Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to “consult” with the Foreign Ministry and deputies on the possible termination of Russia’s participation in the work of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at a meeting with Central Election Commission Chairwoman Ella Pamfilova on the evening of 25 September.
The issue was raised by Pamfilova, who criticised the work of this organisation. A transcript of the start of the meeting, which is noted to have taken place “late at night,” was published on the Kremlin website.
Putin discussed with Pamfilova the unified voting day that was recently held in Russia.
“Why do we need them? In fact, why do we pay contributions? They do not protect our rights-absolutely,” Pamfilova said of the OSCE ODIHR.
She cited the failure to admit Russian observers to the upcoming elections in Moldova as an example. In cases where Russian observers are involved, Pamfilova said ODIHR’s opinion is completely at odds with theirs – as she suggested, because the organisation’s conclusions are imposed by its “masters”.
OSCE ODIHR observers last participated in observing Russia’s elections in 2018, when Vladimir Putin was elected to a fourth term.
The organisation was unable to send observers to the 2021 elections due to restrictions imposed by the Russian authorities under the pretext of COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2024, the Russian authorities did not extend an invitation to ODIHR to participate in the observation, stating that the organisation was “fulfilling a political order, violating the principles of objectivity, impartiality and professionalism”.
The organisation’s observers have previously noted irregularities in Russian elections and their unfree nature, and the organisation has also criticised the conduct of Russian elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
At the meeting with Putin, Pamfilova also stressed that 1,035 participants in the war against Ukraine had won this year’s elections at various levels in Russia.