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Russian election reform meets Euro standards - experts

MOSCOW. Dec 16 (Interfax) - The Venice Commission, which is the Council of Europe's advisory body on legal matters, thinks the new system of gubernatorial elections initiated by the Russian president does not contradict European standards.

Deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe received an answer of the Venice Commission to the inquiry of the PACE Monitoring Committee in Paris on Wednesday, State Duma international affairs committee chairman and head of the Russian delegation to PACE Konstantin Kosachyov told Interfax on Thursday.

The answer of the Venice Commission, which is signed by representatives of five countries of the Council of Europe, says that only the Constitutional Court of Russia can confirm the constitutionality of the new system for gubernatorial elections, he said.