By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : There were no violations during Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Russia, international observers monitoring the polls said.
The elections are being seen as a crucial test for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his ruling United Russia party.
Mateusz Piskorski, an observer from Poland and also head of the European Centre of Geopolitical Analysis, said: “The group of observers linked to the network of non-governmental organisations, including deputies of European parliament, national parliaments, experts and political scientists, visited 48 polling stations in several Russian regions and so far our colleagues have no critical remarks, and everyone says that the process is very transparent.”
Piskorski said no one obstructed the work of observers.
“They are communicating with members of electoral commissions at polling stations, with internal national observers and have not registered any violations and plan to visit more electoral districts,” he said.
The Central Election Commission announced that till 10 a.m. Moscow time (0700 GMT) the overall voter turnout in Russia totalled five percent or 0.1 percent more than during the 2007 polls.
Seven political parties are competing for representation in the State Duma.
Public opinion polls, however, suggest that only four of them — United Russia, A Just Russia, the Communists and the Liberal Democratic Party — are expected to win enough support to get seats in the State Duma.