The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, convening in Barcelona, Catalonia on 19th and 20th November 2009:

Observes that:

-       The elections that took place in Russia on October 11 2009 demonstrated an unprecedented level of falsification of results of the voting and violations of the law, confirmed by observers from all political parties, except the ruling party, and the mass media.

States that:

-       ELDR will closely observe the development of the situation as regards lawsuits and complaints of electoral fraud.

Calls on the Russian authorities to:

-           Conduct a full inspection of candidates’ and parties’ complaints, and the evidence of electoral fraud published by the media, and take urgent remedial measures even to the extent of declaring the elections void;

-           Observe democratic standards and Russia’s obligations under its membership of the OSCE and the Council of Europe to ensure free and fair elections;

Ensure free and equal conditions for all political parties and candidates, and maximum public control over elections and voting.