Almost just like real elections

Why were the Tatarstan primaries of "United Russia" took place in schools?

Igor Veselov

coiling coalition "For honest elections", holder of the medal "Defender of Free Elections"

In September, the elections of deputies of the republican parliament - the State Council will be held in Tatarstan. On May 26, as in other regions where the elections will be held, United Russia held in the Republic of Primmeriz. I can’t say how the preparations for the Party Meter in other parts of the country have passed, but in our republic the primaries held as real elections.

The videos of the candidates were twisted on TV, debates were on the air, and just before the day of preliminary voting, the TV and newspapers did not get tired of reminding voters that preliminary voting would be held on Sunday. Even the United Russia counters opened in schools - that is, where real elections are usually held. In the news there were stories about how the first persons of the republic voted.

As an ordinary voter and taxpayer, I am interested in the question: on what basis did United Russia open accounts in school buildings? Is this not the use of an administrative resource in the interests of one party? Or was the rental of premises paid from the party cash desk?

I expect to receive answers to these questions from the prosecutor of Tatarstan Ildus Nafikov, in the name of which I sent an official statement demanding to conduct a prosecutor’s audit, establish “legal grounds for leasing the United Russia political party in general educational institutions” and, in case of violations, “take measures of prosecutorial response.

In a statement sent to the prosecutor of the republic, I drew attention to the “sanitary and epidemiological requirements for the conditions and the organization of training in educational institutions” adopted in December 2010.

Clause 1.7 of these rules, in my opinion, excludes a different interpretation, except for the prohibition on the conduct of primeries in schools. Because in this paragraph it says: "The use of premises of educational institutions has not been allowed for not their purpose." True, it seems that the elections cannot be held in schools from this point.

But back to the primaries in Tatarstan. I have been to participate in the elections more than once. And as a candidate for deputies, and as a member of the precinct commissions. Therefore, I know many members of the election commission by person. And therefore, he was very surprised to see in television reports familiar members of the precinct election commissions, who, on the day of the primerism, turned out to work as members of the United Russia counting commissions. And I wonder on what basis they took up with this labor? If the members of the election commission who worked in party accounting commissions are excited by members of the United Russia party or supporters of the party, then to ensure the purity and impartiality of the State Council elections in September, district commissions, whose members worked in party counting commissions. And to form new precinct election commissions from nominees of all Duma parties and public organizations that are not involved in United Russia, as required by electoral legislation.

After holding the primaries, the Tatarstan branch of United Russia reported on the results. The chairman of the preliminary vote organizing committee Lilia Mavrin brought very interesting numbers. It turns out that 398 193 people took part in the primaries, these are 13.5% of the voters of the republic. Moreover, in a number of rural regions, the turnout was more than 19% of voters.

What is interesting: by announcing the primaries, the Tatarstan “United Russia” also announced the project - “party mobilization”. The primary was given the task of bringing their relatives and friends to the primaries, that is, to mobilize everyone who is possible.

Meanwhile, 128 thousand inhabitants of the republic have a party ticket to United Russia. And the fact that 398 thousand people took part in the primaries, says only that each member was able to bring only 3-4 people to the site. And this, in my opinion, is the ceiling of the electoral support of United Russia in Tatarstan.

The results of the current primaries of United Russia strengthened my conviction that the real support of this party in the republic is no more than 13-15%. And when they receive 70–75% in any election - this is already the result of administrative pressure and frank posts.

Kazan