A delegation of the Central Election Committee of RF will inspect US presidential election in November 2008.
      
      The Russian Central Election Committee (the CEC) has been invited by the USA. According to Mr. Churov, the CEC Chairman, the CEC has a professional interest, the observers are to learn different voting techniques including distance voting.
      
      The Russian delegation won’t be big. And it is likely to be lead by the CEC Chairman.
      
      Mr. Churov has noticed that some difficulties occur at the US elections, for example there may be false voters, and the election campaign of different candidates may be covered in the mass media unequally.
      
      www.lenta.ru
      

Disapointed American observer :
Mr. Churov is correct about our election difficulties. Too bad he apparently doesn't care about the "difficulties" that occur in Russian elections. Selective media coverage is a far greater problem in Russia than it is in the United States. The one governing party gets favorable coverage by the vast majority of the Russian media. At least in the United States we can choose between two parties with different ideas about how to go forward. In other western countries there is even greater choice. No real choice exists in Russia. Its really quite sad. I really hoped Russia would become trully democratic after end of the Soviet Union. Sadly Russia seems to be returning to its old totalitarian ways.

Added: 30 July 2008 23:57