Moscow: Russia plans to invite foreign human rights commissioners to attend the 2026 State Duma elections as observers and international experts, Russian Ombudswoman Yana Lantratova said on Wednesday. 'Of course, this year, we plan to invite our colleagues, foreign ombudspeople, to participate [in the elections] both as observers and, perhaps, as international electoral experts,' Lantratova said during a meeting of the All-Russian Coordination Council of Human Rights Commissioners.
According to Ghana News Agency, on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree scheduling the next parliamentary elections for September 20. This move is seen as an effort to ensure transparency and international oversight in the electoral process, aligning with Russia's commitment to democratic norms by involving foreign experts in the election monitoring process. Lantratova's announcement underscores the country's intention to open its electoral process to international scrutiny, reflecting a step towards fostering confidence in the democratic procedures within Russia.