Putin's United Russia Party Said to Be Using State Power to Block Out Rivals

EUROPE'S TOP ELECTION MONITORING BODY HAS REFUSED TO OBSERVE SUNDAY'S ELECTIONS SAYING PROCESS HAS BEEN UNFAIR

Reports from across Russia indicate that by various means, state authorities are pressuring organizations and institutions of all kinds to force mass voter turnout for Pres. Putin's United Russia party. The Kremlin denies the allegations, but at least one high ranking election official has said he was given orders to ensure that United Russia receive 'double' the number of votes forecast by current opinion polling.

That same official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the press that there was no way such a broad margin could be achieved without massive fraud or intimidation. Observers from NGOs, election-monitoring groups, free-press advocates and editorial circles, have expressed dismay at the tactics being used by Pres. Putin's government, to close out any substantive opposition campaign against his policies or his government. [Full Story]