Galina Mikhalyova at kommentarii.ru
 The
[Constitutional Court’s] decision will broaden the rights
of members of our mostly authoritatively constructed parties
only to a small extent… However, while it is allowed to have
“locomotives” (Ed. well-known persons topping party election
lists and bringing a large number of votes for the party and
resigning right after the election), this decision will not
be able to cardinally change the situation. The key problem
lies not only in our legislation but also in the law enforcement
practices. The laws on parties and on elections are abundant
with excess regulations complicating performance for the parties,
especially for the opposition parties, however, the laws lack
a clear framework that would make the parties to abide by
democratic procedures (e.g., a ban on dismissal and appointing
of the governing bodies).
The practices of construction of parties “from the top” and
their functioning under the Kremlin’s supervision have nothing
to do with democracy. We should begin restoration of competitive
elections and parties – as representation of the interests
of different social layers and groups –
first of all with abolishing of such a “muppet theatre”.
See also:
The
original
Law
"On Parties"
Elections
to the Moscow City Duma, 2009
Moscow’s
Carousel Elections.By Sergei Mitrokhin. The
Moscow Times, October 23, 2009
On
non-recognition of the results of the elections of October
11, 2009, and the need to investigate cases of franchise violations.
Statement of the Bureau of the Russian United Democratic Party
YABLOKO.
October 19, 2009
Election
fraud at the Moscow City Duma elections. From the Live Journal
of Igor Yakovlev, Press Secretary of the YABLOKO party
Violations
at the Moscow City Duma elections. Press Release. October
12, 2009
Court rules
out that the results of the voting at the Moscow City Duma
election at polling station No 192 are void. Press release,
October 22, 2009
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