Russian local elections: all candidates need equal access to electoral rights

In its report on the Russian Federation adopted today, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe noted with satisfaction the developments that have taken place since 2010: the principle of local self-government is now recognised both in the Constitution and in ordinary legislation, the provisions of the European Charter of Local Self-Government are applied by the Constitutional Court in its case law, and a great variety of instruments of citizens’ participation in local public affairs is available. More...