IPA CIS Activities in Field of Legislative Support of Electoral Processes Noted in Federation Council
26 November 2024
A round table on legislative support for electoral processes in the CIS countries was held in Moscow. The event was led by member of the Committee of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Constitutional Legislation and State Building Oleg Tsepkin.
The discussion was attended by representatives of the IPA CIS, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, the Civil Chamber, parliamentarians and academics.
According to Oleg Tsepkin, legislative support of electoral processes in the CIS is a significant area of activity of the IPA CIS and its bodies. Thus, as part of the work of the Assembly in 2022, it was decided to continue the development of the model legislative framework for democratic elections, paying special attention to ensuring and protecting the electoral sovereignty of the state and the gradual introduction of “digital democracy” approaches into the electoral process.
The senator said that in modern conditions it is important to ensure the protection of electoral sovereignty by clearly defining its legal framework. He noted that the Recommendations on Ensuring and Protecting the Electoral Sovereignty of the State adopted at the 57th plenary session of the IPA CIS enshrine the concept of “electoral sovereignty”. The document also defines terms such as “foreign interference in elections and referendums”, “foreign (international) influence on elections and referendums”.
“In general, the Recommendations are aimed at bringing the electoral legislation of the CIS Member Nations closer together, as well as promoting cooperation and sharing best practices in this area,” - the Russian parliamentarian said.
Chair of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Practices of State-Building and Local Government, Chair of the Standing Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus on State-Building, Local Government, and Regulations Valentin Semenyako spoke about the Belarusian experience in ensuring the electoral process. He drew attention to the changes made to the country’s Electoral Code in 2023.
“The changes affected all stages of the electoral process. The Republic of Belarus has formed the legislative framework for organizing electoral campaigns in accordance with the principles of international law,” - he said and informed about the stages of the presidential elections in Belarus on 26 January 2025.
Deputy Head of the IPA CIS Council Secretariat – Director of the International Institute for Monitoring Democracy Development, Parliamentarianism and Suffrage Protection of Citizens of IPA CIS Member Nations (IPA CIS IIMDD) Ivan Mushket reported on the impact of the model legislation of the IPA CIS on the improvement of electoral processes in the CIS countries.
The participants of the discussion noted the importance of further work on the development of Model Laws within the framework of the IPA CIS and discussed main issues of legislative support for electoral procedures in the CIS countries.