Thursday, 16 February 2012 - Strasbourg

Explanation of vote:

Projekt rezolucji RC-B7-0052/2012

Pino Arlacchi (S&D ), in writing . − With this resolution we express our concerns for the forthcoming Russian presidential elections in March and we ask for compliance with international standards. According to the OSCE reports and to the GOLOS (the domestic election observation organisation) statements, the Duma elections of December 2011 were neither free nor fair and were marked by lack of independence of the administration, partiality of the media and state interference at different levels.

In addition to that I strongly condemn the crackdown of the police on peaceful demonstrations protesting against election irregularities reported by international observers. The Russian Federation is a full member of the Council of Europe and of the OSCE and has therefore committed itself to the principles of democracy. For all these reasons the Russian authorities must urgently reform the electoral laws in order to guarantee free and democratic presidential elections with equal opportunities for all candidates.

[source:www.europarl.europa.eu]