OSCE: The United States did not invite observers to the congressional elections

On Wednesday, the OSCE announced that its observers had not been invited by the United States to monitor the November congressional elections. The organization points out that such a situation has never happened before and describes it as unprecedented.

The joint communiqué issued by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly emphasizes that the lack of an invitation constitutes a departure from established democratic practice. OSCE representatives remind that election monitoring by independent observers is one of the key elements of the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.

The organization emphasizes that the decision of the US authorities is contrary to the obligations adopted by all OSCE member states, including the United States.