Two Russian election observers included in OSCE mission to Ukraine, report says

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights (ODIHR) has included two Russian citizens in its 80-member long-term
observing mission for the Ukrainian presidential elections, the Ukrinform news
agency reported on Feb. 6, citing its anonymous diplomatic sources. The ODIHR
reached its decision despite the Ukrainian government’s request that no Russian
citizens be included, a position it argues conforms with OSCE bylaws that
observer missions must be formed in conformity with the host’s laws. “Since
Russia has been recognized as an aggressor-state by Ukraine’s legislation, then
Ukraine’s position on refusing to register Russian citizens as observers in
Ukraine’s elections is entirely logical and legal,” the source said. The
mission also involves 750 short-term observers.

Zenon Zawada: The inclusion of two Russians is the OSCE’s attempt to find a
compromise between Ukraine and Russia. But the Russians likely won’t be
satisfied without a significant presence in the mission, or least a quarter of
the election observers. Regardless of whether Russia decides to participate,
it’s apparent that it won’t be allowed to influence the mission’s conclusions.
This is positive for Ukrainian President Poroshenko, who needs the OSCE’s
endorsement to back his claims that he was legitimately re-elected.