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#1 - JRL 8129 - JRL Home
From: "Alexander R. Vershbow" <VershbowAlexanderR@state.gov>
Subject: RE: 8128 [Ambassador Vershbow comments on Putin election, media, Russian political system, and RIA Novosti article referencing Ambassador Vershbow]
Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2004

David:

Pending Embassy clarification of the Novosti item below (item 4), let me assure JRL readers that I also noted to Mr. Veshnyakov that we share the OSCE's concerns about the uneven access to the media for candidates other than President Putin, the excessive use of "administrative resources" to boost turnout in many regions, and the general decline in genuine competition in the Russian political system as a whole.

Alexander Vershbow
U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation
This message is UNCLASSIFIED within the definitions of EO 12958

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#4
RUSSIAN ELECTION WELL ORGANIZED: U.S. AMBASSADOR

MOSCOW, MARCH 19 (RIA NOVOSTI) - Alexander Veshnyakov, Russia's Central Election Commission president, received Alexander Vershbow, US Ambassador to Russia, on the latter's request today.

The diplomat congratulated Mr. Veshnyakov on last Sunday's successful presidential poll. He shares OSCE international observers' high opinion of its organizational aspect, reported the commission press service.

The commission has started preparations for federal election campaigns of 2007-08, upcoming regional elections, and measures to ensure suffrage, Alexander Veshnyakov said to the ambassador. He also spoke about his plans to further use computer vote scanning, which worked so well in the presidential poll of last Sunday.

Four Russian regions will shortly have gubernatorial runoffs after an initial tour, timed to the presidential election. The fact shows that Russian electoral arrangements are really democratic, with healthy competition, pointed out Alexander Vershbow.

An administrative influence on Russian elections is smaller than some people think. It has no decisive impact. When the power has shown its incompetence, no administrative pressure will keep it afloat. It is voters who have the final say, said Alexander Veshnyakov.