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Pres human rights council expresses no confidence in elect com head

The council also urges to immediately consider reports about election law violations, prosecute persons guilty of rigged vote results

MOSCOW, December 24 (Itar-Tass) —— The Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights has expressed no confidence in Russian Central Election Commission head Vladimir Churov and suggested his resignation in connection with the confidence loss, the council said in its report published after its meeting that discussed the observance of human rights in the 2011 parliamentary elections.

"The council considers it necessary to express no confidence in Central Election Commission Chairman Churov and suggests his resignation in connection with the confidence loss," the document said.

"In the current election campaign, the post must be immediately taken by a person with an impeccable reputation and authority in the civil society."

The council also urges to immediately consider reports about election law violations, prosecute persons guilty of rigged vote results and dissolve election commissions, through the fault of which the vote results were slanted.

The document emphasizes that it is necessary to ensure maximum guarantees for an honest and free vote of citizens in the presidential election in 2012, ensure soonest adoption of new election legislation to hold early parliamentary elections on its basis and create a negotiating mechanism to reach a fair public agreement between citizens and the authorities in the transition to the new political reality.

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