Dagestani journalists report how authorities deprive election of any intrigue

In Dagestan, no pre-election intrigue still remains, since the authorities have removed from the electoral process all the political forces undesirable for them. This opinion was voiced by Gadjimurat Sagitov, the editor-in-chief of the "Novoe Delo".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the "People Against Corruption" Party has refused to take part in the elections to the Parliament of Dagestan and then to the State Duma. Members of the Party have claimed being subjected to pressure by the authorities. The similar decision was made by the Dagestani regional branch of the "Rodina" (Motherland) Party. Seven candidates for single-seat districts, including self-nominated Maxim Shevchenko, were refused in registration by the Election Commission because of allegedly invalid signatures in their support. Today, a letter for withdrawal from the elections to the State Duma has been submitted by Sazhid Sazhidov, a coach of the Dagestani wrestling team.

According to Gadjimurat Sagitov, the authorities would not like to see Sazhid Sazhidovov in the State Duma, since "he allows himself voicing a kind of dissent."

When commenting on the inter-party struggle for the State Duma elections in Dagestan, Mairbek Agaev, the editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper "Chernovik" (Draft), suggests that all the roles have long been appointed.

"The authorities initially did not believe in the viability of sudden enhanced opponents, such as the 'People Against Corruption' Party or the 'Rodina' Party. However, then they engaged the administrative resource to paralyze them, and in some cases, they used political bribery. And at present, in fact, nobody disturbs the party in power in conducting widespread agitation and playing the role of a great helmsman, with whom the people will reach the decent future," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Mairbek Agaev.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.