Makhachkala: court dismisses Oleg Melnikov's claim to cancel election results

The Kirov District Court of Makhachkala has dismissed the claim for cancellation of the results of the elections to the State Duma in three polling stations filed by Oleg Melnikov nominated as a single-mandate candidate.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 11, Oleg Melnikov, the leader of the "Alternative", a movement against slavery, announced his decision to run for a seat at the State Duma on the Northern single-mandate district No. 10 of Dagestan. On September 20, Oleg Melnikov spoke at a press conference in Makhachkala, during which participants of the event claimed the falsification of the election results in the republic. Oleg Melnikov filed a claim to the Kirov District Court of Makhachkala with the demand to cancel the election results at the polling stations Nos. 1017, 1018, and 1036 of the republic's capital.

On December 2, Judge Aibike Abdulgamidova pronounced the decision in the case and dismissed the Oleg Melnikov's claim, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by a Court's official.

In the course of the consideration of the case, the judge has dismissed the plaintiff's request to examine the basement. According to an official of the territorial election commission (TEC), the basement was flooded and as a result, 176 bags with election documents were "destroyed." This was reported by Shamil Khadulaev, a member of the Public Chamber for the Republic of Dagestan, who attended the trial as a witness.

"The Judge has got a request to conduct examination of the basement which was allegedly flooded. However, the Judge has dismissed the request," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Shamil Khadulaev.

He argues that the basement of the administration building contains no signs of flooding, like the whole building.

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