The Justice Ministry’s ‘predictable‘ rejection of the registration application of the opposition Party of People’s Freedom ‘all but ensures that no anti-Kremlin forces will run in the State Duma elections in December‘.  The Ministry cited various violations, saying that some of the party’s listed members were underage or dead.  The EU has expressed concern at the news, a ‘real obstacle to political pluralism in the country‘.  Russia has not yet responded to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s request to send several hundred observers to monitor this year’s State Duma elections.  The re-appointment of Prosecutor General Yury Chaika for a five-year term is no surprise, but many anticipate that Chaika will lose his post following the presidential elections next March.