16:37, 2 December 2003

Human rights activists informed OSCE representatives about discrimination during elections in Krasnodar Territory

Representatives of the OSCE ODIHR Election Observation Mission, which opened on November 3 to monitor the elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation, visited the office of the Fund "School of Peace" in Novorossiysk on November 28. Long-term observers Rosemary Grieves and Mikael Hertoft's interest was in the problems of national minorities' access to the elections in Krasnodar Territory.

The human rights activists handed over to the observers documents on the discrimination of ethnic groups during the elections, which would be material for the Mission's final report after the elections are over. For instance, Turks-Meskhetians are not put on the voter lists if they are not registered at the place of their actual residence. Thus these people are deprived of their right to vote in the local and territorial elections. In 1996 and 2000, Turks-Meskhetians were allowed to take part in the elections of the Russian President only as an exception. The NGO activists also voiced their concern as to the possible use of "dead souls" during the counting of votes.

Source: Novorossiysk City Committee on Human Rights