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Russian presidential election was free and democratic

Zhang, who monitored the previous presidential election in Russia in 2008, marked a sizably growing voter turnout

MOSCOW, March 5 (Itar-Tass) — The presidential election in Russia was legitimate, democratic and free, the head of the Chinese delegation within the SCO mission of observers and former secretary general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, said on Monday.

“The presidential election in Russia was legitimate, democratic and free,” Zhang Deguang stressed. He admitted certain “small technical drawbacks,” saying “I don’t believe they will affect the results of the election in any way”.

Zhang, who monitored the previous presidential election in Russia in 2008, marked a sizably growing voter turnout. He explains that by “a growing political activity of the voters”. Besides, members of election commissions are better trained now, he said.

Zhang hailed the use of web cameras at the polling stations. SCO observers visited 51 polling stations all in all, while the Chinese part of the CSO delegation visited ten of them.