Democracy in Russia
Rebecca Small noted that Russia was once labeled as an "illiberal democracy" and asked whether Russia still deserves that description.The latest news suggests that calling the system in Russia "democratic" is a stretch.
Russia Bars Opposition Candidate From March 2 Ballot
"The Russian government on Sunday denied an opposition leader’s application to appear on the March 2 presidential ballot, clearing a path for the Kremlin’s favorite candidate to run all but unchallenged.
"The Central Election Commission announced the decision denying registration of the opposition leader, former Prime Minister Mikhail M. Kasyanov, saying that more than 13 percent of the signatures that he had collected in support of his candidacy were invalid...
"Mr. Kasyanov, a former Kremlin insider who has become a critic of the centralization of power and official corruption under President Vladimir V. Putin, had not been expected to campaign on an even footing against Dmitri A. Medvedev, the Kremlin’s candidate...
"All three of Mr. Medvedev’s [other] opponents have been accused of running at the Kremlin’s direction, or at least with its approval, to create the appearance of a contest."
Labels: concepts, elections, politics, Russia
posted by Ken Wedding @ 8:07 AM
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Gorbachev Criticizes Russia Elections
"Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the final leader of the Soviet Union, sharply criticized of the state of Russia’s electoral system in remarks published on Monday, and called for extensive reforms to a system that has secured power for President Vladimir V. Putin and the Kremlin’s inner circle.
"'Something is wrong with our elections, and our electoral system needs a major adjustment,' the former Soviet leader said.
"The remarks, made in a telephone interview on Sunday but held for a day by the Interfax news wire service, followed the rejection by the Russian government of the only serious opposition candidate in the March 2 presidential elections...
"Mr. Gorbachev has often been publicly supportive of Mr. Putin, and credited him with undoing much of the disorder of the 1990s under President Boris N. Yeltsin, a bitter rival of Mr. Gorbachev.
"But he has also taken independent positions, including supporting Novaya Gazeta, an independent paper that fiercely criticizes Russian officials and has not spared Mr. Putin..."
Russia to limit election monitors
"Russia is to limit foreign monitors at its presidential election in March to half the number that observed the last presidential poll in 2004...
"Now the OSCE is once again debating whether it is worth coming to Moscow - this time for the presidential election that takes place in less than five weeks...."
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