OSCE to train Russian election observers in Moscow

WARSAW, 6 March 2006 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Secretariat will train 105 Russian officials this week to participate in future election observation missions.

The course, which takes place at the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow today and tomorrow, is within the framework of a memorandum of understanding between the OSCE Secretariat and the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Ninety Russian observers were trained by the OSCE last October and consequently participated in ODIHR election observation missions in November and December.

The ODIHR welcomed the continued engagement and interest by the Russian authorities in increasing Russian participation in future missions and improving the understanding of the OSCE's observation methodology.

OSCE participating States are responsible for preparing their nationals for seconded assignments in the Organization's field operations. The OSCE Training Co-ordinator provides active support to these activities.

For this training course, two election advisors from the ODIHR will join training experts from the OSCE Secretariat to complement OSCE standard training. The course will provide an overview of the basis for election observation, the long-term work of election experts in the field, observation of voting and counting, preparation of reports and follow-up activities.

The ODIHR encourages such national training for potential election observers. It complements regular country-specific briefings which are held for all ODIHR short-term observers once they are deployed in the field.

All 55 OSCE participating States are invited to second observers to each ODIHR election observation mission, and the Office seeks to ensure that as many states as possible are represented in those.