Security as Priority: Head of Russia’s CEC Discusses Election Security with the CSTO PA Mission

On 17 September, international group of observers from the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly met with Ella Pamfilova, Chairwoman of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.

The key topic of discussion was ensuring all-round security and protecting the electoral process from external interference.

The Chairwoman of the CEC of Russia placed particular emphasis on the unprecedented security measures aimed to guarantee the legitimacy of the elections, protect voters' rights and ensure the smooth functioning of the system amid intense information and political challenges.

In turn, representatives of the CSTO PA mission emphasized that monitoring is conducted in strict accordance with the national legislation of the Russian Federation, based on the principles of objectivity, independence and respect for state sovereignty.

During the discussion, the meeting participants underlined the importance of the Recommendations on ensuring and protecting the electoral sovereignty of the Organization’s Member States, previously adopted by the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly. The parties agreed that, amid ongoing attempts at information pressure, the model document serves as a vital legal safeguard against manipulation, protecting citizens' democratic right to vote and strengthening stability across the Eurasian region.

At the end of the meeting, Ella Pamfilova stressed that inter-parliamentary cooperation between allied countries plays a vital role in common security. 

After the monitoring concludes, the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly mission will draw up a final report, providing a comprehensive assessment of the election campaign.