Around 100 people in Russia’s Far East attend protest calling for fair elections

Roughly 100 people attended a rally in the city of Ulan-Ude in Russia's Far East organised by the Communist Party (KPRF) on Sunday to protest violations in the country’s most recent elections, independent outlet 7x7 reported.

Deputies of the People’s Khural, the regional legislature of Buryatia, and candidates in the recent elections accused the authorities of using administrative resources, falsifying turnout and results, bribing voters, and pressuring election monitors.

“Every district head, every mayor, every village head was involved in these efforts,” said deputy Bair Tsyrenov. “What’s more, according to our sources, competitions were organised within individual districts, with settlement heads promised cash rewards in some places and other forms of incentives in others if they delivered the best results for United Russia.”

Deputy Timur Nimaev said violations took place throughout the three days of voting. “There wasn’t a single polling station without violations,” he said. “You can assess them differently — some were extreme, some were minor — but a violation of the law is a violation of the law. And the law prescribes penalties for them.”

The rally was originally planned for 4 October in Ulan-Ude’s Yubileiny Park, but city authorities refused to approve the date and location, citing conflicting municipal events. Organisers were instead offered 25 October in a less central area. Tsyrenov tried to challenge the relocation, but a court sided with the city.

A few days before the rally, police officers came to Tsyrenov’s workplace and handed him a warning about the “impermissibility of violating the law on public events”. The deputy said the officers confirmed that the rally had been approved. He characterised the visit as psychological pressure.