The work of the SCO Observer Mission to monitor presidential elections in the Russian Federation

On 15-18 March 2024, members of the SCO Observer Mission, led by SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming, monitored the presidential elections in the Russian Federation. The mission included 19 representatives from election agencies and legislatures, as well as diplomats from seven SCO member states and the SCO Secretariat.

While in Russia, the head of the mission visited a number of polling stations in Moscow and the Vladimir Region (the cities of Suzdal and Vladimir) and spoke with the heads and members of district election commissions, Russian citizens and observers. He also documented legal and organisational aspects of the voting process.

While monitoring the elections, the head of the mission also visited the campaign headquarters of Russian presidential candidates Vladimir Putin and Vladislav Davankov and analysed their work.

On 15 March, Zhang Ming spoke at the opening ceremony of the Electoral Sovereignty and International Standards conference, organised by the Central Election Commission of Russia.

In the context of the SCO’s views on democratic processes, Zhang Ming drew the participants’ attention to the fact that, throughout its 20-year existence, the Organisation has firmly upheld the principles of the Shanghai Spirit. This enables the Organisation to stand the test of complex changes in international relations and to develop its own model of multilateral interaction based on mutual understanding, solidarity and cooperation between countries with different political and economic systems and development priorities.

On 17 March, the SCO Secretary-General met with Chair of the Central Election Commission of Russia Ella Pamfilova and informed her in great detail of the composition of the SCO Observer Mission for monitoring the election process and the principles of its work. He also thanked Ella Pamfilova for inviting the mission’s members to Russia.

In turn, Ella Pamfilova welcomed the members of the SCO Observer Mission and noted that the decision to send observers to Russia demonstrated substantial support from the Organisation.

On 18 March, Zhang Ming took part in a news conference and made a statement on the results of monitoring the presidential elections in the Russian Federation. He gave an objective assessment of the Russian election process. In his opinion, the elections met the requirements of Russian election legislation and its international commitments, and there were no violations of national legislation. The elections were transparent and democratic.

While in Russia, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming also had separate meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, CIS Secretary-General Sergei Lebedev and Head of the CIS Observer Mission Ilkhom Nematov. The officials conducted a detailed discussion about current CIS priorities, international election monitoring cooperation and SCO-CIS interaction.

While monitoring the Russian presidential elections in the Vladimir Region, Zhang Ming had a meeting with Chair of the Vladimir Region Election Commission Vadim Minayev.