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#6 - JRL 8110 - JRL Home
RUSSIAN MEDIA TACTFULLY COVER ELECTION CAMPAIGN

MOSCOW, March 10, 2004 (RIA Novosti correspondent) - The media is highlighting the presidential election campaign in Russia in a more tactful and civilized way than before, Chairman of the Central Election Commission Alexander Veshnyakov said at a press conference in Moscow on Wednesday.

When commenting on the OSCE's statements accusing the Russian state-owned media of favoritism in highlighting the election campaign, Mr. Veshnyakov said that the OSCE "sometimes looks at us through a hand glass, and its assessments are biased." At the same time, Mr. Veshnyakov asked journalists to work so that accusations of the kind could be avoided.

The head of the Central Election Commission addressed voters too. According to Mr. Veshnyakov, he does not understand those who deem it unimportant to come to polling stations because they think the outcome of the elections is obvious. Mr. Veshnyakov advised voters "not to be indifferent and to remember that the presidential elections are of great importance." The head of the Central Election Commission expressed confidence that the majority of voters would come to polling stations on March 14.