EPDE - European Platform for Democratic Elections

Fake Observation for Fake Elections. Now “International” The #Kremlin has launched what it calls the first "independent international association" for electoral monitoring. Formed at a conference in #Moscow with delegates from 60 countries, this body is designed to provide an alternative to Western observation standards, which Sergei #Lavrov and Ella #Pamfilova dismiss as "politicized." Non-Interference or Non-Observation? The association’s primary goal is to promote "respect for national sovereignty" and "non-interference." In practice, this means evaluating elections through the lens of "national interests" rather than universal democratic standards. Foreign Minister Lavrov welcomed it as a "depoliticized" counterweight to Western approaches, effectively a mechanism to validate the status quo under the guise of a "multipolar world." The Global South Strategy With participants from nations like #Madagascar, the association aims to build a network of "friendly" experts. CEC Chair Ella Pamfilova has already invited these new "independent" monitors to observe the upcoming State Duma elections. The message is clear: Russia is replacing established international watchdogs with a curated group of experts who prioritize "political traditions" over transparent procedures. This is the culmination of a long-term strategy to sideline the @osce_odihr and other rigorous monitors. By creating its own "international" NGO, the Kremlin secures a reliable source of positive quotes and legitimacy stamps for its 2026 #StateDuma campaign. Fake Observation for Fake Elections. Now “nternational”onObservation #FakeObservers #OSCE #ODIHR #Duma2026 gazeta.ru/social/news/20…

Surveillance Without Observation: The CEC’s Election Blackout The 🇷🇺 Central Election Commission has presented its video surveillance plan for the upcoming #StateDuma elections. The verdict is clear: cameras will be everywhere, but the public will see nothing. While 43,000 commissions will be "covered," the system is designed to isolate the process rather than secure it. The Illusion of Transparency: The live feed is restricted to officials and hand-picked "public chambers." Even in dedicated viewing centers, observers face absurd hurdles: "observation" stations with monitors but no keyboards or mice, making it impossible to switch feeds or review footage. In areas without internet, "video recorders" (a term not even found in election law) will be used with no clear mechanism for candidates to access the data. Paranoia as Policy: CEC Chair Ella #Pamfilova defended the public blackout by citing "national security" and the threat of "Western supercomputers" allegedly used by "enemies and relocants" to manipulate footage. She essentially equated the search for electoral violations with aiding the state's enemies. #RussianElections #CEC #Pamfilova #ElectionObservation

❗️ Election watchdog leader Melkonyants transferred to prison colony Grigory @Melkonyants has been transferred to penal colony No. 2 in #Lipetsk Region. The former co-chair of @golosinfo has been in custody since August 2023. He spent nearly two years in pre-trial detention centers before a court, in May 2025, found him guilty of organizing the activities of the @ENEMOnetwork, which Russian authorities had labeled “undesirable.” He was sentenced to five years in prison and banned from public and political activity for nine years. Immediately after the verdict, Golos announced its self-dissolution. The trial was widely reported to have been marred by procedural violations. During the hearings, Melkonyants and his defense team repeatedly challenged and refuted key arguments of the prosecution, but this did not prevent the judge from imposing the maximum sentence available under the article. #RussianPolitics #HumanRights #RussianElections #Golos #PoliticalPrisoners #Repression

Last call for tomorrow's session! You can still register and save your spot at: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regist…

Join us for our session "Hungary After the Vote" with @ZsofiBanuta, @DanielHegedus82, Gábor Tóka, and @zlutek. We will explore possible post-election scenarios and the challenges that may arise in the period after the vote. More info and registration: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regist…

"Finally, I'm free." The first words of Valiantsin Stefanovich after his release Viasna human rights defender, Valiantsin Stefanovich, spoke with reporters about his release, family, and desire to continue his human rights work. spring96.org/en/news/119858

⚡️ Marfa Rabkova is free! ⚡️ The coordinator of Viasna’s volunteer service was sentenced to almost 15 years in prison for her peaceful work. In the end, she spent 5.5 years in prison. Immediately after release, she was taken to Lithuania. 🔗 Learn more about the Viasna case: freeviasna.org #FreeViasna #FreeThemAll

Putin’s Party to Institutionalize Fake Election Observation Ahead of 2026 Duma ”Elections”. epde.org/?news=putins-p…

Thanks for the shoutout @ZIF_Berlin. Plattform Wahlen is a joint initiative by the EPDE and EPDE's German member European Exchange. Sign up to our mailing list for the latest updates on election observation in Germany and how to join in: #Newsletter" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">plattform-wahlen.org/#Newsletter

📌Our Executive Director, Dr. @SarahBireete has been granted bail. -Sureties: Shs. 10M non-cash -Accused: Shs. 1M Cash -Passport to be deposited. #FreeSarahBireete

Full statement: epde.org/?news=statemen… #FreeSarahBireete

STATEMENT | EPDE strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of @SarahBireete & the crackdown on civil society in Uganda ahead of the general elections. We call for her immediate & unconditional release, and for an end of the repression against election observers. #FreeSarahBireete

United Russia Builds Fake “International Election Observers” to Fight “Electoral Neocolonialism” Russia’s ruling party United Russia is openly constructing an international system of loyal, fake election observers ahead of the 2026 State Duma elections — under the absurd banner of fighting so-called “electoral neocolonialism.” According to Andrey Klimov, a member of United Russia’s supreme council bureau, the party fears interference in Russian elections from “former colonial powers.” To counter this “threat,” United Russia is creating a network of “professional international observers” within its “decolonial” movement “For the Freedom of Nations!”. Klimov claims the goal is to ensure “transparency” — but without involving what he called “provocative structures”, including: @OSCE_ODIHR (dismissed as “unelected”), the @COE, described as hosting “shady brigades,” and other “murky organizations.” Instead, United Russia plans to rely on bilateral party-to-party agreements with friendly forces. One such deal, Klimov confirmed, is already being finalized with the Serbian People’s Party. More are expected as preparations for Duma-2026 continue. Source: tass.ru/politika/26049… #RussianPolitics #UnitedRussia #RussianElections #ElectionObservation #FakeObservers #OSCE #ODIHR #Duma2026

GNDEM calls for the immediate release of GNDEM chair Dr. Sarah Bireete in Uganda, and an end to the intimidation of civil society actors, nonpartisan citizen election observers, and human rights defenders ahead of upcoming elections. gndem.org/stories/gndem-…

The European Parliament is to debate a new resolution on the human rights crisis in Azerbaijan this week 🇪🇺⚖️🇦🇿 @Europarl_EN should use it to adopt benchmarks aimed at fixing a roadmap for the Commission and EEAS’ engagement with Azerbaijan ➡️ Learn more free-anar.site/the-european-p…

💔 Unfortunately, Valiantsin Stefanovic, a member of the Viasna board and former Vice President of FIDH, remains imprisoned in #Belarus He was on the list for release but was not freed. “My colleague, Valiantsin Stefanovic, remains behind bars despite the fact that I was released,” said Ales Bialiatski. Marfa Rabkova, coordinator of the Viasna volunteer service, also remains in custody. #FreeValiantsin #FreeViasna

Great news from Belarus. Our colleagues from @viasna96 Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic, and Uladzimir Labkovich are free after more than 4 years in prison. They were sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for exercising their rights #freeviasna

💔Unfortunately, the release of Valiantsin Stefanovic has not been confirmed. He was on the list for release, but it is not yet clear whether he has been freed. The information is being verified.

⚡️ Ales Bialiatski is free! ⚡️ The #NobelPeacePrize laureate and founder of Viasna spent over 4 years behind bars for his peaceful human rights work. Belarusian authorities had already imprisoned him once before — he then served almost 3 years. Today Ales walks free, but his colleagues, #humanrights defenders from @viasna96, remain imprisoned in #Belarus. 🔗 Learn more about the Viasna case: freeviasna.org #FreeViasna #FreeAles #FreeThemAll