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The All-Russia People’s Front not to run in elections, but can nominate candidates

The founding congress of the civic movement, into which the ONF will be transformed, is expected to be held on June 11-12

ROSTOV-ON-DON, March 29 (Itar-Tass) – The All-Russia People’s Front (Popular Front – ONF) is not going to run at elections, but does not prohibit ONF members to be nominated as candidates, head of the organising committee on the ONF founding congress Andrei Bocharov told journalists on Friday after a plenary meeting of the ONF conference with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The ONF will not participate in elections, but we do not prohibit ONF members to run at elections,” said Bocharov, adding that “it is their constitutional right.”

He also noted that the ONF intends to monitor the implementation of all the decisions taken at the conference. “I believe we have the strength. If necessary, we are ready to appeal to the president, but I hope that we will not abuse this right,” Bocharov said, answering journalists’ questions about the mechanisms with which the ONF intends to monitor the work of the government agencies to fulfil the instructions given at the conference. He added that during the conference workshops on Thursday there was a tense and heated debate the participants in which often criticised the bodies of state and municipal authority.

The founding congress of the civic movement, into which the ONF will be transformed, is expected to be held on June 11-12.

In accordance with the current legislation, only parties have the right to participate in the federal and regional elections, but non-governmental organisations can participate in local elections. Representatives of the Russian Popular Front took part in the December elections to the State Duma, running on the United Russia party list.

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