03 August 2019, 08:38
Election Commission refuses to register Shevchenko for elections in Rostov-on-Don
The Territorial Election Commission (TEC) has rejected 23 out of the 155 signatures collected in support of the nomination of Anastasia Shevchenko as a candidate for the Rostov City Duma. However, Ms Shevchenko herself claims that the handwriting examination, on the basis of which the signatures were rejected, was unreliable.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 12, members of Anastasia Shevchenko's election office submitted documents to the TEC of the Oktiabrsky District of Rostov-on-Don on her nomination as a candidate for deputy of the City Duma.
Anastasia Shevchenko, a member of the Federal Council of "The Open Russia"* movement, has been under house arrest since January 23, the term of which was extended by the court until June 17. The case against her was the first one in Russia, initiated under Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (activities of an organization recognized as undesirable in the territory of Russia). The Amnesty International recognized Shevchenko to be a prisoner of conscience. On February 8, 2019, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" declared her a political prisoner.
The working group of the TEC of the Oktiabrsky District of Rostov-on-Don has rejected 23 out of the 155 signatures collected in support of Ms Shevchenko, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by the press service of the "Open Russia"* today.
Anastasia Shevchenko was denied registration on the basis of a handwriting examination, said a source from the "Open Russia"*. "A significant part of signatures was rejected by the handwriting expert, who indicated in the examination outcomes that the signatures were made not by the voters themselves," the press service has noted. The "Open Russia"* has stated that they treat the handwriting examination as unreliable.
*The activities of the two organizations registered in the UK and containing the words "Open Russia" in their titles have been recognized by the Russia's General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) to be undesirable organizations in Russia.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 2, 2019 at 07:14 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Konstantin Volgin Source: CK correspondent
