During their meetings, members of parliament discussed various matters, including Kiev’s refusal to allow Russian observers to monitor the upcoming elections and the situation of the Russian-speaking population in the Baltic states and Ukraine.
A group of senators headed by First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov take part in the work of the 18th Winter Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The Russian delegation representing the Upper House of Parliament includes First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on the Budget and Financial Markets Nikolai Zhuravlyov, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Agriculture and Food Policy and Environmental Management Irina Gekht, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on House Rules and Parliamentary Governance Sergei Mamedov and Member of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building Lyudmila Narusova.
The session will be held in Vienna on February 21−22. Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Pyotr Tolstoy heads the Russian delegation.
Members of the Russian delegation had a meeting with President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly George Tsereteli. Members of parliament told the OSCE PA President that Russian observers would be unable to take part in the mission to Ukraine. Earlier, Kiev refused to allow them to monitor the presidential election in that country.
President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly George Tsereteli set forth his position, noting that Russia should abstain from sending its observers to monitor the presidential election in Ukraine because, in his words, their presence may serve as a pretext for provocations.
According to Vladimir Dzhabarov, this logic implies that the OSCE supports the policy of a country that is unable to guarantee the safety of observers on its territory. “Not only do Ukrainian authorities forbid the entry of Russian citizens who are officially included in international monitoring missions, but they also formalised a ban for Russian citizens to monitor electoral processes in Ukraine. The Verkhovna Rada has introduced the relevant amendments to the current national legislation. This directly violates Kiev’s obligations in the OSCE,” he noted.
Meeting participants also discussed the violation of Ukrainian citizens’ rights as a result of Kiev’s refusal to open polling stations in Russia. Therefore, they will be unable to vote during the election.
That same day, members of the Russian delegation had a meeting with OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier.
They discussed a number of matters, including the situation of the Russian-speaking population in the Baltic states and Ukraine.
Russian MPs said that they hope to cooperate with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities on the most topical matters.
About 300 members of parliament take part in the work of the Winter Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE. Members of the Russian delegation will take part in the work of all three General Committees of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, namely, on Political Affairs and Security; on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, and on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment.