Paddy wagons, summonses, and broken seals: How Russia's final election day is unfolding
Russia is entering the final day of elections, marked by the detention of observers, the issuance of military summonses, and violent activity near polling stations. Across the country, citizens are attempting to express their views despite intense pressure from authorities and law enforcement agencies.
The "Noon Against Putin" protest and police vans at polling stations
Russians across cities are joining the "Noon Against Putin" protest. In Moscow, noticeable lines formed outside the Kommunarka polling station, as well as in the Severnoye Medvedkovo, Golovinsky, and Nagatino-Sadovniki districts, where police are closely monitoring the crowds. In St. Petersburg, crowds were recorded near Murinsky Education Center No. 4. However, independent observers note that the situation remained relatively calm at most polling stations.
In Kazan, a police van was spotted driving near the polling station at 2 Dekabristov Street, according to local activist Dmitry Rumyantsev. Additionally, officers from the Center for Combating Extremism were on duty in the building's courtyard.
Anti-war slogans on ballots and summonses in Novosibirsk
Consequently, prominent political figures are also attempting to express their protest. Yabloko party leader Nikolai Rybakov attended polling station No. 360 in St. Petersburg along with former Legislative Assembly deputies Alexander Shishlov and Dmitry Anisimov. The politicians held apples, and Rybakov himself wrote on his ballot: "For peace" and "For a ceasefire agreement."
Meanwhile, in Novosibirsk, elections are being combined with recruitment events. In front of polling station No. 2013, near the dormitories of the river college, summonses were distributed and recruitment for contract service was promoted. A voter reported this to activist Roman Malozemov:
I went to the polls, and there's a military recruitment office outside the Rechnoy dorms in Novosibirsk, accepting all the guys. They're giving them some kind of summons. Is that even legal?
The recall of observers in Ufa and the detention of a conscript in Perm
In Ufa, the Bashkir branch of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation officially recalled 24 observers from the Civil Union organization, citing their "affiliation with foreign agents" and the non-systemic opposition. The corresponding document was signed by local communist leader Yunir Kutluguzhin.
In Perm, police detained an observer from the New People party at polling station No. 3104. It was later discovered that the young man was of draft age and allegedly failed to appear in response to a previously issued summons. He gave a statement at the police station and was then released.
Replacement of seals in St. Petersburg and the Central Election Commission's position
Serious violations were recorded in the Northern Capital. At Precinct 60 in St. Petersburg, observers reported possible overnight replacement of seals on ballot boxes. The condition of the seals was photographed the previous evening and morning, but their appearance had changed in the morning. Citizens attribute the incident to the precinct chairman, Grigory Meshkovsky, who had previously carelessly packaged ballots and stomped on them.
However, the head of the Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova, hastened to declare that members of the electoral commissions who committed violations would not be able to count on protection and would not be "covered up."
