The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE has received an invitation from the Central Electoral Commission to monitor presidential polls in Russia, Kommersant reports.
The commission invited 40 long-term and 160 short-term monitors in late December. Press secretary of the ODIHR, Yens Eshenbaher, said that the process was realized in time. The first monitors will start work in late January.
The ODIHR refused to send monitors for the presidential polls in 2008 due to restrictions set for the number of monitors and terms of work. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Northern Council joined the boycott. The provoked casted doubts on legitimacy of Russian presidential polls.
