EPDE - European Platform for Democratic Elections

Supporting independent citizen election observation in Europe and beyond.

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[ELOG Kenya @elogkenya]

Day 3 of our training took us deeper into observing youth participation across the electoral cycle. 🗳️🇰🇪

Through group work and discussion, we explored the different stages and spaces where young people engage or are excluded from the electoral process, including the legal framework, voter and candidate registration, election administration and voter education, campaigns, media, social media, and Election Day processes.

We reflected on the key issues that should be observed at each stage, the barriers that may limit meaningful youth participation, and the positive practices that can strengthen their engagement and representation.

A key part of the discussion was also how we collect evidence: identifying the right questions, gathering reliable data, and engaging relevant voices to ensure that young people’s experiences are captured accurately.

The goal is not just to observe, but to turn evidence into actionable recommendations that can inform advocacy and contribute to more inclusive, credible and youth-responsive elections.
@EPDE_org

#YouthParticipation #ElectoralReforms #KenyaElections #Elections2027 #YouthInElections

[EPDE - European Platform for Democratic Elections @EPDE_org]

@elogkenya @UKinKenya @ELGIA_Africa @S_emezana @Badili_A @siasaplace @youthagenda254 @BungeMashinani @UraiaTrust @denmarkinkenya Thank you so much for having us and the opportunity to work with so many inspiring young people!

[EPDE - European Platform for Democratic Elections @EPDE_org]

🇺🇦 #Webinar | 9 Sept, 14:30 CET
"Ukraine's Post-War Elections Challenge: Ensuring a Credible, Secure & Inclusive Process"

Join the discussion with experts from @opora , @centralelectcom, @IFES1987 & @osce_odihr.

🔗 https://t.co/oumqH6sFaJ

[Russian Election Monitor @russian_monitor]

❗️ Yabloko Party List Barred from Regional Elections in Pskov

A court has removed #Yabloko’s list from the elections to the Pskov Regional Assembly following a lawsuit by #Rodina party.

#Pskov was the last of three regions where Yabloko already had elected deputies and had been admitted to the ballot. In #StPetersburg, the party was denied registration by the election commission, while in #Karelia its list was removed by a court — also following a lawsuit by Rodina. In #Leningrad Region the party was also denied registration by the election commission.

The case was based on a seemingly minor technicality: Yabloko initially submitted a power of attorney for its financial representative without the party seal, but later provided the correct document. The election commission itself called the violation insignificant and not grounds for refusing registration — yet supported Rodina’s lawsuit.

Yabloko candidates will still run in single-member districts, including in regions where the party lists were removed: 13 candidates in St. Petersburg and 12 in Karelia.

https://t.co/dkp2Xoh6zM

#RussianElections #Elections2026 #RussianPolitics

[ELOG Kenya @elogkenya]

If youth participation in elections starts and ends with voting, then we are missing the bigger picture.

Today, ELOG convened its member network and partners for a 3-day learning and exchange on meaningful youth participation in Kenya’s electoral process, facilitated by our partners, the European Platform for Democratic Elections (@EPDE_org ).

And the conversation went beyond the usual “youth are the majority of voters” narrative.

We asked:

👉🏾 What keeps young people from meaningfully engaging in elections?

👉🏾 How do we move youth from being voters to active participants in electoral processes?

👉🏾 What role can young people play in election observation?

👉🏾 And what should civil society be doing differently?

Because young people don’t just need to be counted on Election Day.

They need the knowledge, skills and platforms to understand, observe, question and influence the electoral process.

That is the conversation we started today.

Day 1 done. 🇰🇪

What does meaningful youth participation in Kenya’s elections look like to you?

#YouthParticipation #Kenya2027 #ElectionObservation

[EPDE - European Platform for Democratic Elections @EPDE_org]

62 observers. 22 countries. A lot of new friends and partners, and a lot to carry forward. Thank you for joining us in Bergamo this week!

[EPDE - European Platform for Democratic Elections @EPDE_org]

Buongiorno da Bergamo!
We kicked off our #ElectLab 2026. Amid shrinking civic space worldwide, we're developing action plans on organisational resilience with 60+ election observers from 22 countries. As one participant put it: "If roots are strong, branches get strong, too"

[EPDE - European Platform for Democratic Elections @EPDE_org]

"European election experts stand in solidarity with Armenian citizen election observers

Democratic backsliding, FIMI, & funding cuts for democracy support make European citizen cooperation for free and fair elections in the Caucasus even more important."
https://t.co/CHTxSKVAYt

[Russian Election Monitor @russian_monitor]

❗️ The Kremlin Keeps Exporting Its Election Model to the Global South

On May 19, Russia’s Central Election Commission (#CEC) launched another international training program for election officials from the Global South. The Moscow-based course, titled “Youth and Elections,” is organized under #Rossotrudnichestvo’s “New Generation” program.

According to organizers, participants are being trained in Russia’s election commission system, election management practices, digital voting technologies including the use of artificial intelligence in elections.

Speakers include members of Russia’s CEC and Kremlin-linked election experts.

Judging by official photos, participants came from 22 countries: Bangladesh, Eswatini, Lesotho, Maldives, Argentina, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Jordan, Iraq, Madagascar, Mongolia, Peru, Thailand, Malaysia, Timor-Leste, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Turkey, Myanmar, South Sudan, and Uganda.

“New Generation” is a programme of short-term visits to Russia for young representatives of political, civil society, academic and business circles from foreign countries, organised by Rossotrudnichestvo. The program has operated annually since 2023 (https://t.co/mgH5JrJHQu). Russian officials say more than 100 election specialists from 55 countries have already completed the training.

Moscow is systematically building an international network trained in Russian-style election management, exporting authoritarian practices of electoral control, legitimization, and “sovereign observation” to the Global South.

#RussianElections #GlobalSouth #Authoritarianism #ElectionObservation #FakeObservation

https://t.co/YftQ2rUBoE

[Russian Election Monitor @russian_monitor]

❗️ UK sanctions hit Kremlin-linked election fraudsters

The UK has sanctioned the leadership of ANO Dialog and Expert Institute for Social Research (#EISI) under entries 56–58 of the May 11, 2026 sanctions notice.

According to the UK government, the entities were designated for involvement in actions aimed at destabilising Ukraine and undermining its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

For #REM, however, their role goes beyond Ukraine.
These structures are also deeply involved in:
🗳️ electoral manipulation in Russia
🗳️ legitimising non-competitive elections, incl. -
🗳️ working with international fake observers

They are also linked to the creation of the so-called International Association of Independent Electoral Experts (IAIEE) — a new Kremlin-backed platform aimed at exporting Russian-style “sovereign election observation” to the Global South.

Read more about the involvement of these organisations and their leadership in the Russian elections here: https://t.co/4IHi10BApM

For information on their involvement in setting up an international network of fake election observers, see repost 👇

UK Sanctions Notice: https://t.co/SeLvUJVCn9

#RussianPolitics #Ukraine #Sanctions #RussianElections #ElectoralFraud #Authoritarianism #GlobalSouth #FakeObservation #ElectoralIntegrity #IAIEE

[EPDE - European Platform for Democratic Elections @EPDE_org]

Two years ago today, Azerbaijan grabbed EPDE co-founder Anar Mammadli off the streets of Baku as he went to pick up his child at nursery.

He’s still in prison on fabricated charges ⚠️

➡️ Sign the petition for his release: https://t.co/czV6uViSrt

[EPDE - European Platform for Democratic Elections @EPDE_org]

"The involvement of CEC representatives and Human Rights ombudsmen is a new and worrisome trend as it targets the very core of elections" - said @EASchiffer (Chair of the @EPDE_org board).

@russian_monitor has the details of the Kremlin's Fake Election Observation Organization.

[Russian Election Monitor @russian_monitor]

❗️ Kremlin’s Fake Electoral Observation Ecosystem Going Global – REM exclusive

As Western democracies cut funding for democracy support, the #Kremlin is filling the vacuum, expanding influence across the Global South and building a global ecosystem of fake election observation. From #Mongolia to #SouthAfrica, countries are being drawn into a new model of “electoral sovereignty”, the one designed not to ensure fair elections, but to legitimize control.

The launch of a Moscow-based international fake observation network, the so-called International Association of Independent Electoral Experts (#IAIEE), marks a turning point: from ad-hoc propaganda to a systematic export of managed democracy.

This isn’t just about Russia’s elections anymore. It’s another step to redefine democracy worldwide.

Read REM’s in-depth analysis: https://t.co/pclpOdLMym

#Authoritarianism #GlobalSouth #FakeObservation #Russia #ElectoralIntegrity #IAIEE

[EPDE - European Platform for Democratic Elections @EPDE_org]

Read the press release here: https://t.co/km7xplZxQB

[EPDE - European Platform for Democratic Elections @EPDE_org]

Tomorrow marks the second year in detention of our colleague and co-founder Anar Mammadli who is held as political prisoner in Azerbaijan.

✍️ Join the campaign and co-sign the call for his release to President Aliyev: https://t.co/czV6uViSrt

[Russian Election Monitor @russian_monitor]

Fake Observation for Fake Elections. Now “International”

The #Kremlin has launched what it calls the first "independent international association" for electoral monitoring. Formed at a conference in #Moscow with delegates from 60 countries, this body is designed to provide an alternative to Western observation standards, which Sergei #Lavrov and Ella #Pamfilova dismiss as "politicized."

Non-Interference or Non-Observation?
The association’s primary goal is to promote "respect for national sovereignty" and "non-interference." In practice, this means evaluating elections through the lens of "national interests" rather than universal democratic standards. Foreign Minister Lavrov welcomed it as a "depoliticized" counterweight to Western approaches, effectively a mechanism to validate the status quo under the guise of a "multipolar world."

The Global South Strategy
With participants from nations like #Madagascar, the association aims to build a network of "friendly" experts. CEC Chair Ella Pamfilova has already invited these new "independent" monitors to observe the upcoming State Duma elections. The message is clear: Russia is replacing established international watchdogs with a curated group of experts who prioritize "political traditions" over transparent procedures.

This is the culmination of a long-term strategy to sideline the @osce_odihr and other rigorous monitors. By creating its own "international" NGO, the Kremlin secures a reliable source of positive quotes and legitimacy stamps for its 2026 #StateDuma campaign.

Fake Observation for Fake Elections. Now “nternational”onObservation #FakeObservers #OSCE #ODIHR #Duma2026

https://t.co/jKK8FCTTmc

[Russian Election Monitor @russian_monitor]

Surveillance Without Observation: The CEC’s Election Blackout

The 🇷🇺 Central Election Commission has presented its video surveillance plan for the upcoming #StateDuma elections. The verdict is clear: cameras will be everywhere, but the public will see nothing. While 43,000 commissions will be "covered," the system is designed to isolate the process rather than secure it.

The Illusion of Transparency:
The live feed is restricted to officials and hand-picked "public chambers." Even in dedicated viewing centers, observers face absurd hurdles: "observation" stations with monitors but no keyboards or mice, making it impossible to switch feeds or review footage. In areas without internet, "video recorders" (a term not even found in election law) will be used with no clear mechanism for candidates to access the data.

Paranoia as Policy:
CEC Chair Ella #Pamfilova defended the public blackout by citing "national security" and the threat of "Western supercomputers" allegedly used by "enemies and relocants" to manipulate footage. She essentially equated the search for electoral violations with aiding the state's enemies.

#RussianElections #CEC #Pamfilova #ElectionObservation

[Russian Election Monitor @russian_monitor]

❗️ Election watchdog leader Melkonyants transferred to prison colony

Grigory @Melkonyants has been transferred to penal colony No. 2 in #Lipetsk Region.

The former co-chair of @golosinfo has been in custody since August 2023. He spent nearly two years in pre-trial detention centers before a court, in May 2025, found him guilty of organizing the activities of the @ENEMOnetwork, which Russian authorities had labeled “undesirable.”

He was sentenced to five years in prison and banned from public and political activity for nine years. Immediately after the verdict, Golos announced its self-dissolution.

The trial was widely reported to have been marred by procedural violations. During the hearings, Melkonyants and his defense team repeatedly challenged and refuted key arguments of the prosecution, but this did not prevent the judge from imposing the maximum sentence available under the article.

#RussianPolitics #HumanRights #RussianElections #Golos #PoliticalPrisoners #Repression

[EPDE - European Platform for Democratic Elections @EPDE_org]

Last call for tomorrow's session! You can still register and save your spot at: https://t.co/YQnX63TeCk

[EPDE - European Platform for Democratic Elections @EPDE_org]

Join us for our session "Hungary After the Vote" with @ZsofiBanuta, @DanielHegedus82, Gábor Tóka, and @zlutek.

We will explore possible post-election scenarios and the challenges that may arise in the period after the vote.

More info and registration: https://t.co/69USj3VmHR

[EPDE - European Platform for Democratic Elections @EPDE_org]

Join us for our session "Hungary After the Vote" with @ZsofiBanuta, @DanielHegedus82, Gábor Tóka, and @zlutek.

We will explore possible post-election scenarios and the challenges that may arise in the period after the vote.

More info and registration: https://t.co/69USj3VmHR

[Viasna @viasna96]

"Finally, I'm free." The first words of Valiantsin Stefanovich after his release

Viasna human rights defender, Valiantsin Stefanovich, spoke with reporters about his release, family, and desire to continue his human rights work.

https://t.co/Lyim22avZl