ABSTRACT
The pro-Kremlin nature of the entire European Centre of Geopolitical Analysis (ECAG)/Commonwealth of the Independent States – Election Monitoring Organisation (CIS-EMO) cooperation manifested not only in their activities, but also in publications indirectly linked to their electoral monitoring. This chapter focuses on the far-right element of the 'alternative' electoral observation missions that consistently employ evidently pro-Russian and/or controlled monitors who would attempt to legitimise controversial and/or unfair elections and, by doing so, assert Russian foreign policy interests in the post-Soviet space. It discusses the history and activities of the most important organisation in this context, namely CIS-EMO, that has been monitoring controversial elections in the post-Soviet space since 2004 and has pioneered in engaging ideologically loaded, far-right observers in their observation missions. The chapter looks at two Western organisations, which have been associated with CIS-EMO, and considers their activities, as well as connections between them and other Russian organisations involved in politically biased electoral observation.
