Russia will not send observers to monitor the January 5 parliamentary polls saying Russians will enjoy charismas holidays till January 11.
“Everything remains closed during the holidays in Russia. That is why they will not send observers,” Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad told reporters at the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat this evening.
Earlier at noon, Russian Ambassador in Dhaka Alexander A Nikolaev held an half-an-hour meeting with the CEC at latter’s office.
The CEC said the Russian envoy informed their decision in the meeting.
Earlier, European Union, Commonwealth and the US have declared that they would not send observers if the election is not held in a transparent, non-violent and inclusive manner.
After that, the CEC on December 23 said local observers will monitor the election if foreign observers would not come.
The 10th parliamentary election is scheduled to be held on January 5 amid a boycott by main opposition BNP-led 18-party alliance.
The voting will be held in 146 constituencies out of 300 as a total of 154 candidates are all set to be elected unopposed as they are lone candidates in their respective seats.
Source: The Daily Star
