Sochi observers point to significant ballot stuffing

The data of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) on the number of voters at a number of polling stations in Sochi is from 1.5 to 2 times higher than the figures indicated in the protocols, observers assert.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 17, that is, on the first voting day, Sochi polling stations were mostly attended by voters with invitations from enterprises. They ticked their ballot papers, make photos of them and sent them somewhere, members of election commissions and observers have reported. In this way, authorities are making use of their administrative resources in order to promote the desired candidates, they assert.

Iren Ilyenkova, a member of the precinct election commission (PEC) with a decisive vote, who is representing the "Yabloko" Party, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that on September 17, at polling station No. 45-20, a total of 93 people voted. However, the next day, the CEC's website gave the figure of 192 voters at this polling station on September 17. Another observer from this station, Vladislav Dubovtsev, also claimed a more than a twofold difference in the data about this polling station. He sent a complaint about this to the Khosta territorial election commission (TEC).

Mr Dubovtsev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he had heard similar complaints from observers from opposition parties at other polling stations. "We talked on the phone with several observers; and they also told us that they had found artificial addition of 100 voters each. We've concluded that the stuffing was made at those PECs where the number of voters was below one hundred. That is, at those PECs, where it is easy to put a one in front of a two-digit number and make it a three-digit one," Vladislav Dubovtsev has concluded.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 18, 2021 at 04:08 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.