Russian Election Monitor labelled ‘undesirable’ organisation ahead of March elections

Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has declared the Russian Election Monitor (REM) an “undesirable” organisation, independent Russian media outlet Current Time reported on Thursday.

Vasily Piskaryov, who heads the State Duma’s Commission for the Investigation of Foreign Interference, said in a statement that the REM “was formed by a group of Polish, French, and German Russophobic politicians” who had attempted to discredit the Russian electoral system during previous elections.

He added that the NGO, which publishes electoral analytics, expert opinions and independent research on Russian elections, was “used to indoctrinate foreign audiences to recognise Russian presidential elections as illegitimate”.

The Prosecutor General’s Office has yet to comment on the decision, nor has the REM yet been included in the Ministry of Justice’s list of “undesirable” organisations.

Any organisation deemed “undesirable” immediately becomes illegal in Russia and must dissolve itself. Novaya Gazeta Europe was deemed an “undesirable” organisation in June 2023.

The REM describes itself on its website as comprising “a group of European scholars, former and active politicians, and public officials united by the strong belief that Russian voters have the same right to democratic and free elections as every citizen in Europe does”.

Russia’s next presidential election is due to take place on 15-17 March.