| The destruction of the institution of democratic elections in Russia is
currently spreading from the federal to regional level.
Employing bureaucratic procedures, the Electoral Commission of Sverdlovsk
Region refused to register a number of opposition political associations,
including the "SPS and YABLOKO" bloc.
The ousting of the "SPS and YABLOKO" bloc, as well as other
representatives of the opposition from the elections to the Sverdlovsk Regional
Duma can be attributed to a decision by the regional leadership aimed at
meeting the interests of the United Russia party which fears any competition.
We will appeal to the Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission Alexander
Veshnyakov, demanding immediate compliance with electoral legislation in
Sverdlovsk region and the application of against its electoral commission
in accordance with the law.
This is another example of arbitrary rule during election campaigns, demonstrating
that the current card sharp play, with the result known in advance, is totally
unrelated to elections. Elections can only be free and fair. Here on the
contrary they are being transformed into afarce.
Chairman of the party
Grigory Yavlinsky
See also:
Yuri Kuznetsov, YABLOKO:
the Electoral Commission of Sverdlovsk Region ousts the opponents of the
present authorities from the election campaign to the regional duma. Press
Release, February 2, 2004
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