MOSCOW, 2 March 2012 - The international observers monitoring the presidential elections in the Russian Federation will present their preliminary post-election statement at a news conference on Monday, 5 March, in Moscow. The international observation is a common endeavour involving the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The statement will be delivered by Tiny Kox, the Head of the PACE delegation, followed by Tonino Picula, the Special Co-ordinator to lead the short-term OSCE observer mission and Head of the OSCE PA delegation, and Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission. This common endeavour comprises more than 250 observers from 38 countries, including over 40 long-term observers and experts from the OSCE/ODIHR, some 160 short-term observers seconded by participating States upon request by the OSCE/ODIHR, as well as nine parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA, and 36 from PACE. Journalists are invited to attend the news conference on Monday, 5 March, at 14:00 in the Marriott Grand Hotel, 26/1 Tverskaya Street, Moscow. Live stream of the press conference is available at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/russian-federation-eom

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