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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Russia 'curbing poll observers' | Russia 'curbing poll observers' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Russia is seeking "unprecedented" curbs on monitors observing its parliamentary polls, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) says. | |
| A Russian letter calls for consultation on the OSCE delegation's composition and for its size to be limited. | A Russian letter calls for consultation on the OSCE delegation's composition and for its size to be limited. |
| "This is not business as usual," an OSCE spokeswoman says, adding that the letter may seriously limit the chance for "meaningful observation". | "This is not business as usual," an OSCE spokeswoman says, adding that the letter may seriously limit the chance for "meaningful observation". |
| The OSCE international security body often sends monitors to elections. | The OSCE international security body often sends monitors to elections. |
| Its 56 member states come from Europe, Central Asia and the Americas. | Its 56 member states come from Europe, Central Asia and the Americas. |
| The body typically sends a delegation of election observers to a country after receiving an official invitation. | The body typically sends a delegation of election observers to a country after receiving an official invitation. |
| The OSCE says it does not enter into discussions on the size and composition of the delegation. | The OSCE says it does not enter into discussions on the size and composition of the delegation. |
| 'Ready for dialogue' | 'Ready for dialogue' |
| Urdur Gunnarsdottir, spokeswoman for the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, says the terms suggested in the Russian letter are unprecedented. | Urdur Gunnarsdottir, spokeswoman for the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, says the terms suggested in the Russian letter are unprecedented. |
| "We have to consider its implications," she told the BBC News website. | "We have to consider its implications," she told the BBC News website. |
| Ms Gunnarsdottir quotes the letter as saying Moscow is "ready for a dialogue on the composition of the mission". | Ms Gunnarsdottir quotes the letter as saying Moscow is "ready for a dialogue on the composition of the mission". |
| She says the letter from the Central Election Commission in Moscow also suggests the OSCE delegation "could comprise up to 70 persons" - far short of the 465 sent to Russia's last parliamentary elections, four years ago. | |
| December's elections are expected to deliver victory to parties loyal to President Vladimir Putin. | December's elections are expected to deliver victory to parties loyal to President Vladimir Putin. |
| Mr Putin, who steps down as president next year, is popular among many Russians for his economic and foreign policies. | Mr Putin, who steps down as president next year, is popular among many Russians for his economic and foreign policies. |
| However, opposition groups and human rights activists have accused him of resurrecting Soviet-era authoritarianism. | However, opposition groups and human rights activists have accused him of resurrecting Soviet-era authoritarianism. |