chairman of the Russian Central Election Commission Vladimir Churov

GOLOS Association is implementing a long-term monitoring project of the State Duma elections starting from July 2007 up to elections day scheduled for December 2, 2007. Receiving information from correspondents of “Grazhdansky Golos” (Civic Voice), a newspaper founded by the Association, and its activists the monitoring covers the following 40 Russian regions: Adyg Republic, Altai Krai, Arkhangelskaya oblast, Astrakhan Oblast, Bashkortostan Republic, Vladimir Oblast, Volgograd Oblast, Voronezh Oblast, Irkutsk Oblast, Kabardino-Balkaria Republic, Kaliningrad Oblast, Kaluga Oblast, Karelia Republic, Kostroma Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Kursk Oblast, Mariy-El Republic, N.Novgorod Oblast, Novgorod Oblast, Novosibirsk Oblast, Omsk Oblast, Oriol Oblast, Perm Krai, Primorsk Krai, Pskov Oblast, Rostov Oblast, Ryazan Oblast, Samara Oblast, St.Petersburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Stavropol Krai, Tatarstan Republic, Tver Oblast, Tomsk Oblast, Ulyanovsk Oblast, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Chuvash Republic, Yaroslavl Oblast, and Moscow.

GOLOS receives information both from the regional press and from expert interviews with representatives of political parties, NGO leaders, members of electoral commissions, as well as from regular citizens who report electoral campaign violations to the hot-line established by GOLOS. Starting from September 2007 every two weeks long-term observers submitted their observation reports to the central office of GOLOS.

GOLOS Association is focusing on the following aspects in its monitoring efforts:

• Establishment of electoral commissions;

• Compilation of regional party lists;

• Availability of information on preparation for elections for voters;

• Equality of campaigning opportunities for political parties;

• Equality of access to the press for all the participants of elections;

• Legislative provisions of free and fair elections.

PRESS-RELEASE

On 28th of November, 2007, at 2 pm in the informational agency “Rosbalt” “GOLOS” Association and Transparency International-Russia will hold a joint press-conference on the results of election monitoring: