Putin Accuses US Of Attempting To Undermine Election

by Jason Green
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - Russian Head of State Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. today of using its influence with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to try to undermine Russia's upcoming parliamentary election.  The election is expected to be a landslide victory for Putin's United Russia party, and it will likely increase his political reach throughout the state.  The OSCE announced several weeks ago that it would not monitor the elections because Russia had severely restricted its ability to watch them, and because visas needed for their staff were not delivered on-time.  The OSCE has since agreed to send a smaller delegation, but not a full team, to monitor the vote. 

Announcing that the U.S. is partly responsible for the OSCE's decision not to send a full team, Putin told reporters today that, "The aim is to discredit the elections, but they [U.S.] won't achieve their goal.  Putin also commented, "We will certainly take this into account with our bilateral ties with this state." 

A smaller OSCE presence at Russia's parliamentary elections next week undermines the legitimacy of the electoral process, and it may cast some doubts on the credibility of Putin's victory if he wins. 

The U.S. State Department denies these allegations.  State Department spokesman Sean McCormick responded by saying, "Our very clear message to them [OSCE] was that this is your decision.  So there was absolutely no interference...absolutely none." 

OSCE officials also confirm that the decision to reduce its participation in Russia's election was made unilaterally.  Urdur Gunnarsdottir, spokeswoman for the OSCE in Warsaw, said that, "The decision was not made in consultation with any government.  It was made on operational, not political, grounds. 

Recent events have already cast a shadow of doubt over the legitimacy of Russia's democratic process.  Just several days ago, a good number of Anti-Kremlin protesters were arrested at a rally in Moscow.  Among those protesters was Garry Kasparov, who has long been an outspoken critic of Putin's presidency. 

Russia's parliamentary election is scheduled to take place on December 2. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Putin says US behind poll boycott - 26 November 2007

Reuters - Putin accuses U.S. of meddling in Russian vote - 26 November 2007

Yahoo (AP) - Russian leader: US presses vote monitors - 26 November 2007