Observers state use of administrative resources at early voting in Sochi

Observers and residents of the city-resort of Sochi complain about facts of using administrative resources during early voting for City Assembly Deputies that started on February 26. However, the local electoral commission assures that everything was lawful.

One of the workers of the city administration, who preferred to remain anonymous, gave directives and lists to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on "early voting by sectors from February 26 to March 9, 2010." They indicate the time and number of voters, who should vote ahead of schedule. According to the lists, on February 26, 530 persons should have voted ahead of schedule, and during the whole period of early voting - 6440 voters.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports, referring to one of the observers of the commission of the Tsentralny District, the number of early voters on February 26 made 523 persons, which practically matched the pre-scheduled list.

"Apparently, the lists are the instruction of the administrative resource," Yuri Dzaganiya, local leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) and a candidate from the Tsentralny Constituency No. 8, has commented the situation. He noted that "the pressure of the administrative resource is huge as usual, but the consciousness of voters is very low."

See earlier report: "Sochi hosts rally in support of voters' rights".