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A Just Russia’s Shein claims 30 people join Astrakhan hunger strike

A Just Russia’s Oleg Shein says about 30 people will join the hunger strike in Astrakhan

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, April 22 (Itar-Tass) —— A Just Russia’s Oleg Shein says about 30 people will join the hunger strike in Astrakhan.

The ex-mayoral candidate told the Ekho Moskvy radio on Sunday the protesters had achieved their goals on the federal level and now the strike would be held against the ‘numerous arrests’ of his supporters.

In Shein’s words, his supporters are arrested “for simply walking by his side.” “No less than seven people have been taken into custody. This means the hunger strike will broaden with approximately 30 people,” the ex-candidate said.

United Russia candidate Mikhail Stolyarov was announced the winner of the Astrakhan mayoral election on March 4 with about 60% of votes. Yet A Just Russia said that its candidate, Oleg Shein, won the election. Officially, his election rating stood at 30%. A number of party members, including Shein, went on a hunger strike on March 16 to protest against the election outcome. Some opposition members from Moscow joined the hunger strike.

The Central Elections Commission said it saw no reasons for cancelling results of the Astrakhan mayoral election. Central Elections Commission Chairman Vladimir Churov and Shein jointly viewed recordings from Astrakhan polling stations. Shein appealed to the Astrakhan District Court on April 16 for invalidating the mayoral election outcome.

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