GOLOS Report: Trend Toward Less Competitive Elections Continues
April 27, 2011, Moscow. Today the GOLOS Association for Voters’ Rights presented its Analytical Report on the March 13 Elections. The report, based on Golos’ extensive methodological long term and short observation of the recent regional and municipal March elections, concludes that today’s elections in Russia are much less competitive than those of the mid 1990s and early 2000s.
Election Watchdog Sees Apathy, Tricks
Early campaigning for next month’s regional and municipal elections has been tarnished by dirty electioneering by United Russia and public apathy, the country’s only independent elections watchdog, Golos, said Monday.
Russia’s Human Rights Leaders to Unite, Work with Opposition to Push for Dialogue with Regime
Nine of Russia’s leading human rights activists have formed the Human Rights Council of Russia to improve coordination among their groups and to cooperate with opposition political parties in response to what they describe as “the decisive offensive of the powers that be against the rights of man and citizen.”
Kommersant Vlast, N26, July 5, 2010
The draft Election Code authors suggest that a renovated personalized mixed election system based on advanced electoral technologies that have been tested abroad be introduced in Russia.
Final Statement of GOLOS Association: Decrease in the Level of Public Monitoring
On March 14th, 2010 more than 700 representatives of GOLOS Association conducted public monitoring of voting and counting procedures at polling stations, and the tabulation of the results in the higher-level electoral commissions during elections in Altay Republic, Vladimir, Voronezh, Kurgan, Ryazan’, Sverdlovsk regions, and also in Astrakhan, Vladimir, Yekaterinburg, Ivanovo, Irkutsk, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Novorossiysk, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Perm, Sochi, Tula, Chelyabinsk.
Press-release #2 GOLOS Reports Multiple Cases of Organized Voting, Bussing and Remote Voting Procedure Violations
Representatives of GOLOS reported that during the day they continued observing negative trends previously reported in the morning. Those were the cases of unauthorized persons present at the polling stations, limiting voters’ rights, rights of observers, mass media and members of electoral commissions, as well as numerous cases of organized voting with absentee ballots, transportation of the voters to polling stations, bribing voters in some regions.
Smooth Opening at Most Polling Stations, GOLOS Expresses Concerns About Absentee Voting Procedures and Pressure on GOLOS Representatives
Today, on March the 14th, 2010, about 700 representatives of “GOLOS” Association are observing elections in Altay Republic, Vladimir, Voronezh, Kurgan, Ryazan and Sverdlovsk regions, as well as in the cities of Astrakhan, Vladimir, Yekaterinburg, Ivanonvo, Irkutsk, Krasnodar, Novorossiysk, Omsk, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi, Tula and Chelyabinsk. This release represents information reported by GOLOS correspondents by 10:00 AM local time.
Summary of messages From Hotline of GOLOS Association as of 3:00 pm March 14th, 2010
On March 1st, GOLOS’ “Transparent Elections” independent public hotline was launched. Messages on violations during electoral campaign keep coming to toll free federal number 8 800 333–33–50 and via website form at www.88003333350.ru. Messages received are posted on the above mentioned website and the data is transferred to electoral commissions and law enforcement institutions for further investigations and taking measures. Hotline is one of the elements of public monitoring system which has been widely used by GOLOS Association.
Press-release # 3 Election Day in Russian regions
GOLOS Association states that no large scale violations were reported during opening of the polling stations. In general, the polling stations were opened on time and according to the procedure.
“GOLOS” Association’s “Information center” March 14, 2010
On Election Day, March 14, “GOLOS” Association will open an all-day Information Center for media representatives in the Independent Press-center (Moscow, Prechistenka str., 17/9).
Press-conference of “GOLOS” Association on findings of regional elections monitoring
On March 15 at 2:00 pm in the Independent Press-center (Moscow, Prechistenka str., 17/9) “GOLOS” Association will hold a press-conference on findings of March 14 regional elections monitoring.
“GOLOS” Association Monitors March 14 Regional Elections
Since the 1st of December, 2009, “GOLOS” has deployed 18 long-term election observers in Altay Republic, Vladimir, Voronezh, Kurgan, Ryazan and Sverdlovsk regions, as well as in the cities of Astrakhan, Vladimir, Yekaterinburg, Ivanonvo, Irkutsk, Krasnodar, Novorossiysk, Omsk, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi, Tula and Chelyabinsk.
STATEMENT No.1 of GOLOS ASSOCIATION ON FINDINGS OF LONG-TERM MONITORING OF THE PERIOD OF NOMINATION AND REGISTRATION OF CANDIDATES AND PARTY LISTS FOR MARCH 14, 2010, REGIONAL ELECTIONS
The First Statement of GOLOS Association on the Results of Long-term Monitoring of the Regional Electoral Campaigns–Elections Set for October 11 (Nomination, Registration and Beginning of Campaigning Stage)
STATEMENT of “GOLOS” Association on findings of the observation of early elections of the Head of the Petrozavodsk municipal district set up for July 5, 2009
PRESS-RELEASE № 1. Association “GOLOS” on the findings of the short term observation on the election day of July 5 in the city of Petrozavodsk
FINAL STATEMENT No. 2.2: Association “GOLOS” on findings of short term observation of the Election Day of April 26, 2009, in the city of Sochi
Statement No. 1 of “GOLOS” Association on findings of long-term monitoring of the elections campaign for Sochi city mayor elections set for April 26th, 2009
STATEMENT No.2 of GOLOS Association on findings of long-term monitoring of the electoral campaign at the regional elections set for March 1, 2009 (the campaigning stage)
STATEMENT No.3 of “GOLOS” Association on findings of short term observation of the course of Elections Day during regional elections of March 1, 2009
Association “GOLOS” supports a series of initiatives of the President in regard to the changes of laws on parties and elections
On November 5 the President of Russia Dmitriy Medvedev addressed the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
The President draws conclusions about the colossal scales of the administrative resources, including in election processes. The evaluation of the President coincide with the views of the Association “GOLOS”, which we express in our Statements throughout years.
Open letter of GOLOS Association to chairman and members of the Coordination Council of Non-Governmental Organizations for Defense of Citizens’ Electoral Rights, on exiting from the Council.
GOLOS Association made decision on exit from the Coordination Council of Non-Governmental Organizations for Defense of Citizens’ Electoral Rights (hereinafter, the Coordination Council).
Information Center “VOICE OF ELECTIONS-2008” Has Opened
On October 12, 2008, GOLOS deployed approximately 300 correspondents to monitor Election Day procedures in the regions of Russia. GOLOS Association opened its Information Center “VOICE OF ELECTIONS-2008” today at noon. In addition, GOLOS’ Hot-line continues to operate and receive calls from everyone wishing to report possible irregularities or violations. As of this morning, out of all phone calls to the hot-line over 100 contain information about alleged violations.
STATEMENT #2
of «GOLOS» Association based on the results of long-term monitoring of regional electoral campaigns
Announcement: Information Center VOICE of Elections – 2008"
On the Day of Regional Elections, October 12, 2008, GOLOS Association will open independent Information Center «VOICE of Elections — 2008» in the Independent Press Center (17/9 Prechistenka Street, off. 44, entrance from Barykovskiy per.)