VIENNA/WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Any decision regarding the complaint by Donald Trump's former advisor Carter Page over violations of election norms by Hillary Clinton and her team can only be taken by US authorities since the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) avoids any interference in the election, an OSCE representative told Sputnik when asked about the future OSCE steps after it received a letter from Paige claiming election violations.
"As for steps, we observe the electoral process and assess it, rather than interfere in it. Any steps to be taken would have to be taken by the relevant authorities here," an OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) representative told Sputnik.
Page, however, was seeking support from the OSCE precisely because of collaboration that some US authorities had with the Hillary for America team.
"The evidence of certain connections between the 'Hillary for America' campaign and some federal authorities makes me cautious to avoid seeking external support from government officials in the Unites States," Page wrote.
The OSCE did not make any reference to Page's complaints in its preliminary assessment report issued a day after the election.
Page said in the letter that US Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid turned to FBI Director James Comey in August, asking for an investigation against Page over his alleged meetings with sanctioned Russian high-ranking individuals during his private visit to Moscow in July, and sharing with them views critical of the US and EU anti-Russian sanctions.
"I have never met this year with any sanctioned Kremlin official nor been contacted by any of the US intelligence agencies following my July visit to Moscow," Page writes, calling allegations a "clear instance of suppression of dissent stands" and an "obvious attempt to silence [him]."
Moreover, the Clinton campaign put forth a discriminatory and ungrounded media report accusing him of having ties with the Kremlin, according to the advisor citing Yahoo News publication as of September 23, which was "almost entirely attributable to 'Hillary for America' campaign."
"A few of those whom I pressed to provide some basis or source for these outrageous lies disclosed that it was 'Hillary for America campaign which originally suggested it to them," Page writes.
Finally, a law firm close to the Clinton campaign has hired a London-based private agent to investigate Page's July trip to Moscow, according to the letter.
"All the available evidence makes clear that I have been targeted for potential reprisal merely for vocalizing my thoughts in a free academic forum," the letter reads.
On July 7, Page gave a lecture at the New Economic School in Moscow, attended by a Sputnik correspondent among many other foreign and national reporters.
The speech focused purely on economic theory issues, Page stated, and was given in his personal capacity, which included refusing to answer any questions that could have even slightest relation to his campaign involvement or political views.
Page had to suspend his campaign activities because of the above-mentioned allegations.
He pointed out "the series of personal vindictive attacks" aimed at distracting public attention as they "came at virtually the same time as the contents of Clinton's personal email server were being publicized and scrutinized."
Although the attempts did not take effect and Trump won the election, they raise questions about the transparency of US election process in general.
Glover said the OSCE will present its final report on the 2016 presidential election in the United States in two to three months.
