By Mark Ames
Take three elections in the same country.
The West has a thousand ears In Election A, international observers led by the OSCE note a massive media bias in favor of the party in power, as well as numerous other campaign violations and strong-arm tactics to manipulate the elections in the regions. The OSCE’s verdict: The elections were free and fair, "without manipulation."
Four years later, Election B takes place. The OSCE notes an overwhelming media bias in favor of the party in power as well as manipulation in certain regions. The OSCE’s verdict: once again, relatively free and fair. "The […] election represented a benchmark in the ongoing evolution of the Russian Federation’s emergence as a representative democracy."
Three years and nine months later, Election C takes place. The OSCE notes an overwhelming media bias in favor of the party in power as well as regional strong-arming. The OSCE’s verdict: The elections were "free but not fair," "fundamentally distorted," and "failed in meeting many OSCE and international standards."
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