"It will be impossible for observers to get assignments to polling stations situated abroad" — observers appealed to Ella Pamfilova

Dear Ella Aleksandrovna,

You have asked to contact you personally in case if one of the observers cannot get an assignment.

That is the moment.

Yesterday, the Public Chamber adopted the  Regulation about observers.

Despite repeated requests to simplify the procedure for sending observers to polling stations situated abroad in embassies, the procedure has not been simplified, but also there are additional restrictions have been imposed. 

Observers are volunteers and work for free, but spending their free time on the polling stations, they will have to spend enough money on postal sending of original documents and on tickets to/from Moscow to personally get assignments in the Public Chamber.

At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with state funding and the presence of a diplomatic and courier service has allocated significant funds for voting, and some procedures were simplified. It is allowed to print ballots on the polling stations, and data of voting results reports may be sent by electronic communication channels.

Moreover, polling stations situated abroad may be established five days before voting day. It will become impossible for observers to get assignments within such a period as it is mentioned in the procedure established by the Regulation.

I ask you to assist establishing more simplified procedure for sending observers to polling stations outside Russia:

• to oblige the Public Chamber to accept observers' documents to work at polling stations situated abroad distantly, allowing to submit copies and using e-mail or special form on the official website.
• do not give out paper version of assignments, instead to transfer lists of observers to election commissions situated abroad through the relevant territorial election commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

Sincerely,

Vladimir Egorov,

Coordinator for observation at polling stations situated abroad of the "Golos" movement