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Russian presidential human rights council calls on election chief to resign

© RIA Novosti . Grigoriy Sysoev / Go to the mediabankVladimir Churov
Vladimir Churov - Sputnik International
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The Russian presidential council on human rights has called the head of the Central Election Commission Vladimir Churov to resign, after considering complaints about alleged violations during the December 4 parliamentary elections.

The Russian presidential council on human rights has called the head of the Central Election Commission Vladimir Churov to resign, after considering complaints about alleged violations during the December 4 parliamentary elections.

The council posted a statement on its website late night Friday, saying that its members “admit that the numerous reports of ballot box stuffing, rewriting of protocol on voting results, the removal of observers and journalists, the banning of photography and videos, and other violations of voting rights, as well as unexplained contraditions in election statistics, caused citizens to call the whole election process and results into question.”

The council also said that it is necessary to ensure the speedy adoption of anew electoral law in order to conduct early parliamentary elections.

The council convened just hours before the start of another major rally against the results of the vote and the alleged vote-rigging in Moscow. This is the second rally of this kind after the first one on December 10 was attended by 25,000 according to the Moscow police, while the rally organizers claim the number was several times higher. The first rally also demanded the resignation of the election commision head Vladimir Churov and a rerun of the vote in which Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's United Russia party won a majority amid broad allegations of vote fraud in its favor. The Saturday rally will further test the popularity of Putin, 59, who has announced plans to return as president next spring.

The council's statement said that the council considers it necessary to “express distrust in the head of the Central Election Commission, Vladimir Churov, and ask him to resign because of a lack of confidence.”

The council said that during the ongoing presidential campaign and with elections set for March 4, Churov's post should immediately be handed over to a person with a clear reputation, who is respected by the civil society.

 

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