Magomet Yandiev associates his election success in Moscow with "Smart Voting"

Magomet Yandiev, associate professor of the Moscow State University (known as MGU), explained his victory at the elections to the Moscow City Duma by the support of voters who used the "Smart Voting" service.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 8, at the elections to the Moscow City Duma, Magomet Yandiev, associate professor of the MGU, the former Ingush Minister of Economics, gained more votes than Valeria Kasamara, the vice-rector of the Higher School of Economics, who was his competitor in the 45th constituency. Valeria Kasamara associated the success of the candidate from the "Spravedlivaya Rossiya" (Fair Russia) Party with the support of Moscow Muslims, but Magomet Yandiev himself denied such a version.

According to him, Magomet Yandiev reported his plans to run for a seat at the Moscow City Duma mainly in social networks. "Yes, we had almost no clear agitation like leaflets or banners. This is a budget issue. My budget was low," said Magomet Yandiev.

"Everything changed when Ilya Yashin was not allowed to vote (one of the opposition candidates who in July were refused in registration for the elections to the Moscow City Duma, and that fact provoked massive protests in the capital, note of the 'Caucasian Knot'). That was an effect of the 'Smart Voting'. A significant role in my victory at the elections was played by the fact that Ilya Yashin chose me, and I was supported by members of the 'Yabloko' Party, and Vladislav Kolmogorov, a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF)," Magomet Yandiev explained.

The version of support from the Moscow Muslims is far-fetched, emphasizes the member of the Moscow City Duma. "It was not my goal to win those voters' support. Although I am a Muslim, we had no special activities to win the support of Muslims," said Magomet Yandiev.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 10, 2019 at 10:23 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.