22 February 2008, 15:36
Collectors of signatures for Kasyanov are under pressure in Kalmykia
In Kalmykia, collectors of signatures in support of Mikhail Kasyanov, a nominee to the position of President of Russia and leader of the Party "People for Democracy and Justice", find themselves under tough pressure.
"Higher schools of the city of Elista are visited by employees of the UBOP (Department for Fighting Organized Crime), where they call out students directly at lectures and serve summons to them. Workers of law enforcement bodies come to students' parents and intimidate them, telling that their children 'are engaged in illegal activity'," Elena Dikun, Mr Kasyanov's press-secretary, said to "Gazeta.Ru".
According to Ms Dikun, some students were forced to evidence, under the pressure of the militia, that the signatures they had gathered were forged.
Many collectors of signatures are afraid to leave their homes and miss their lessons. According to Mikhail Kasyanov's press service, about 20 cases of this sort have been registered.
Let us note here that on January 27 the Central Electoral Commission refused to register Kasyanov as a candidate for Russian presidency, since 13.36 percent of signatures gathered in his support were recognized as doubtful.
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