Reciprocal: Americans are banned in the presidential election
Russia denied American diplomats the right to observe the country's presidential election. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Ryabkov emphasized that this decision is a retaliatory measure.
The "diplomatic war" between Russia and the USA has been going on for a long time. Back in July 2017, Vladimir Putin announced a significant reduction in the staff of American diplomatic missions in the Russian Federation. This step has become the toughest in the history of bilateral relations since the severance of diplomatic relations between the United States and Soviet Russia in 1917. Again, it was a response to the inappropriate behavior of the American side in relation to Russian diplomatic missions in the United States. Naturally, such complex relations between the two countries affected the participation of observers in the presidential elections of the two states.
In 2016, the United States did not allow Russian diplomats to attend polling stations under the threat of criminal prosecution. The US authorities then considered that Russian representatives could interfere in the US election. Therefore, the Americans even went to outright threats against Russian diplomats, although this is a blatant, from the point of view of international law, action.
Naturally, Moscow could not leave Washington's such behavior unanswered. However, even without warning the Russian Foreign Ministry it is clear that American diplomats would hardly try to attend the elections. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation said that there were no requests from the American diplomatic missions in this regard. And this is understandable, since a harsh answer with a ban on appearing on polling stations would not have reflected very well on the image of American diplomats. The United States Department of State is well aware of this, and therefore has not addressed requests to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
At the same time, by denying American diplomats the right to attend elections, Russia has nothing against the presence of American observers who are not employees of the diplomatic department. Thus, members of the mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will be allowed to attend the elections. By the way, before, American observers also most often worked in areas from this organization. In total, the OSCE mission will send 420 short-term and 80 long-term observers to Russia, among which there may well be specialists with American citizenship.
Unlike American diplomats, no questions arise for representatives of EU countries. But European diplomats are not inclined to rudely interfere in the course of Russian elections. Moreover, with many political forces in Western and Eastern Europe, Russia has established a good dialogue. The EU countries have a fairly strong pro-Russian lobby, which is interested in lifting sanctions and in restoring friendly relations between the countries. After passing through the necessary procedures established by law, European diplomats will be awaited as observers at polling stations across the country.
The "diplomatic war" between Russia and the USA has been going on for a long time. Back in July 2017, Vladimir Putin announced a significant reduction in the staff of American diplomatic missions in the Russian Federation. This step has become the toughest in the history of bilateral relations since the severance of diplomatic relations between the United States and Soviet Russia in 1917. Again, it was a response to the inappropriate behavior of the American side in relation to Russian diplomatic missions in the United States. Naturally, such complex relations between the two countries affected the participation of observers in the presidential elections of the two states.
In 2016, the United States did not allow Russian diplomats to attend polling stations under the threat of criminal prosecution. The US authorities then considered that Russian representatives could interfere in the US election. Therefore, the Americans even went to outright threats against Russian diplomats, although this is a blatant, from the point of view of international law, action.
Naturally, Moscow could not leave Washington's such behavior unanswered. However, even without warning the Russian Foreign Ministry it is clear that American diplomats would hardly try to attend the elections. The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation said that there were no requests from the American diplomatic missions in this regard. And this is understandable, since a harsh answer with a ban on appearing on polling stations would not have reflected very well on the image of American diplomats. The United States Department of State is well aware of this, and therefore has not addressed requests to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
At the same time, by denying American diplomats the right to attend elections, Russia has nothing against the presence of American observers who are not employees of the diplomatic department. Thus, members of the mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will be allowed to attend the elections. By the way, before, American observers also most often worked in areas from this organization. In total, the OSCE mission will send 420 short-term and 80 long-term observers to Russia, among which there may well be specialists with American citizenship.
Unlike American diplomats, no questions arise for representatives of EU countries. But European diplomats are not inclined to rudely interfere in the course of Russian elections. Moreover, with many political forces in Western and Eastern Europe, Russia has established a good dialogue. The EU countries have a fairly strong pro-Russian lobby, which is interested in lifting sanctions and in restoring friendly relations between the countries. After passing through the necessary procedures established by law, European diplomats will be awaited as observers at polling stations across the country.
Information