“unfriendly” countries may not open polling stations for elections – Kommersant

The Russian consulates in the territory of several “unfriendly” countries will not open polling stations for the presidential elections, they report “Vedomosti” with reference to a source in diplomatic circles. According to him, we can talk about a “significant part” of the states included by the government in the corresponding list (there are 49 of them).

As the publication’s unnamed interlocutor clarified, the final decision has not been made. Consultations are currently being held on this topic. Another Vedomosti source said that the decision will be made in January. The newspaper’s interlocutors explain the initiative itself by security considerations and a reduction in the number of consular workers.

The deadline for the formation of polling stations abroad is January 24, Pavel Andreev, a member of the Central Election Commission, who is responsible for international cooperation, told Vedomosti. He explained that the Central Election Commission has the right to create them up to five days before voting day.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the department is studying the situation. “We are asking countries to ensure security, and based on the results of interdepartmental study, a decision will be made on a scheme for organizing voting abroad,” she added.

During the 2018 Russian presidential elections, 400 precinct election commissions were organized in 145 countries. Then 444 thousand people voted abroad. According to the law, more than 3 thousand voters can be registered in foreign polling stations. The next presidential election will be held March 15–17, 2024.

About the election campaign – in the material “Kommersant” “The candidates went to the people”.

Laura Keffer