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Communist leader criticizes recent United Russia primaries

"The primaries of United Russia once again demonstrated that the party is ready for information pressure, for playing ‘elections’ game, but not for a constructive dialog," the CPRF leader said

© Aleksandr Shalgin/TASS

ROZHDESTVENO (Moscow region), May 28./TASS/. Russian Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov criticized on Saturday the primaries held by United Russia party on May 22, saying the party showed it was not ready for a constructive dialog.

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United Russia's primaries create new political reality — analyst

"The primaries of United Russia once again demonstrated that the party is ready for information pressure, for playing ‘elections’ game, but not for a constructive dialog," the CPRF leader said at an All-Russia congress of Communist parliamentarians on Saturday.

United Russia held advance voting, the so-called primaries, across Russia on Sunday to select its nominees for candidates running for parliamentary seats at the forthcoming elections. Participation in such primaries is mandatory for its candidates. More than 2,780 candidates took part in the polls. The turnout was about 9.5%

The voting results will be materialized in a list of the party candidates to run for parliament seat in one-seat constituencies and regional party tickets of the most popular candidates. The lists will be endorsed at a party congress in June. Preliminary results of the polls will be announced by May 27.

Elections to the 450-seat Russian State Duma will be held on September 18.

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