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Alexei Navalny demands recount in Moscow mayoral election Alexei Navalny demands recount in Moscow mayoral election
(8 days later)
The Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has demanded a recount in Moscow's mayoral election after the incumbent, Sergei Sobyanin, narrowly avoided a second-round runoff.The Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has demanded a recount in Moscow's mayoral election after the incumbent, Sergei Sobyanin, narrowly avoided a second-round runoff.
Opposition candidates won a handful of regional elections in a surprisingly strong showing on Sunday, leading many pundits and officials to suggest the elections marked a turn towards more competitive and transparent politics in Russia.Opposition candidates won a handful of regional elections in a surprisingly strong showing on Sunday, leading many pundits and officials to suggest the elections marked a turn towards more competitive and transparent politics in Russia.
However, Navalny's claims of vote falsifications in the capital called into question just how much competition pro-Kremlin forces were willing to allow. His supporters gathered for a protest on Monday night.However, Navalny's claims of vote falsifications in the capital called into question just how much competition pro-Kremlin forces were willing to allow. His supporters gathered for a protest on Monday night.
One of the most notable results of Sunday's elections was the anti-drugs activist and off-road racing champion Yevgeny Roizman's narrow victory over his opponent from the ruling United Russia party in the race for mayor of Russia's fourth largest city, Yekaterinburg.One of the most notable results of Sunday's elections was the anti-drugs activist and off-road racing champion Yevgeny Roizman's narrow victory over his opponent from the ruling United Russia party in the race for mayor of Russia's fourth largest city, Yekaterinburg.
The opposition candidate Galina Shirshina won the mayoral race in Petrozavodsk, capital of the northern Karelia region, against another United Russia candidate.The opposition candidate Galina Shirshina won the mayoral race in Petrozavodsk, capital of the northern Karelia region, against another United Russia candidate.
The opposition RPR-Parnas, which put forward Navalny in Moscow, won seats in the Yaroslavl regional legislature, and the billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov's Civic Platform party, which put forward Roizman, also won city council seats in Yekaterinburg and Krasnoyarsk.The opposition RPR-Parnas, which put forward Navalny in Moscow, won seats in the Yaroslavl regional legislature, and the billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov's Civic Platform party, which put forward Roizman, also won city council seats in Yekaterinburg and Krasnoyarsk.
Pro-Kremlin officials including the prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, who is also the chairman of United Russia, praised the elections for their competitiveness and transparency.Pro-Kremlin officials including the prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, who is also the chairman of United Russia, praised the elections for their competitiveness and transparency.
In 2011 thousands of Russians took to the streets after state Duma elections were marred by irregularities in the vote count. The following year the protest movement continued to grow after Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency in a vote that many saw as fraudulent.In 2011 thousands of Russians took to the streets after state Duma elections were marred by irregularities in the vote count. The following year the protest movement continued to grow after Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency in a vote that many saw as fraudulent.
The general consensus of pundits and observers was that there were far fewer violations in Sunday's elections. "There was a pretty high level of competition, and this was allowed by the Kremlin," said the conservative political analyst Yevgeny Minchenko. He predicted that the level of transparency would continue to improve.The general consensus of pundits and observers was that there were far fewer violations in Sunday's elections. "There was a pretty high level of competition, and this was allowed by the Kremlin," said the conservative political analyst Yevgeny Minchenko. He predicted that the level of transparency would continue to improve.
Sobyanin and the Moscow region's acting governor, Andrei Vorobyov, both of whom are closely aligned with the Kremlin, helped opposition challengers make it on to the ballot.Sobyanin and the Moscow region's acting governor, Andrei Vorobyov, both of whom are closely aligned with the Kremlin, helped opposition challengers make it on to the ballot.
Prokhorov, who ran for president in 2012 without ever criticising Putin by name, said Sunday's results showed that the Kremlin would allow opposition candidates to compete in and even win mayoral races, but not regional ones. "The most important points of control are governors and regional legislatures … The money is all at the level of governor," he told Ren-TV.Prokhorov, who ran for president in 2012 without ever criticising Putin by name, said Sunday's results showed that the Kremlin would allow opposition candidates to compete in and even win mayoral races, but not regional ones. "The most important points of control are governors and regional legislatures … The money is all at the level of governor," he told Ren-TV.
Nonetheless, Navalny's campaign refused to recognise the results in Moscow, arguing that vote falsifications and violations, especially with ballots cast by elderly voters at home, had allowed Sobyanin to avoid falling beneath the 50% threshold for a runoff.Nonetheless, Navalny's campaign refused to recognise the results in Moscow, arguing that vote falsifications and violations, especially with ballots cast by elderly voters at home, had allowed Sobyanin to avoid falling beneath the 50% threshold for a runoff.
Navalny supporters working as observers at a polling station in south-central Moscow told the Guardian on Sunday that they had found no violations in votes cast from home or at the polling place. But a reporter for the New Times magazine followed an electoral worker and observer as they collected ballots from elderly women in their homes, noting minor infractions that should have nullified some votes.Navalny supporters working as observers at a polling station in south-central Moscow told the Guardian on Sunday that they had found no violations in votes cast from home or at the polling place. But a reporter for the New Times magazine followed an electoral worker and observer as they collected ballots from elderly women in their homes, noting minor infractions that should have nullified some votes.
The official count gave Sobyanin 51.37% and Navalny 27.24%, a result that far exceeded expectations for the opposition leader. A compilation of observers' results from different organisations found that Sobyanin received 49.5%, but the margin of error made it difficult to determine whether a runoff was in order.The official count gave Sobyanin 51.37% and Navalny 27.24%, a result that far exceeded expectations for the opposition leader. A compilation of observers' results from different organisations found that Sobyanin received 49.5%, but the margin of error made it difficult to determine whether a runoff was in order.
Sobyanin refused offers to negotiate with Navalny after previously offering to meet with his challenger, and Navalny said he was prepared to challenge the results in court. The anti-corruption campaigner called his supporters to a protest on Bolotnaya Square.Sobyanin refused offers to negotiate with Navalny after previously offering to meet with his challenger, and Navalny said he was prepared to challenge the results in court. The anti-corruption campaigner called his supporters to a protest on Bolotnaya Square.
Navalny was freed pending appeal of his politicised conviction for embezzlement and allowed to run in what many saw as a move by Sobyanin to lend his victory legitimacy and gain political status. The manoeuvre appears to have backfired, however, now that the election came so close to a second round.Navalny was freed pending appeal of his politicised conviction for embezzlement and allowed to run in what many saw as a move by Sobyanin to lend his victory legitimacy and gain political status. The manoeuvre appears to have backfired, however, now that the election came so close to a second round.
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