This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7104382.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Watchdog to monitor Russian poll OSCE MPs to monitor Russian poll
(about 10 hours later)
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe has reversed a decision not to send monitors to next month's Russian parliamentary election. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has said it will send its monitors to next month's Russian parliamentary election.
Last week, the OSCE complained that Moscow had imposed "unprecedented curbs" on its 70 officials and had "continuously" denied them entry visas. A mission of at least 40 MPs will travel to Russia, the OSCE announced.
Now it has announced that a mission of at least 40 MPs will travel after all. Last week an OSCE poll monitoring body called off its mission saying Moscow had imposed "unprecedented curbs" on its 70 officials "denying them visas".
Meanwhile, former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov has said the world should not recognise the poll.Meanwhile, former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov has said the world should not recognise the poll.
Speaking in London, Mr Kasyanov said new rules curbing opposition parties, media restrictions and the high 7% threshold required to win seats in parliament meant that voting on 2 December could not be considered free and fair. Speaking in London, Mr Kasyanov said new rules curbing opposition parties, media restrictions and the high 7% threshold required to win seats in parliament meant that voting on 2 December could not be considered free and fair. I don't want to say we can't do a proper job but we are handicapped Kimmo KiljunenOSCE Parliamentary Assembly
I don't want to say we can't do a proper job but we are handicapped Kimmo KiljunenOSCE Parliamentary Assembly
He accused President Vladimir Putin of taking a sharp turn away from democracy in the autumn of 2004 and introducing "the spirit of the KGB", something he said most Russians did not support.He accused President Vladimir Putin of taking a sharp turn away from democracy in the autumn of 2004 and introducing "the spirit of the KGB", something he said most Russians did not support.
Mr Kasyanov said he hoped the opposition could agree on a joint candidate to challenge the Kremlin's choice in the presidential election due in March.Mr Kasyanov said he hoped the opposition could agree on a joint candidate to challenge the Kremlin's choice in the presidential election due in March.
Watchdog "split" 'Handicapped'
Senior OSCE officials said the apparent change of mind by the organisation did not mean it was any happier with the Russian authorities. Instead, in the words of one, it reflects a "split". Traditionally, an OSCE team of experts lays the groundwork for an observer mission, concentrating on the campaign in the three to four weeks before the poll takes place.
Traditionally, a team of experts lays the groundwork for an observer mission, concentrating on the campaign in the three to four weeks before the poll takes place.
Observers are concerned by the state's control of the mediaObservers are concerned by the state's control of the media
That team - from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights - was planning to start in Russia on 7 November, but will not now take any part in the mission.That team - from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights - was planning to start in Russia on 7 November, but will not now take any part in the mission.
"We have a situation where we have not received one single visa," said the ODIHR's director, Christian Strohal."We have a situation where we have not received one single visa," said the ODIHR's director, Christian Strohal.
However, a short-term visit involving parliamentarians will still go ahead. The group is due to arrive three days before the election and present its report the day afterwards. But the OSCE said a group of its parliamentarians would go to Russia.
The group is due to arrive three days before the election and present its report the day afterwards.
In 2003, the OSCE sent more than 450 observers.In 2003, the OSCE sent more than 450 observers.
The vice-president of the OSCE's assembly, Kimmo Kiljunen, accepted its report would not be as comprehensive. The vice-president of the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly, Kimmo Kiljunen, accepted its report would not be as comprehensive.
"I don't want to say we can't do a proper job but we are handicapped" he said."I don't want to say we can't do a proper job but we are handicapped" he said.
Russia bewilderedRussia bewildered
The Russian Central Electoral Commission said it was bewildered by the OSCE's decision to scrap its observer mission last week and rejected its accusations of obstruction as "baseless". The Russian Central Electoral Commission said it was bewildered by the ODIHR's decision to scrap its observer mission last week and rejected its accusations of obstruction as "baseless".
It has instead decided to distribute the invitations not taken up by the OSCE to other groups, including the Council of Europe.It has instead decided to distribute the invitations not taken up by the OSCE to other groups, including the Council of Europe.
After a visit to Russia earlier this month, a Council of Europe delegation said it was confident the elections would be free but expressed concern about what "appears to be almost total state control over the electronic media".After a visit to Russia earlier this month, a Council of Europe delegation said it was confident the elections would be free but expressed concern about what "appears to be almost total state control over the electronic media".
Mr Strohal has said he hopes that next spring "with the presidential elections we can move forward as soon as possible into a normal environment".