Home > 2.1 The competent bodies and their tasks > RUSSIAN FEDERATION - Federal Law on Elections of Deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
 
 
 
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Article 34
 

1. Foreign (international) observers shall obtain permit of entry to the Russian Federation in the procedure set forth by the federal law and, if they hold an invitation letter specified in part 3 of this Article, shall be accredited with the CEC.


2. The activities of the foreign (international) observers shall be regulated by international treaties of the Russian Federation, this Federal Law, other federal laws.


3. Invitation letters may be forwarded by the President of the Russian Federation, by Houses of the Federal Council (Parliament) of the Russian Federation, by the Government of the Russian Federation, by the CEC after the official publication of announcement of elections of deputies to the State Duma. Proposals on invitees may be sent in by the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Russian Federation, international and domestic governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as by individuals whose authority in the field of human rights protection is widely acknowledged. The CEC shall forward invitation letters to the election bodies of foreign states and to international organizations dealing with elections, electoral legislation and rights of voters.


4. The CEC shall issue certificates of a fixed form on the basis of the documents presented an application for foreign (international) observer accreditation, a copy of the invitation letter forwarded to them by any of the bodies listed in part 3 of this Article and an identity document). The certificate shall entitle a foreign (international) observer to perform corresponding activities during the period specified in part 5 of this Article.


5. The tenure of a foreign (international) observer shall commence on the day of his/her accreditation with the CEC and terminate on the day when the election results of deputies of the State Duma are officially published.


6. Election commissions, state bodies, bodies of local government, officials thereof shall render the necessary assistance to foreign (international) observers within the scope of their authority.


7. A foreign (international) observer shall act independently and at his/her own discretion. The expenses incurred by a foreign (international) observer shall be paid for by the delegating organization or by the observer him/herself.


8. Foreign (international) observers shall be entitled to meet with candidates, representatives of political parties and of other public organizations, with observers.


9. Foreign (international) observers shall make public statements on the electoral legislation of the Russian Federation, on the preparation and conduct of elections of deputies of the State Duma, to hold press conferences and appeal to the mass media only after the termination of the voting throughout the entire territory of the Russian Federation.


10. Foreign (international) observers shall not use their status to perform activities not relating to observation of the preparation and conduct of elections of deputies of the State Duma.


11. The CEC shall be entitled to revoke the accreditation of a foreign (international) observer in the event he/she violates the generally accepted principles and norms of international law, this Federal Law, other federal laws.