#9 - JRL 7305
RIA Novosti
August 28, 2003
COMMENTARY: HONEST ELECTIONS IN RUSSIA - MYTH OR REALITY?
Marina SHAKINA, RIA Novosti political analyst

The next parliamentary elections in Russia are scheduled for December 2003 and their approach is felt ever more keenly with every passing day. The Elections-2003 party forum was recently held in the Manege, Moscow's central exhibition hall near the Kremlin.

The Elections-2003 forum was an unusual event in Russia's political history and the press labelled it "a circus" and "a show". On the forum's opening day the leaders of 27 Russian parties, representatives of media communities and PR organisations signed a public agreement on honest elections. Each party had its own publicity stand and staged a presentation in the hall, while visitors were allowed in for free. For five days the Manege hosted planned seminars, discussions and roundtables on vital issues.

Three parties -- the Communist Party, pro-presidential United Russia and the little known Russia's Regions Party -- could afford the largest expositions in the Manege, where a square metre of floor space cost 160 dollars to rent. The latter circumstance is quite explainable, as well-known Russian politician Sergei Glazyev recently became head of the latter party and he and his sponsors are making titanic efforts to form a new left-wing bloc for the coming elections. The general opinion was that the Agrarian Party had organised the most convincing and interesting exposition. There were sacks of potatoes and onions on its stand and visitors were invited to drink tea with honey.

The signing of an agreement to hold honest elections was the highlight of the forum's programme. In putting pen to paper, the parties assumed the obligation to observe ethical rules during the election campaign. This idea belongs to the Central Election Commission and was put forward because over the years of democracy elections as an institution have lost the public's trust. This is largely down to opponents employing dirty PR tricks and other unlawful methods to get ahead in the polls, i.e. paying people for their signatures on deputy lists, releasing so-called "compromising material" about rivals to the press, publishing false posters and leaflets, open slander, etc. However, dirty PR in Russia helped to make a lot of real discoveries.

One of discoveries is such a witty move as the nomination of "doubles." The rivals of the favourite find his absolute namesake and nominate him for the election, leaving voters confused and favourite in trouble. The nomination of parties with similar titles amounts to the same thing. The television and reporters are used to ruin rivals, as well.

The parties have agreed to observe eight rules in the election campaign-2003. They are the following: the supremacy of the law over personal and group interests; responsibility; a refusal to use privileges linked with the authorities; equal opportunities to inform voters; open discussion instead of polemics in absentia; a rejection of discrediting and bribery of voters; and settlement of controversies by co-ordinating procedures. All the rules are reasonable, however, neither the signatories themselves nor the press, nor the voters for that matter believe the declaration will be effective.

The democratic Yabloko is the only party which openly refused to sign the declaration. However, this does not mean that the party rejects the idea of honest elections. Yabloko members merely stated that the declaration is "an imitation of honest elections." The party's stand did not cause a political scandal, as Russians are used to the fact that Yabloko leader Grigory Yavlinsky and his companions do not like to follow the political herd and are never afraid to voice their own opinions. December will show voters' response to Yabloko's move.

Another political scandal has erupted, though. Against the backdrop of the declaration, two essentially like-minded democratic parties, the Union of Right Forces (led by Boris Nemtsov) and Yabloko have exchanged accusations of "attacks, lies and slander" and are threatening to take each other to court. Provocative posters portraying Yabloko and Communist leaders Grigory Yavlinsky and Gennady Zyuganov together recently appeared in the Moscow underground. After that, a new movement "Yabloko without Yavlinsky," emerged in the provinces. Yavlinsky and his supporters are convinced that right-wing forces are thus trying to rob them of votes by using notorious and unethical dirty PR methods against them.

Nevertheless, one can say that Russian society has made the first move against dirty PR. Participants in the political process have expressed their attitude to this negative phenomenon and this, in itself, is important. The monitoring council formed by the party-signatories will also say its piece, as it will follow the election campaign and expose those who break the ethical rules. Serious political forces and their representatives will not want to find themselves among the ranks of this disreputable company.