Voters use strangers' passports in Akhvakh Region of Dagestan, a local asserts

Local residents and observers told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on ballot-box stuffing, several people's voting on the same passport, open filling in the ballots, and other violations during the voting in the election conducted on December 4 in Makhachkala and the Akhvakh District of Dagestan.

"I, as the member of the precinct election commission No. 1145 in Makhachkala with a consultative voice, began to work together with observers from the "Yabloko" Party and journalists from independent media. Galina Kravtsova led the precinct. When large number of people began to obtain ballots in accordance with additional list without presenting absentee ballots, we have written messages to Kravtsova, and she did not take them, instead, she demanded that I moved to the observers. When I refused, an unidentified person in sport uniform using physical force pushed me to the observers," said Isalmagomed Nabiev, Chairman of the Independent trade union of entrepreneurs and drivers of Dagestan.

He also reported that "large number of voters was driven in buses, and the same voters were driven to other precincts, where they re-voted. Isalmagomed Nabiev stated that the electoral precinct No. 1145 was attended by 123 people; the information on the number of voter from the head of the precinct election commission was unavailable."

According to him, on the fact of violations, written complaints were addressed to Magomed Dibirov, Chairman of the Election Commission of Dagestan, and copies were sent to the Chairman of Election Commission of Russia, the head of the Dagestan branch of the "Yabloko" Party and the Prosecutor in Dagestan.

The press service of the Republic's Election Commission confirmed the receipt of the complaint and reported that appropriate measures would be taken, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Local residents also report on violations in the course of the election in the village of Karata of the Akhvakh District.

"One person could get several ballots with a different passport. The ballots were filled openly, and no one entered the allocated room. Anyone of my friends hardly attended the election, and now we are told about almost 100 percent voter turnout," said Saipudin Saipudinov, the resident of the village of Karata.

According to him, he does not intend to appeal to any institution, since he considers that as senseless. "The experience of the past election campaigns shows that appeals and complaints fail to solve anything," stated Saipudin Saipudinov.

In his turn, Magomed Dibirov, Chairman of the Territorial Election Commission of the Akhvakh District, reported that he received no complaints about violations.