Russia
Opposition activists collect signatures to annul Duma elections
Topic: Russian Poll Protests

Mass protest in Moscow, December 24
© RIA Novosti. Alexei FilippovMOSCOW, January 3 (RIA Novosti)
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Russian opposition forces have set up a working group which will begin collecting signatures on a petition demanding that the National Supreme Court annuls the outcome of the Dec. 4 parliamentary elections, Mikhail Shneider, member of Solidarity opposition movement said on Tuesday.
Allegations of widespread fraud in the recent elections that gave Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party a parliamentary majority have galvanized massive street protests in opposition to the Russian political establishment.
On December 24, mass protest on Moscow’s Sakharov Avenue brought together up to 100,000 people according to the organizers of the protest, while police say just 30,000 people attended. The protesters demanded new parliamentary elections and want liberal reforms in Russia.
Activists collected first signatures in support of the petition to the Supreme Court during the protest on Sakharov Avenue.
In his first reaction to the protest, Putin said that a review of the results of the parliamentary elections is impossible.
“Any talks about reviewing the results of the elections are impossible, except one way, a court appeal,” Putin said after the protests.
Volunteers will circulate petitions asking people to require that the National Supreme court annuls Dec. 4 parliamentary polls, Shnedider said.
The final text of the petition to be sent to the court is now being prepared by lawyers. “It will be ready by mid-February,” he added.

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- ratnikpetitions are complicated23:05, 03/01/2012First, the wording of the question has to be absolutely clear and unambiguous, then each signature must be verified as being that of an adult of voting age, a citizen, and preferably a person who already voted on Dec 4/11. And nobody else. Then how many signatures do you need? In North America, we have "recall" petitions sometimes for individual politicians but never entire parliaments, but if "recall of parliament" is to succeed, I would imagine that at least 2/3'rds of the previous voters would have to be counted as wanting to repeat the election. In the meantime, the Duma must continue to deliberate and govern. Schneider has really opened a "can of worms". If there is REALLY that much dissent in March, then Putin's plurality or lack of it would be much more indicative of the democratic will, but it seems evident that the opposition will be split several ways and still allow a decisive win by Putin. My advice is to let the reforms and increased transparency work to correct deficiencies in the system as Medvedev has already initiated. But, whatever happens, be governed by the rule of law and not by oligarchs, or by those so-called patriots who may be financed and encouraged by Hillary Clinton and her friends.
- SmargWe Must Embarass Putin & the FSB!17:03, 04/01/2012In order to defeat the party of swindlers and thieves, the opposition must continuously put Putin and his FSB enforcers in the public's domain.
Keep going, opposition comrades!
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