The Foreign Ministry commented on the OSCE decision on observers for the elections to the State Duma

Bikantov said that “the OSCE / ODIHR Director, in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Central (Election. -

) Commission of the Russian Federation, Ella Alexandrovna Pamfilova, announced the ODIHR’s refusal to participate in observing the September this year. "

He stated that "the invitation from the Russian side to our foreign partners to take part in the observation was sent in advance."

“We express our regret in connection with the decision of the OSCE / ODIHR to refuse to send an election observation mission to Russia,” Bikantov was quoted as saying by TASS.

Earlier, the OSCE stated that it would not be able to send observers to the elections to the State Duma due to the requirement to limit their number.

At the end of July, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Russia is ready to accept and ensure the safe stay of international observers for the upcoming elections of the State Duma deputies.