The Pseudoelection

As the Russian elections get closer and closer, the true integrity has been greatly reduced. From the banning of Kasyanov, to the reduction of to the opposition being made up of radical or unknown figures, the election can hardly be called "fair."

The excuse of the Central Election Commission for not registering Mr Kasyanov is that 13% of the 2m signatures supporting his candidacy were invalid. Gathering so many signatures in a few weeks, as the rules demand of an independent candidate, is nearly impossible. But the joke is that the commission still registered Andrei Bogdanov, whose unknown Democratic Party took only 90,000 votes in December's parliamentary election.

Now, "Mr. Medvedev talk[s] of the importance of pluralism, freedom and justice. Property rights and free media were essential to building democracy. And Russia must follow the rule of law."

Mr Medvedev will become Russia's president after March 2nd, but may well not be
in charge. Indeed, a paradox is that despite its pre-determined result, the
election will not do its main job: the transfer of power from one person to
another. In this, as in other ways, it can hardly be called an election at all.

To read the story in its entirety, click here.

This article demostrates just how Putin has "arranged" for things to go as he planned. Starting with Medvedev having the highest percentage of support simply because of his willingness to hand over power. Although the author of this article had a bent against Putin and the coming elections, they porduced very good points that makes one question the validity of the process in Russia.

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Kasyanov Facing Forgery Investigation

"The Russian prosecutor-general's office on Tuesday announced a forgery investigation has been opened against the campaign of an opposition candidate for the presidential election. " If more than five percent of the signatures are found to be forgeries, Mikhail Kasyanov will not be permitted to run in the election planned to take place March 2nd.

On Saturday, he was quoted complaining of alleged official harassment. This harassment and "political pressure" is not being taken lightly by Kasyanov. He has told the public that "in numerous Russian regions, crude intimidation has been deployed against people officially registered as campaign workers ... people have been threatened, intimidated and forced to admit to committing illegal acts."

Whether or not Kasyanov will be permitted to run as a presidential candidate will be made known when the final candidate list for the election is to be announced on Sunday.

To read the story in its entirety, click here.

This forgery investigation holds great importance since Kasyanov is seemingly the only candidate running against Putin-endorsed First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. If he is barred from the election, there will be little to no opposition, leaving Russia with Medvedev as the president and Putin as the new Prime Minister.

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Putin's Nominee for President Has A Challenger

As Russian elections get closer, there is only one truely recognized candidate running for office. Now, former Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Kasyanov, is petitioning to run in the elections. He is said to have submitted a list of supporters containing over two million names. " Russian law requires candidates who lack the backing of a party with seats in parliament to deliver the petition."


On Wednesday, January 16, he arrived at the election commision office where "[h]e told the BBC he did not believe the election would be free or fair." A free and fair election would most likely still not get him into office because "[h]e was sacked as prime minister in 2004 and subsequently investigated for corruption - a move he claimed was politically motivated."


This does not apparently deter Kasyanov from running. But, he said, he was running for the presidency in order to defend the "democratic" institutions he had empowered during his time in government.





"Today I feel that all my... results are being destroyed by this current regime," he said.

To read the article in its entirety here.

Although he has little chance of winning, Kasyanov is utilizing the Russian law that "requires candidates who lack the backing of a party with seats in parliament to deliver the petition." He is essentially showing Putin that not every Russian approves of the way things are being run now and do not wish for Putin's "lap dog" to gain office.