Illusive/Elusive Democracy
Former Duma-member-turned-liberal Vladimir Rhyzkhov is absolutely scathing about the weekend’s election violations in today’s Moscow Times. A number of commentators today note that United Russia’s attempts to sway the vote with fake ballots actually indicate that it is losing its grip on the illusion of democratic power, and that more and more voters are withdrawing their support.
This was essentially the dress rehearsal for State Duma elections in December. It showed that the country’s corrupt ruling bureaucracy — with United Russia playing the role of the bureaucracy’s party of power — will use every dishonest and illegal trick in the book to preserve its monopoly on power. Golos, an independent election watchdog, recorded violations in practically all 12 of the regions that voted for regional legislatures, in the elections of 10 regional capitals and in voting for municipal offices in many regions.