Hoge Vertegenwoordiger Ashton bezorgd over vermeende fraude bij verkiezingen Rusland (en)

EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 6 December 2011 A

Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton i, on the Duma elections in the Russian Federation

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, made the following statement today:

"I take note of the outcome of the Duma elections in the Russian Federation and the fact that the elections, as noted by the international observers from OSCE/ODIHR in their preliminary conclusions, were technically well prepared and administered.

Reports ofprocedural violations, such as lack of media impartiality, lack of separation between party and state, and the harassments of independent monitoring attempts, are however of serious concern.

The OSCE/ODIHR as well as observers representing the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe will present their respective reports in the coming months. In the meantime, I expect that the issues raised in the preliminary findings as well as by local observers will be addressed by Russian authorities to allow for smooth and fair Presidential elections in the Spring."