Antonov criticized the US statement on OSCE observers in the elections to the State Duma

Antonov's words are posted on Facebook by the Russian diplomatic mission.

He noted that the statement of the State Department is perplexing.

"It seems that the official representative of the department is not fully aware of the situation ... Refusal to send experts is solely the choice of the ODIHR," the Russian diplomat said.

Antonov recalled that Moscow had expressed its readiness to host a group of observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR -

) in no less quantity than the organization sent to the presidential elections in the United States.

In conclusion, he added that he would like to see the same scrupulous attitude from Washington to the electoral processes in the United States.

The State Department earlier expressed regret that the restrictions imposed by the Russian authorities would not allow the OSCE to send observers to the upcoming State Duma elections.

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.