Russia - News Archive

Russia holds presidential election

Posted: 03/04/2012
Russia held presidential elections on Sunday

Source: ElectionGuide

Russian government denies liberal party's registration

Posted: 06/22/2011
Russian authorities on Wednesday refused to register a liberal opposition bloc as a political party, effectively preventing them from fielding candidates in parliamentary and presidential elections. Leading opposition figures, such as former Prime Minister Mikhail KASYANOV, formed the Party of People's Freedom, also known as Parnas, last December. Russia’s justice ministry claimed that many of the signatures Parnas submitted were invalid.

Source: ElectionGuide

Media Touts Opposition Performance In Russian Regionals

Posted: 03/15/2010
Prime Minister Vladimir PUTIN'S United Russia Party led regional elections last Sunday, but observers pointed to opposition gains in key races. Despite widespread allegations of fraud, United Russia's overall vote share declined since the last elections in October, with the party winning majorities in half as many oblasts this time. In the city of Irkutsk, a Communist Party candidate won by nearly 35 points. After the October elections, opposition parties boycotted Parliament for a week in protest of fraud.

Source: ElectionGuide

Charging Voter Fraud, Deputies Boycott Russian Duma

Posted: 10/15/2009
Alleging fraud in last weekend's regional elections, Russian opposition deputies united in a Duma walk-out on Wednesday. Liberal Democratic Party members began the boycott after the ruling United Russia majority blocked debate on charges of ballot box tampering and voter intimidation. Joining the LDP were deputies from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), runner-up in the Moscow city council race, and A Just Russia. CPRF leader Gennady ZYUGANOV has demanded a parliamentary inquiry, a direct meeting with President Dimitri MEDVEDEV, and recounts where representatives of both factions are present. MEDVEDEV says the conduct of the election was lawful, and Central Election Commission chair Vladimir CHUROV called regional officials' work a success. Voters elected mayors, municipal councils, and regional legislatures, with MEDVEDEV'S United Russia claiming over 7,000 offices nationwide. A 2004 decision by then-President Vladimir PUTIN eliminated direct elections for regional executives. MEDVEDEV last month said he would not reverse this law. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which frequently monitors Eurasian elections, stopped sending missions to Russia in 2007.

Source: ElectionGuide

Nemtsov Challenges Sochi Mayoral Election Results

Posted: 05/14/2009
The co-chairman of Russia's opposition Solidarity movement, Boris Nemtsov, has officially appealed to the Sochi city court to annul the results of last month's mayoral election.

Read full story. Source: Rferl.org

Sochi's "Olympic" mayor inaugurated

Posted: 05/12/2009
The newly elected mayor of Sochi - the Russian resort city that will host the 2014 Winter Olympics - has officially come into office.

Read full story. Source: RT : Politics

Candidate claims fraud in Sochi mayoral vote

Posted: 04/27/2009
SOCHI, Russia (AP) -- The Kremlin favorite won an overwhelming victory in the mayoral election in Sochi, the Russian city hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics, an election official said Monday. An opposition candidate called the vote a fraud and vowed to challenge the result....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Let The Games Begin

Posted: 04/27/2009
There was a lot at stake in this weekend's mayoral election in Sochi. After all, the Russian resort city will host the 2014 Winter Olympics, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's multibillion-dollar prestige project. Results suggest a strong first-round victory for Kremlin-backed candidate Anatoly Pakhomov. But allegations of widespread fraud continue.

Read full story. Source: Rferl.org

Battle for Sochi mayoral seat heading into Olympics ends

Posted: 04/26/2009
With a sweeping mandate, Anatoly Pahomov, the candidate of Russia's ruling party, United Russia, has won the mayoral elections in Sochi.

Read full story. Source: RT : Politics

Russian MPs back presidency bill

Posted: 11/21/2008
A bill to extend Russia's presidential term from four to six years wins the overwhelming backing of MPs.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

PUTIN Sworn in as Russian Prime Minister

Posted: 05/08/2008
Former President Vladimir PUTIN was confirmed as prime minister of Russia on Thursday. The State Duma, where PUTIN’s United Russia Party holds 315 of 450 seats, approved PUTIN with a 392-56 vote. In one of his first acts as president, MEDVEDEV formally nominated PUTIN Wednesday. PUTIN’s confirmation was anticipated due to the long-time alliance and friendship between PUTIN and President Dmitry MEDVEDEV. Barred by constitutional term limits from running for president in the March 2008 vote, PUTIN announced Dmitry MEDVEDEV as his favored successor in December 2007 and he won the presidency with 71% of the vote in March 2008. PUTIN addressed MPs this morning and laid out the new government’s priorities, highlighting a commitment to solving economic problems such as Russia’s rising inflation rate. It is expected that PUTIN will remain a dominant force in Russian politics and could run again for president in 2012.

Source: ElectionGuide

Russia's Landslide Presidential Election

Posted: 03/06/2008
In Sunday’s Russian presidential election, Kremlin backed Dmitry MEDVEDEV won 70.2 percent of the vote. Communist Party leader Gennady ZYUGANOV finished a distant second with 17.8 percent. The elections were criticized by the international community as unfair with MEDVEDEV given blanket media coverage and liberal opponents disqualified from running. Only one Western election monitor group sent a team to observe the election while the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) boycotted the vote. Russia’s Central Election Commission reported a record turnout of 69.7 percent of the country’s 109 million eligible voters. MEDVEDEV, currently first deputy prime minister, will assume the presidency on May 7. Current President Vladimir PUTIN is expected to become prime minister.

Source: ElectionGuide

Muted welcome for Russia leader

Posted: 03/03/2008
Western leaders congratulate Dmitry Medvedev, but the new Russian president's huge win draws some criticism.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Western, local observers criticize Russian election

Posted: 03/03/2008
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Western observers and independent Russian monitors criticized Russia's presidential election on Monday as neither free nor fair, but said its outcome broadly reflected the will of the people.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Putin Protege Secures Election Victory

Posted: 03/03/2008
His election choreographed by the Kremlin, Dmitri A. Medvedev secured a predictably commanding victory on Sunday to become Russia's next president.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Putin's Anointed Heir Shows Hints of Less Icy Style

Posted: 02/28/2008
Dmitri A. Medvedev, chosen by President Vladimir V. Putin to be Russiaâ??s next leader, is crafting his own image.

Read full story. Source: NYT > Europe

Russia's Medvedev makes election appeal to voters

Posted: 02/27/2008
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's likely next president Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday appealed directly to voters to back him in Sunday's election, saying he knew how to make the country strong and successful.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

No opposition or debate in Russia election: Amnesty

Posted: 02/26/2008
BERLIN (Reuters) - Russia's presidential election campaign is taking place without a real political debate or viable opposition because of President Vladimir Putin's crackdown on the media and critics, Amnesty International said.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Kremlin Rules: Putin's Iron Grip on Russia Suffocates Opponents

Posted: 02/25/2008
Behind a facade of democracy in Russia lies a centralized authority that is not reluctant to swat down challengers.

Read full story. Source: NYT > Europe

Kremlin Rules: Putinâ??s Iron Grip on Russia Suffocates Opponents

Posted: 02/25/2008
Behind a facade of democracy in Russia lies a centralized authority that is not reluctant to swat down challengers.

Read full story. Source: NYT > Europe

Russia's Medvedev has 70 pct support: opinion poll

Posted: 02/21/2008
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's anointed successor, Dmitry Medvedev, has the support of 70.4 percent of the voters and will easily win the presidential election in 10 days' time, a poll on Thursday said.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Kremlin favorite: Russia to keep strong presidency

Posted: 02/18/2008
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's next president will remain the country's most powerful official even with outgoing head of state Vladimir Putin as prime minister, Putin's likely successor Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview on Monday.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Council of Europe fears Russia vote won't be fair

Posted: 02/08/2008
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The only team of Western observers monitoring Russia's presidential election next month said on Friday it could not deem the contest fair if all the contenders were not given an equal chance.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Europe watchdog scraps plans to monitor Russia vote

Posted: 02/07/2008
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Europe's main election watchdog pulled its observers on Thursday out of Russia's presidential vote blaming obstruction by Moscow, a step likely to inflict new damage to Russia's already frayed image as a democratic state.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Russia regrets vote watchdog rebuffed offer

Posted: 02/06/2008
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Wednesday said it regretted that Europe's main election watchdog had turned down an offer in a dispute with Moscow over the monitoring of the March 2 presidential vote.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Russia accuses Europe vote watchdog of

Posted: 02/01/2008
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia accused Europe's main election watchdog on Friday of trying to sabotage plans for monitoring its presidential election, the latest round of an increasingly bitter dispute with the West over democracy.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Latest poll gives Kremlin's Medvedev 71 percent

Posted: 01/31/2008
MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin's chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev, will win 71 percent of the votes in March's Russian presidential election, state-owned pollster VTsIOM predicted on Thursday.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Putin's candidate Medvedev says

Posted: 01/29/2008
MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin's chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev, has refused to meet his rivals for the presidency in live television debates ahead of the March 2 election.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Gorbachev, Rebuking Putin, Criticizes Russian Elections

Posted: 01/28/2008
The remarks were the most vocal criticism to date by a prominent Russian political figure and followed the Russian government's rejection of the only serious opposition candidate in the March 2 presidential election.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Russia seeks vote ban for opposition challenger

Posted: 01/24/2008
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Liberal former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, a Kremlin foe, should be barred from Russia's presidential election because some of the signatures supporting his candidacy were forged, election officials said on Thursday.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Kremlin Critic's Election Bid Threatened

Posted: 01/24/2008
MOSCOW (AP) -- The only liberal Kremlin critic in Russia's presidential race stands to be kept off the ballot because tens of thousands of signatures on his nominating petitions were forgeries, election officials said Thursday....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Opposition Presidential Candidate Challenged

Posted: 01/24/2008
The main opposition candidate, Mikhail KASYANOV, may be disqualified from running in the March 2 Russian presidential election against Dmitry MEDVEDEV. The Central Election Commission claims KASYANOV failed to obtain the two million signatures necessary for candidates not affiliated with a political party. Although KASYANOV submitted 2,067,000 signatures, the commission found more than 80,000 to be invalid. Additionally, election laws state registration can be denied if more than 5% of signatures are found to be invalid. In two large samples, 13% of KASYANOV’s signatures were found to be false. KASYANOV, the first prime minister of President Vladimir PUTIN, turned critic after his dismissal, believes the allegations by election officials are propaganda against his candidacy. Current polls show support at 1% for KASYANOV compared to 60% for MEDVEDEV. Last month, PUTIN named MEDVEDEV as his preferred successor. In turn, MEDVEDEV requested PUTIN to be his prime minister if he wins the presidency. 

Source: ElectionGuide

Communist may pull out of Russia election: report

Posted: 01/23/2008
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The head of Russia's biggest opposition party is considering dropping out of the race against Kremlin front-runner Dmitry Medvedev to be the next president, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Putin Choice Criticizes 'Legal Nihilism'

Posted: 01/22/2008
MOSCOW (AP) -- Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's presumed next president, criticized Russia's "legal nihilism" and called for stepping up the fight against corruption, opening his campaign Tuesday with a careful speech before a Kremlin-organized forum....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Russia to investigate opposition challenger

Posted: 01/22/2008
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian prosecutors accused opposition candidate Mikhail Kasyanov on Tuesday of forging signatures for his presidential bid, a step that could pave the way for his disqualification from the election.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Putin opponent to be investigated

Posted: 01/22/2008
Russian prosecutors accuse opposition candidate Mikhail Kasyanov's campaign of forging signatures.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Putin Says He'll Be Prime Minister

Posted: 12/17/2007
MOSCOW (AP) -- President Vladimir Putin told a congress of Russia's dominant party Monday that he would agree to become prime minister if Dmitry Medvedev is elected as his successor - and said he would not seek to make the premiership more powerful....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

PUTIN Endorses MEDVEDEV as Successor

Posted: 12/12/2007
Russian President Vladimir PUTIN endorsed Dmitri MEDVEDEV as his successor, making it highly likely he will win the presidency in March. MEDVEDEV has been closely linked to PUTIN, reportedly for nearly 17 years. He is not believed, however, to have a background in the K.G.B. or any other state security organizations, unlike other top officials in the Kremlin. Some speculate that as a PUTIN-loyalist, it will be easier for PUTIN to have a strong influence over Russian affairs with MEDVEDEV as president. Others, however, defend PUTIN’s endorsement saying he would never place a weak person in the presidential post. In a televised address on Tuesday, MEDVEDEV announced he would like PUTIN to become prime minister if he becomes president. PUTIN, however, has not formally announced his plans after he steps down as president in March, but many anticipate he will continue to play a major role in Russian politics.

Source: ElectionGuide

Russia's Medvedev backs Putin to become PM

Posted: 12/11/2007
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Dmitry Medvedev, named by Russian President Vladimir Putin as his preferred successor, said on Tuesday he wanted Putin to become prime minister under him, mapping out a route for the outgoing leader to retain influence.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Putin Supports First Deputy as Successor

Posted: 12/10/2007
President Vladimir V. Putin's endorsement of one of his closest confidantes, Dmitri A. Medvedev, makes him the favorite to become Russia's next president.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Putin party to name presidential candidate December 17

Posted: 12/07/2007
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party will name its candidate for next year's presidential vote on December 17 when it could become clearer who Putin wants to be his successor.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Putin loyalists to hold sway in Russia parliament

Posted: 12/04/2007
MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin's supporters will have complete control over parliament, figures from Sunday's election showed, and U.S. President George W. Bush told the Kremlin chief he had "sincere" concerns over the vote.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

PUTIN Party Wins Landslide Parliamentary Victory

Posted: 12/04/2007
Election Officials reported pro-Kremlin parties have won 393 seats of the 450-seat parliament (State Duma) in last weekend’s parliamentary election in Russia. Reports say President Vladimir PUTIN’s United Russia party won 315 seats in the State Duma and two other pro-Kremlin parties secured 78 seats. Many expect his party’s victory will allow PUTIN to maintain power and a leadership role in some manner, but it is unclear exactly what will be his official role. After he steps down from power next year, it is speculated that the power of the pro-PUTIN contingent may allow him to change the constitution or possibly become the State Duma’s speaker. Opposition parties and an international observer mission have said the vote was full of irregularities and one-sided media coverage, however, the Russian people have not protested the results. Some believe the Russian people’s acceptance of questionable election results can be attributed to growing political apathy and the support of the steady economic growth Russia has enjoyed under PUTIN’s tenure.

Source: ElectionGuide

Monitors Say Russian Vote Unfair

Posted: 12/03/2007
MOSCOW (AP) -- Foreign observers and Russian opposition groups accused authorities Monday of manipulating a sweeping parliamentary election victory for the party of President Vladimir Putin, who hailed the results as a validation of his leadership...

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Kasparov: Russian Election a Farce

Posted: 11/30/2007
MOSCOW (AP) -- Former chess champion and Kremlin critic Garry Kasparov on Friday dismissed Russia's parliamentary elections this weekend as a farce that will push the country toward what he called a "single-party dictatorship."...

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Putin tells citizens to vote for his party

Posted: 11/29/2007
MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin, ignoring criticism he is using his post for campaign purposes, told Russians on Thursday to vote for his United Russia party in Sunday's parliamentary election.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Putin Urges Votes for Pro-Kremlin Party

Posted: 11/29/2007
MOSCOW (AP) -- President Vladimir Putin on Thursday strongly urged Russians to cast ballots for the main pro-Kremlin party whose ticket he's leading in Sunday's parliamentary vote....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Putin Accuses U.S. of Trying to Discredit Russian Vote

Posted: 11/27/2007
President Vladimir V. Putin on Monday accused the United States of trying to taint the legitimacy of next week�s Russian parliamentary elections.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Putin Says U.S. Meddling in Election

Posted: 11/26/2007
President Vladimir V. Putin today accused the United States of trying to taint the legitimacy of upcoming Russian parliamentary elections.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Putin slams

Posted: 11/26/2007
ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin accused Washington on Monday of plotting to undermine December parliamentary elections seen widely as a demonstration of his power in Russia.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Russian Police Detain Kasparov at Rally

Posted: 11/24/2007
MOSCOW (AP) -- Riot police beat and detained opposition leader Garry Kasparov Saturday as they took dozens of protesters into custody at a rally against President Vladimir Putin, his assistant said....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Putin slams foreign govts for sponsoring opposition

Posted: 11/21/2007
MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin, using Cold War rhetoric, accused foreign governments on Wednesday of sponsoring his opponents in next month's election to weaken Russia and carry out "dirty tricks" against it.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Russia Blocks Election Monitors

Posted: 11/16/2007
WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- An international security organization said Friday its election observers would be unable to monitor next month's Russian parliamentary balloting because Moscow had refused to issue them visas....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Poll shows Putin party on 67 pct before December 2 vote

Posted: 11/16/2007
MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party will win an overwhelming majority of seats in parliamentary elections next month, according to a poll by the independent Levada Centre published on Friday.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Watchdog cancels Russia poll plan

Posted: 11/16/2007
The international election watchdog, the OSCE, says it will not cover Russian polls because of visa problems.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Russian party challenges Putin vote bid in court

Posted: 11/15/2007
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian opposition party said on Thursday it had asked a court to disqualify Russian President Vladimir Putin from a parliamentary vote next month on the grounds his job gives him an unfair advantage.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Putin: Ballot Win Would Be Show of Trust

Posted: 11/13/2007
KRASNOYARSK, Russia (AP) -- President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday a convincing victory for the party he is leading in next month's parliamentary elections would give him the "moral right" to maintain strong influence in Russia after he steps down next year....

Read full story. Source: AP Top International News

Russia 'curbing poll observers'

Posted: 10/31/2007
Russia wants "unprecedented" curbs on observers at its December elections, the OSCE watchdog says.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Russia Working to Limit Election Observers

Posted: 10/25/2007
Russia has begun an effort to curtail the activities of election observers in the states of the former Soviet Union.

Read full story. Source: NYT > International

Russia Proposes Limitations on Election Observers

Posted: 10/25/2007
Russia submitted proposals last month to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe aiming to limit election observers’ activities in Russia and the states of the former Soviet Union. If approved, the proposals would not allow election observers to make public statements until official results are announced. The proposals also limit observation missions to 50 people or less with no more than 5% from any one country. Additionally, monitors would have to submit reports to the host government and wait for a 55-member organization to decide whether the results of their reports could be published or not. Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan all co-signed the proposals, but the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe requires unanimous votes of all 56 members for approval. Though the proposals are still pending, Russia still has not invited observers to the parliamentary election that is five weeks away.

Source: ElectionGuide

Putin eyes prime minister's job

Posted: 10/01/2007
Russian President Putin agrees to run for parliament, saying it is "entirely realistic" he may become prime minister.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Kasparov to stand for president

Posted: 10/01/2007
Former world chess champion Gary Kasparov is chosen to be a candidate in next year's Russian presidential election.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Putin names next prime minister

Posted: 09/12/2007
President Putin nominates Victor Zubkov, a relative unknown, to take over as the new Russian PM.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Kremlin parties lead Russian vote

Posted: 03/12/2007
Kremlin-backed parties lead in all 14 Russian regions holding elections, preliminary results indicate.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

Presidential election slated for March 2008

Posted: 12/14/2006
The Russian Central Electoral Commission has announced that the next presidential election will be held on March 9, 2008. President Vladimir PUTIN, who is serving his second four-year term, will not be able to run in 2008. The Russian constitution limits the time in office for a president to a maximum of two terms.

Source: ElectionGuide

Putin signs into law controversial election bill

Posted: 12/07/2006
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a bill dropping a minimal turnout threshold in polls, which critics say will make them less fair, despite a plea by his human rights adviser not to do so.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Kremlin opponents sidelined in Russia local polls

Posted: 03/10/2006
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Local elections across Russia on Sunday will be the biggest test of public opinion since President Vladimir Putin was re-elected two years ago, but his opponents say they will also be a new low point for democracy.

Read full story. Source: Reuters: International

Russia Announces Preliminary Results of Presidential Elections

Posted: 03/15/2004
According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), the preliminary results of the March 14 elections show incumbent president Vladimir PUTIN won the presidency with 71.22% of the vote, with Nikolai KHARITONOV of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) in second place with 13.74%. Other candidates include the self-nominated Sergei GLAZYEV with 4.11% of the vote, the independent Irina KHAKAMADA with 3.85%, Oleg MALYSHKIN of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) with 2.03% and Sergei MIRONOV, representing both the Party of Russia’s Rebirth and the Party of Life, with 0.76%. Final results will be released on March 25. 

Source: ElectionGuide

Russia Announces Preliminary Results for Parliamentary Elections

Posted: 12/09/2003
On December 7, voters went to the polls to elect members in Russia’s 450 seat Duma. According to preliminary figures, about 48.88% of the country’s 108,402,934 registered voters cast their ballots.  As for the parties, President Vladimir PUTIN’s United Russia party has so far secured 36.8% of the votes cast while the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) secured 13.2% and 12.7% of the votes respectively.  Final seat and vote figures will be announced later this week.

Source: ElectionGuide

Russian Duma Issues a Draft of Amendments Regarding Elections

Posted: 03/24/2003
On March 21, members of the Russian Duma issued a draft of amendments in an effort to conduct fair and transparent elections. Based on the draft, the amendments would issue strict penalties against individuals and the media who violate electoral procedures such as holding charitable activities to bribe voters or using outside funds to finance campaigns. Under the draft, the penalties range from fines up to $2200 to five years in prison. Advocates of the amendments hope that the draft will pass in time for the parliamentary elections scheduled for December 14.

Source: ElectionGuide

Russian Duma Recommends Over 200 Amendments for Approval

Posted: 10/28/2002
The Russian Duma has recommended for approval about 200 out of the 500 proposed amendments of the electoral code.  The approved amendments include an increase in election funding from six million rubles for candidates in single seat constituencies, to 250 million rubles for candidates selected by political parties and a stipulation that 500 signatures are required for presidential candidates.  The amendments will go into effect after the 2003 election.

Source: ElectionGuide

Russian Duma Adopts Amendments Regarding Referenda

Posted: 09/24/2002
On September 20, the Duma adopted amendments to the law on referendums that would ban referenda in the 12 months prior to national elections. About 302 members of Russia's legislative assembly voted in favor of the new law.  Opposition parties are planning to contest the amendments in the constitutional court.

Source: ElectionGuide

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