Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


After Summer of Turmoil, Russians Hand Kremlin Election Setback

Charles Maynes

   MOSCOW - Russian voters handed setbacks to Kremlin-affiliated
   candidates in Moscow and other local elections nationwide -- losses
   that came despite a near total ban on opposition candidates that
   sparked a summer of street protests and mass arrests in the capital.

   With most of the vote counted, returns showed pro-Kremlin candidates
   lost over a third of seats in the race for Moscow's city council --
   suggesting a plan by the opposition to consolidate votes around
   targeted opponents of the Kremlin had been relatively successful.

   Meanwhile,Kremlin-backed candidates appeared poised to hold on to the
   important governor posts in 16 regions, including Russia's second
   capital, Saint Petersburg.

   The independent election monitoring organization Golos reported"the
   mass use" of cash incentives and busing of voters to election precincts
   in Siberia and the Far East.It also complained of a lack of access by
   vote monitors and journalists to precincts.

   Ella Pamfilova, the head of Russia's Election Commission, who had been
   subject of a mysterious attack on the even of the vote, accused Golos
   of reproducing claims of fraud from previous elections.

   The closely watched Moscow elections -- which have been marred by past
   vote rigging --proceeded largely without incident.Several videos,
   however, circulated on social media showing ballot stuffing at a few
   polling stations.

.