Statement by Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union, on the presidential elections in Russia on 4 March 2012

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, today made the following statement:
 
«As Russia’s strategic partner and direct neighbour, the EU has followed with particular interest the election process and the public debate in Russia on the State Duma elections of last December and the Presidential elections held yesterday.  
 
The EU takes note of the preliminary results of the presidential elections and the clear victory of Vladimir  Putin. International  election  observers  from  the  OSCE  Parliamentary  Assembly,  the OSCE  Office  for  Democratic  Institutions  and  Human  Rights  (ODIHR)  and  the  Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) noted the significant civic engagement in the campaign
and that authorities allowed protests to take place without undue interference, but also identified shortcomings and irregularities in the preparations and conduct of these elections and that voters’ choice was limited. The EU encourages Russia to address these shortcomings.  
 
The EU looks forward to working with the incoming Russian President and the new government in full support of our shared modernisation agenda, which we see as covering  both economic and political  reforms.  We  trust the  new  Russian President  will  be  ready  to  take  these  reforms forward, in dialogue with citizens and civil society. »