"Rodina" candidate for Volgograd Regional Duma demands to recount ballots at 10 polling stations

On September 16, a recount of votes at Polling Stations (or Precinct Election Commissions – PECs) Nos. 312 and 315 of the Voroshilov Territorial Election Commission (TEC) of Volgograd changed the outcomes of the voting in favour of Gennady Murylyov, the candidate from the "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) Party. His opponent from the "Rodina" (Motherland) Party – Natalia Latyshevskaya – demanded a vote recount at other 10 polling stations.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on the United Voting Day, September 14, Volgograd elected the regional governor, members of the regional legislature and municipal bodies of power. In the Tsentralny District, according to preliminary data of the Regional Election Commission (REC), the final list was headed by Natalia Latyshevskaya, the nominee from the "Rodina" (Motherland) Party; however, her main opponent Gennady Murylyov was just six votes behind. Murylyov demanded to recount the votes.

"After recounting at PEC-315, it turned out that there are 12 ballot papers more for Murylyov, which for some unknown reason were not counted initially. They were in the file of 'spoiled' ballots, although they were quite valid," Victoria Sopoleva, a Latyshevskaya's assistant, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

She added that the bag with ballots was fixed with Scotch tape; it was not signed by the chair and members of the PEC and bore no PEC seal.

"At the last recount, it turned out that Mr Murylyov won by three votes. Thereafter, Ms Latyshevskaya demanded a recount on the same grounds at 10 other PECs; and the respective motion was lodged to the TEC," said Sopoleva.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.