Statement by the Federal Bureau of Yabloko, 9.09.2023

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

On 10 September, many regions of our country will hold elections at different levels: elections of local governments, legislative assemblies, and heads of regions. And in six months there will be presidential elections, which will be held within the framework of the Constitution updated in 2020, which opened the way for the permanent rule of Vladimir Putin.

The electoral legislation has being systematically changed to meet the demands of the times. The status of an electoral commission member with the right to an advisory vote in territorial and precinct electoral commissions has been abolished – where this status is most needed to control the counting of votes. The number of polling stations is being reduced. Representatives of Yabloko are refused to be included in electoral commissions. The practice of electronic voting is being introduced everywhere. Organised independent surveillance is being destroyed

Before the elections, the Basmanny Court of Moscow arrested Grigory Melkonyants, Сo-Chairman of the movement to protect the rights of voters Golos, accused of organising the work of an undesirable organisation. The Yabloko party considers the case brought against Melkonyants to be politically motivated. This is further evidence of unprecedented pressure on the observers community.

If the elections and the voting itself are fair, then there is no difficulty in providing everyone with the opportunity to observe the voting and the procedure of vote counting.

The government’s actions are aimed at enhancing the secrecy of all procedures, which raises reasonable assumptions about possible falsification of election results.

Such state of affairs calls into question the legitimacy of the authorities elected in such elections.

We call on the citizens of Russia: the most effective mechanism for countering election violations is participation of a large number of voters in elections and public control. High voter turnout is the best tool to combat fraud.

We urge citizens in those regions where elections are taking place to go to the polls on Sunday, 10 September, when voting and ballot counting are under the greatest control, and – where possible – to vote for candidates running under the slogan “For Peace!”, for the candidates of the Yabloko party.

We also urge citizens to already now prepare to monitor future elections and register on our web-site as [our candidates to] precinct electoral commissions members and observers from the Yabloko party.

Nikolai Rybakov,

Yabloko Chairman