Rights defenders treat outcomes of "Edinaya Rossiya" at one precinct in Chechnya as fair elections case

The voting outcomes for "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) Party at a polling station in the Urus-Martan District, where the party received less than 50 percent of the votes, may illustrate the real voters' opinion in Chechnya, human rights defenders believe, adding that releasing such data was a bold act.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the elections held in the village of Koren-Benoy, Nozhai-Yurt District of Chechnya, were won by the "Novye Lyudi" (New People) Party, while only 0.92% of the village voters cast their ballots for the "Edinaya Rossiya"; it follows from the data released by the local precinct election commission (PEC). At another PEC, No. 510 in the Urus-Martan District, 48.81% of the voters voted for the ruling party ("Edinaya Rossiya").

If we admit that this result is not a mistake, then the PEC has exhibited courage by releasing such data, says Oleg Orlov, a board member of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial"*. "In Chechnya, of course, it takes courage to publish such data. It's unambiguous. They are great. But I have little faith in this story: in the fact that these are real results," Mr Orlov has emphasized.

If these figures are not a technical error, then the residents of Chechnya who voted at PEC No. 510 in the Urus-Martan District were not afraid to vote according to their conscience, says Svetlana Gannushkina, the chair of the "Civil Assistance" Committee*.

"These results reflect the reality, as the 'Edinaya Rossiya' enjoys no support of the majority. They look like a real vote," Ms Gannushkina told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, noting that no less important is that the PEC members were not afraid to show the real election outcomes. "At least one PEC in Chechnya has shown real outcomes," she has concluded.

*Organizations were included by the Russian Ministry of Justice into the register of foreign agents.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 29, 2021 at 10:38 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.