The Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR have previously commented on the requirement for residency of 15 years. The Venice Commission Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters states: “a length of residence requirement may be imposed on nationals solely for local or regional elections.”[1] The UN Human Rights Committee has stated that:

Persons who are otherwise eligible to stand for election should not be excluded by unreasonable or discriminatory requirements such as […] residence or descent.[2]

[1] Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters, CDL-AD(2002)023rev, I.1.1.c.

[2] UN Human Rights Committee General Comment 25, par. 15.