CSTO PA Experience in Protecting Electoral Processes Presented at the Conference in St. Petersburg

On February 20, St. Petersburg hosted the International scientific and practical conference "Building Trust in Elections and Referendums: The Role of International Observation."

The event was timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the International Institute for Monitoring Democracy Development of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.

Sergei Pospelov, Executive Secretary of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, shared the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly's experience in protecting elections from external interference.

"We continue our legislative work to develop measures aimed at protecting electoral sovereignty. A draft amendment to the Recommendations on Improving Legislation to Ensure Protection of Electoral Processes and Sovereignty in the CSTO Member States, adopted in 2022, is already underway. The changes will be made to the part concerning countering destructive information influence on internal affairs and electoral sovereignty, electoral extremism, and the conduct of elections in high-risk conditions. The review process for the draft Recommendations is scheduled to start in March this year," said Sergei Pospelov.

The conference was attended by parliamentarians from the CIS and CSTO countries, representatives of international organizations, election authorities and management bodies, public organizations, as well as scientists and experts.

An exhibition of modern electoral technologies, as well as scientific and methodological research on election observation, were presented on the margins of the conference.