Russian State Duma elections 2026 will be secretly monitored by EU observers, Sergey Lavrov says, recalling Ukraine 2004 and Romania’s 2025 elections.
© Kristina Solovyova/POOL
The Russian State Duma elections 2026 are expected to be secretly monitored by special observers being prepared by the European Union, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Speaking to the online project “Sama Menshova,” Lavrov said information had emerged that the EU was training observers to monitor the conduct of the elections. The Times of Russia reports on Lavrov’s comments and the upcoming vote.
EU Preparing Special Observers for Russian State Duma Elections 2026
According to Lavrov, the European Union Russia elections monitoring effort involves special observers who are expected to “secretly monitor” how Russia’s elections are conducted.
“We are currently receiving information that the European Union is beginning to train some special observers who will secretly monitor how our elections are conducted,” the Russian top diplomat noted.
Lavrov then pointed to the events surrounding the 2004 elections in Ukraine as an example of what he described as Western involvement in an electoral process.
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Sergey Lavrov on EU Observers and Ukraine’s 2004 Elections
The Russian foreign minister recalled the Ukraine 2004 elections, arguing that Western countries had pushed for a third round of voting.
“They should look at themselves: back in 2004 in Ukraine, it was the West that forced a third round of voting. They compelled the Constitutional Court of Ukraine – which is supposed to uphold the country’s fundamental law, even though it makes no provision for a third round–to make that decision,” Lavrov continued.
According to Lavrov, the decision ultimately resulted in Viktor Yushchenko coming to power instead of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
“Lo and behold, they did it, and it was Viktor Yushchenko who came to power instead of [former Ukrainian President] Viktor Yanukovych.”
Lavrov Recalls Romania Elections 2025
Lavrov also referred to the Romania elections 2025 while discussing his concerns about foreign involvement in electoral processes.
“In the first stage, everything was absolutely clean–none of the observers noticed anything amiss–and the winner was a man who advocated not for blindly following Brussels’ orders, but for articulating Romania’s national interests. Even though there was nothing to catch on to, he was simply ‘taken out of the race,’ and that was that,” Lavrov said.
The Russian minister said the initial stage of the election was considered clean by observers before the candidate he described was removed from the race.
Russia Elections Set for September 18–20, 2026
The State Duma elections 2026 will determine deputies for the ninth convocation of Russia’s lower house of parliament.
The Russia elections September 2026 are scheduled to take place from September 18 to 20, 2026. The elections for deputies to the ninth convocation of the State Duma will therefore be held over three days.
The Times of Russia will continue to provide coverage of developments surrounding the Russian State Duma elections 2026 and related statements from Russian officials.
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