The Serbian referendum was a "prelude" to the planned elections

On 15-17 January 2022, Pavel Andreev, a member of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, was in Serbia to observe the referendum on amendments to the country's Constitution.

On the day of voting Pavel Andreev visited 30 referendum polling stations in Central and New Belgrade, satellite towns Zemun, Borca, and Pančevo. As a result of the observation, it was noted that the voting process at these polling stations was organized in accordance with the legislation and methodological recommendations of the Republican Election Commission (REC). The polling stations opened on time and were equipped with everything necessary for the expression of the will. The safety of voters and members of the Commission in the face of a coronavirus pandemic was ensured at the polling stations with protective masks and sanitizers. Due to the low turnout, there was little congestion of voters in the polling stations. In precincts with small queues, the rule of distancing was observed.

During the visit the member of the CEC of Russia Pavel Andreev met with the Ambassador Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, head of the “Russian House” in Belgrade Evgeny Baranov, State Secretary of the Serbian Ministry of Justice Livija Pavicevic, and other representatives of the Serbian socio-political elite.

Extensive talks were held with the head of the REC, Vladimir Dimitrijevic, and members of the Commission. The parties exchanged assessments of the referendum and discussed plans for further interaction and exchange of experience in the electoral field. The REC Chairman assured that an appropriate invitation to participate in the observation of the April elections would be sent to the CEC of Russia as soon as they were announced.