In Volgograd, TEC head sacked

The Volgograd Regional Central Election Commission (CEC) has dismissed Sergey Smirnov, the chairman of one of territorial election commissions (TECs), who on December 6, 2011, refused to recount the votes in his district after the State Duma elections.

Mr Smirnov was dismissed in accordance with points 7 and 13 of Article 28 of the Federal Law "On Main Guarantees of Electoral Rights and Right to Take Part in Referendum of Citizens of the Russian Federation", and points 6 and 15 of Article 17 of the Law "On Election Commissions in Volgograd Region", says the statement of the Regional CEC of December 27, the text of which is available on the website of the CEC.

The edition named "V1" writes that the decision to dismiss Smirnov was made by a majority vote of the CEC members with decisive vote by secret ballot.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Volgograd Region had the following results at the elections to the State Duma, according to the first count of votes: "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) - 35.49% of votes, CPRF (Communist Party of the Russian Federation) - 22.76%, "Spravedlivaya Rossiya" (Fair Russia) - 21.94%, and the LDPR (Liberal-Democratic Party of Russia) - 13.28%.

However, the recount made on December 6 after the complaint lodged to the CEC by activists of the "Spravedlivaya Rossiya" and the CPRF, added almost 7% of votes to "Edinaya Rossiya" (42.25%), while other parties lost some 2-1.5% of votes. It was announced that the CPRF won 20.26%, "Spravedlivaya Rossiya" - 20.06%, and LDPR - 12.06% of votes.

On December 7, the votes were recounted again; and it was announced that the "Edinaya Rossiya" won 35.48% of votes, the CPRF - 22.76%, "Spravedlivaya Rossiya" - 21.94%, and the LDPR - 13.29% of votes.

The head of one of the TECs Sergey Smirnov refused to participate in vote recounting. According to his version, he "refused to do it in order not to violate the law," the IA "Vysota-102" writes.

"We could not observe all the procedures and recount 70,000 votes during several hours. It would be a profanation. After my refusal, they took out 70 bags with ballot papers and brought them to the Regional CEC," Sergey Smirnov is quoted by the "Kommersant".

He treats his dismissal as illegitimate. "None of the bosses have talked to me; no reasons were presented; and no claims were moved against me. ON the State Duma election outcomes, I even received a premium. I was not invited to the CEC sitting; all this time I was on vacations outside Volgograd," said Smirnov.

He is now preparing a lawsuit to the regional court claiming to invalidate the CEC decision.