“We sent invitations on the basis of bilateral invitations, based on interaction with national electoral organizations and electoral organizers in 95 countries,” the official explained, and clarified that the Russian Parliament also sent invitations to its parliamentary partners and international organizations; “We will have between 500 and a thousand international observers from almost a hundred countries in the world,” she said.

Pamfilova thanked Human Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova for her support in providing information about the process, which sparked the interest of representatives from two dozen countries to attend as international observers.

The official also pointed out that those invited to work during the presidential elections will be able to visit any region they consider necessary. “The CCE guarantees an open and benevolent process, favorable conditions for our foreign colleagues to observe; “They will be able to go to the regions they consider convenient to see how the elections are held there,” she said.

The head of the CEC announced previously the names of those who had applied for candidates in the March presidential elections: Leonid Slutsky (Liberal Democratic Party), Vladislav Davankov (New People) and Nikolai Kharitonov (Communist Party), Sergei Malinkovich (Communists of Russia), Boris Nadezhdin (Civil Initiative), Andrei Bogdanov (Russian Party of Freedom and Justice), Sergei Baburin (Russian People’s Union), Irina Sviridova (Russian Democratic Party).

Among the independent candidates are Vladimir Putin, Rada Russkikh and Anatoli Batashev.

The presidential elections will be held from March 15th to 17th, and the CCE will announce the final registration the 10th of next February.

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