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Afghan diaspora in Moscow claims has no right to vote in election

© RIA Novosti . Andrei Greshnov Afghan diaspora in Moscow claims has no right to vote in election
Afghan diaspora in Moscow claims has no right to vote in election - Sputnik International
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Representatives of the Afghan diaspora in Moscow have filed a complaint to the Russian Public Chamber, claiming they had no opportunity to take part in the Afghan general elections, a member of the Public Chamber said.

Representatives of the Afghan diaspora in Moscow have filed a complaint to the Russian Public Chamber, claiming they had no opportunity to take part in the Afghan general elections, a member of the Public Chamber said.

Afghans were voting on Saturday to elect 249 parliamentarians in the second general elections since the U.S.-led invasion overthrew the Taliban in 2001.

"According to our data, there are 35,000 native Afghans in Moscow, and some 120,000 across Russia. I think that the Afghan authorities should take this into consideration and create opportunities for their compatriots [living abroad] to vote to express their will," said Alexander Brod, who also co-chairs the Russian voting rights watchdog, Grazhdansky Kontrol.

"As I know, all Afghans living outside their country were practically deprived of their active voting right," he said.

After the end of the election, Grazhdansky Kontrol will request the Afghan authorities to make it possible for Afghans living in Russia to vote in future elections, he said.

The Afghan vote took place amid threats by Taliban fighters to stage attacks at polling stations. Many blasts were heard in several eastern and southern provinces as well as in the capital of Kabul. International media reports that at least 10 people were killed in the attacks, and many of the country's 12 million eligible voters were believed to have stayed home because of the threats.

Since the beginning of the election campaign in Afghanistan, 21 election officials have been killed and 26 wounded. Four parliamentary candidates were also killed and two kidnapped by Taliban militants.

Final results of the Afghan polls are expected around October 31.

MOSCOW, September 18 (RIA Novosti)

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