Election Observation as Legitimation Factor of Power in Modern Russia

Abstract

Fragmentary outbursts of the protest that took place in the run-up to the Russian legislative election and the Russian presidential election in 2011-2012 led to the intensification of observation as a form of democratization of the electoral process. The Institute of Observers acts as a guarantor of the respect of electoral rights of citizens, provides a high level of transparency and openness of the electoral process, allows to identify violations and assess the legality of the vote. This paper examines the phenomenon of the public control over elections in the context of the main tool for legitimizing the power structures in the Russian Federation.The institute of election monitoring has undergone changes since 2011: number of election observers has grown, the qualification of observers has significantly improved, the range of monitors’ rights has expanded, and the level of their protection has risen. The amendments to the Federal Law «On the Election of the President of the Russian Federation» that were adopted before the presidential elections in 2018 allowed to democratize the observation process. Representatives from the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation and regional public chambers were included to the movement of observers. At present, certain measures are being considered to reduce the engagement of observers in electoral processes at all levels.