MOSCOW, November 24 (RAPSI, Natalia Belova) – The State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, adopted in the third and final reading on Friday a bill allowing public members to act as observers in the election of Russia’s President.

Amendments have been proposed to the federal law on electing the president of the Russian Federation.

The initiative is directed to enhance voting publicity and openness, the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights told RAPSI earlier. About 100 organizations had already expressed their readiness to cooperate with public control institutions. Observers’ training will be conducted in partnership with the Central Electoral Commission, the advisory body said.

The bill on poll watchers is aimed to confer the right of Russia’s Public Chamber and regional public chambers to designate observers in election commissions.

Moreover, video monitoring and transmission would be allowed in voting premises during determination of vote returns, according to the draft law.