Voters in NCFD complain about being forced to vote

In Chechnya, a state servant has told about forced participation in the so-called "carousels," and a voter from the Stavropol Territory complained about the demand of his company bosses to vote for a specific candidate.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that by March 16, at least nine complaints had been recorded in the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) about the course of the pre-election campaign and the voting at the presidential election in Russia. Thus, a portrait of a presidential candidate at a polling station and publications in his support were noticed in Chechnya after the start of voting. In the Stavropol Territory, a high-ranking official urged residents to vote for a specific candidate.

Complaints have been received from Chechnya and Stavropol Territory about coercion to vote; it follows from the data posted on the website of the "Map of Election Violations", which is run by the "Golos" (Vote) movement*.

A voter from Chechnya announced forced participation in the so-called "carousels" (organized multiple voting at different polling stations, – note of the "Caucasian Knot"). According to the voter, this is what can explain the high voter turnout in Chechnya.

"I am a civil servant. On the first day, I was obliged to come and drop my ballot papers three times at three different polling stations, probably in order to ensure this same voter turnout. On the second day, I was voting at four more different stations. The same can be said about all my colleagues who were not assigned at particular polling stations, and about colleagues from other government agencies whom I observed during these days," the message says.

In Kabardino-Balkaria, at one of the polling stations, the ballot box was placed against the background of a poster with portraits of the head of the republic and the incumbent president.

According to the project website, in total, 12 reports of violations were received from the NCFD.

*On August 18, 2021, the "Golos" (Vote) all-Russian public movement in defence of voters' rights was included in the new register of unregistered public associations performing the functions of a foreign agent. The movement's website is blocked in Russia.