The speaker of Bashkir parliament has met the international observers

The chairman of the State Council-Kurultay-RB Constantine Tolkatchev has met the international observers Joseph Lloyd Warrell from the Great Britain and Davile Stoskevichute from Lithuania. The observers arrived in the region for monitoring the preparations for the forthcoming State Duma elections. Both observers are accredited by the Central Election Committee of Russia and sent to Bashkortostan from OSCE Bureau for Democratic Institutes and Human Rights.

“We are happy to hold this meeting” - M-r Tolkatchev said - “And ready to answer any questions, since we are deeply interested in the elections to be held honestly, without conflicts and in accordance with all requirements of the law”.

As the observers reported to him, 13 representatives of OSCE Bureau work in Russia at present time. Other 40 their colleagues will arrive in Russia in the nearest future and other 160 will arrive directly before the beginning of the elections. Some of them will be probably sent to Bashkiria.

“We are happy to stay here, in your Republic and hope the elections will be held honestly in accordance with all international standards” - M-r Warrell said. The observers had already time to meet with the leadership of the central election commission RB, with the representatives of the political parties, taking part in the elections, and with the delegates of several non-state institutions. At present time the observers can't comment the way of preparations for the elections. According to them this is one of the requirements of the organization, which sent them here.

40 observers from 13 OSCE countries work in Russia at present time and several international organizations at once intend to monitor the election campaign in the country. The mission of CIS observers already started working. About 200 delegates will arrive in Russia from OSCE Bureau in total complexity and 100 observers – from OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The number of the observers and the format of their work have been coordinated with the Central Election Committee of Russia beforehand.