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State Duma to discuss parliamentary election violations on Jan 27

The parliamentarians want to meet with Churov, Bastrykin, Nurgaliyev and Chaika

MOSCOW, January 13 (Itar-Tass) —— The State Duma has basically approved a resolution on a special meeting on January 27 to discuss violations in the December 4 parliamentary election.

The parliamentarians want to meet with Central Elections Commission Chairman Vladimir Churov, Investigation Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev and Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika.

All the State Duma factions, including United Russia, supported the draft resolution. The opposition said it was necessary to have a ‘tough talk’ on the prevention of election falsifications and responsibility of the authorities for the violations, and United Russia pledged its readiness for the dialog.

Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky called for the dismissal of Churov. A Just Russia supported the demand. Churov “is the main person who covers up falsifications,” A Just Russia representative Gennady Gudkov said. In turn, Communist Party deputy Anatoly Lokot said they should listen to what Churov had to say before dismissing him.

United Russia’s Olga Batalina said that her party was interested in a fair election more than anyone else because doubts were primarily harmful for the winners. “The winners have to prove that the results are fair. That is why we support the election transparency proposal of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, are installing web cameras at polling stations and have approved the decision on transparent ballot boxes,” she said. “United Russia stands for the maximally open conversation with Churov. We are open to the dialog and are prepared for fair elections.”