In Sochi, observers from CPRF claim violations at election of deputies to Russian State Duma

In the course of the voting in the elections of deputies to the State Duma of the Russian Federation conducted in Sochi on December 4, illegal re-count of votes, removal of observers from electoral precincts and an attack on one of them occurred. This was reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by the observers from the CPRF (Communist Party of the Russian Federation).

Alexander Korotkov: electoral precinct 46-19 held illegal re-count of votes

Alexander Korotkov, the observer from the CPRF, claimed a violation at the electoral precinct No. 46-19, located in the building of the Polytechnic, in No. 45 in Tchaikovsky Street in Sochi.

"Olga Medvedeva, the staff member of the Administration, Chief of Education and Science Department of the Administration of Sochi, has personally come after the closing of the electoral precinct commission to the electoral precinct and, being not a member of the commission, demanded in a form of ultimatum to re-count votes, regardless of expression of citizens' will, since the results of the voting of the electoral precinct commission failed to meet views of the Territorial Election Commission of the Central District of Sochi," Alexander Korotkov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Representatives of the CPRF immediately filed a complaint on that fact to the chairman of the electoral precinct commission No. 46-19 with reference to Article 141 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (impeding of voting rights or work of election commissions), since they treated re-count of votes, regardless of expression of citizens' will, as a criminal act.

At 11:00 p.m. of December 4, Olga Medvedeva told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that she had not visited the electoral precinct No. 46-19 and had not put forward such demands."

In his turn, Andrei Roigas, Chairman of the electoral precinct commission No. 46-19, announced that no re-count had been held and that it would never be conducted. With regard to the information on Medvedeva's demand of re-count, Andrei Roigas replied: "No comment."

The Chairman of the electoral precinct commission reported that 462 out of 880 voters attended the electoral precinct, and 196 of them voted for the "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) Party.

Observer and member of committee from CPRF claim that they were forced to leave electoral precinct No. 46-17

The observer from the CPRF and the member of the committee with a decisive vote at the electoral precinct No. 46-17 in Sochi reported that they both were forced to leave the electoral precinct after they wrote a complaint addressed to the chairperson of the electoral precinct commission demanding to comply with the law during the vote counting.

"Instead of proper counting, Alla Ivanenko, Chairperson of the electoral precinct No. 46-17, just made a decision to remove us from the electoral precinct. At the same time, she asked policemen to force us to leave," said representatives of the CPRF, who introduced themselves as Alexander and Natalia.

According to them, 1400 voters are listed at the electoral precinct, and about 1000 people voted. "However, the exact number is impossible to determine, since the chairperson concealed the information and refused to close the electoral lists. This is a clear violation," say Alexander and Natalia.

They also reported that they suspected a ballot-box stuffing after the arrival of Anatoly Pakhomov, Sochi Mayor, at the electoral precinct at 12:00 a.m. According to the observers from the CPRF, Anatoly Pakhomov invited all people present at the electoral precinct to the dining room for lunch, and at that time, actually, no one except members of the "Edinaya Rossiya" remained near the boxes.

"When I went away and came back 15 minutes later, I have noticed some nervous movement at the electoral precinct. The observers from the "Edinaya Rossiya" feverishly marked the number of voters in their journals. I cannot say for sure; however, I believe that Anatoly Pakhomov arrived namely to divert the observers, and it was a big blunder that we had succumbed to that. In the dining room, Pakhomov told the people how much had been done for the city and how beautiful the city should be," says Alexander.

When asked the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent to comment on the grounds of the removal of the representatives of the CPRF from the electoral precinct, Alla Ivanenko, Chairperson of the electoral precinct commission, said that she had no time and, therefore, she would not respond. The position of the Mayor on suspicion of the communists has not yet been reported.

Member of commission at electoral precinct No. 46-58 reports on attack of unidentified man

Mikhail Sokolov, the member of the commission of the electoral precinct No. 46-58, located in No. 26 in Sovietskaya Street in Sochi, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that in the morning of December 4 he had been attacked when he tried to register violations and recorded on video and photo the illegal campaigning of the party.

According to Mikhail Sokolov, out of the volunteer centre, located in the University building next to the electoral precinct, a man suddenly came and man went to him saying: "Do you again shoot here?" The man pushed Mikhail Sokolov, and the latter fell down from surprise and injured his thumb on his left hand and his right elbow.

Mikhail Sokolov has filed an appeal to the law enforcement bodies and visited an emergency station, where he received medical care. He also intends to demand initiation of a criminal case against the attacker.

Besides, Mikhail Sokolov has emphasized that he recorded numerous violations of voting rights, and the fact was proved by the written complaint appealed to the prosecutor's office.