OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission for early parliamentary elections in Serbia
BELGRADE, 18 March 2016 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened a limited election observation mission for the 24 April early parliamentary elections in Serbia. The mission's deployment follows an invitation from the Serbian authorities.
The mission is headed by Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens and consists of 10 international experts based in Belgrade and 12 long-term observers to be deployed throughout the country.
The mission will assess the elections for compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will follow the implementation of the legislative framework, candidate registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, and the resolution of election disputes. The mission will also conduct comprehensive monitoring of the media.
As part of the observation process, the mission will meet with relevant authorities, political parties and candidates, as well as with representatives from the judiciary, civil society, the media and the international community. While the mission will visit a limited number of polling stations on election day, systematic observation of voting, counting or tabulation of results is not envisaged.
The day after the elections, the mission will join with the observer delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. ODIHR will issue a final report about two months after the completion of the entire electoral process.
The OSCE/ODIHR limited election observation mission and the OSCE Mission to Serbia operate separately, under their respective mandates.
For further information, please contact Marek Mracka, LEOM Media Analyst, +381 63 289 071
(mobile) or marek.mracka@odihr.rs
or
Thomas Rymer, OSCE/ODIHR Spokesperson at: +48 609 522 266 (mobile) or thomas.rymer@odihr.pl