Photo : Kirill Zykov-Moskva News Agency-MoscowTimes
21 September 2021,
IN FOCUS
By Joeana Cera Matthews
Russian Elections 2021: Amidst allegations of fraud and unfairness, United Russia wins
From 17 to 19 September, Russia witnessed elections at the local, regional, and national levels. The parliamentary elections were the primary focus as it would elect 450 deputies for the next five years to the State Duma (lower house of parliament). The preliminary results of the three-day polling came to an end with the Kremlin-loyal United Russia attaining an overwhelming majority. According to Russia's Electoral Commission head Ella Pamfilova, the final results will be announced on 23 September.
Preliminary results in numbers
As the vote-tallying ended, United Russia emerged the winner with a vote percentage of 49.83. This implies that United Russia will contribute more than two-thirds of deputies in the lower house, thus, receiving a constitutional majority. Despite winning comfortably, the party lost ground in comparison to the 2016 elections wherein they secured 54 per cent of the vote. The Communist party garnered 19 per cent of the vote while the nationalist LDPR party and the Fair Russia party contributed around 7.5 per cent of the vote, individually. A new pro-Putin party — New People, also garnered 5 per cent of the vote share. Overall, the elections saw an official voter turnout of 52 per cent.
Pre-election issues
Russia’s guided form of democracy was clearly visible throughout the electoral processes. Before the elections, Moscow saw a major crackdown on Kremlin critics. Any individual or institution that criticized the Putin-led government was either arrested, tried in court or managed to flee the country. There were no apprehensions regarding the outright removal or banning of critics prior to the elections. Alexei Navalny, the most popular Putin opponent, was jailed while his organization was labelled ‘extremist’. A strategic voting app promoted by Navalny’s group was taken down from the store after Apple, Telegram and Google were pressurized by Russian authorities.
Criticisms: Internal and International
According to reports, this year’s election saw Russia transitioning from a flawed democracy to a fully-fledged authoritarian state – since the pro-Kremlin results were inevitable. Criticisms ranged from accusations of voter fraud to requests to annul results. Ballot box stuffing, pens with disappearing ink and threats against observers were other alleged violations. According to the Interior Ministry, 750 complaints of voting violations were received, none of which were serious enough to affect the vote outcome. Those that criticized the elections from within included the Communist party, Navalny’s supporters, and other anti-Kremlin sentimentalists. However, there also came an international backlash. From the US State Department spokesperson Ned Price to the EU Foreign Affairs spokesperson Peter Sano, the Russian elections were termed undemocratic and staged. Many other countries in Europe also criticized the growing authoritarianism in the country.
The Kremlin remains unswayed
Despite the widespread criticism, the Kremlin has reiterated Putin’s priority of transparency and honesty regarding the elections. They deny the existence of political motives behind the intimidation of opponents, justifying that those prosecuted had broken the law. His popularity remains pristine to those that credit him for standing up to the West and upholding national pride.
References:
Eva Hartog, “Putin’s United Russia wins vote – as designed – amid hints of discontent”, POLITICO, 20 September 2021.
Christian F. Trippe, “Opinion: The Russian election wasn’t one”, Deutsche Welle, 20 September 2021.
“Russia: Putin’s party wins majority in parliamentary elections”, Deutsche Welle, 21 September 2021.
“Russia election: Putin’s party wins election marred by fraud claims”, BBC, 21 September 2021.
IN BRIEF
By Vaishnavi Iyer
REGIONAL
Poland: Warsaw accuses Russia and Belarus over weaponizing migrants
On 20 September, four migrants were found dead on the Polish border. Poland has accused Russia and Belarus over orchestrating a mass weaponization of migrants across the border. Despite having anticipated cross border migrations, the EU, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia were not prepared to host the wave of middle eastern migrants that have been seemingly “instrumentalized” by Belarus and Russia in the wake of the sanctions placed against Belarus. Up to 7000 migrants have been found on the border after being flown/pushed/driven away by Belarus. Though the EU has extended support to the ailing nations, experts want to see more. Poland has imposed a 30-day state emergency banning entry of non-residents and installed barbed wires on the borders. (“After four found dead, Poland blames Belarus for migrant wave”, Al Jazeera, 20 September 2021)
Poland: ECJ imposes fine on Warsaw over controversial coal mine
On 21 September, Poland was directed to pay EUR 500,000-a-day to Brussels by the ECJ over its failure to cease mining activities. The Turow mine in question is located southeast of Poland bordering the Czech Republic and Germany. In January, Germany had filed a claim over the same issue citing the harm to the communities over its borders. Prague had filed a case in March with the ECJ. In May, Poland was instructed to cease the extraction of brown coal. The Czech government reportedly filed the case owing to the failure of talks between Warsaw and Poland. Poland is likely to lose the EU's EUR 17.5 billion "Just Transition" fund if it continues mining beyond 2030. The ECJ order requires Poland to pay the daily penalty until it obeys the interim order of the court. (“Poland must pay €500,000-a-day to Brussels over controversial coal mine, says ECJ”, Euronews, 21 September 2021)
Greece: Major fire at migrant camp
On 19 September, a major fire broke out in abandoned sheds in the western side of the Samos camp. The affected Vathy migrant camp’s fire was brought under control by thirteen fire fighters and six fire engines. The camp was evacuated entirely, previously housing 300 people awaiting their Monday transfer to a closed camp. 10 unaccompanied minors were transported to the closed Samos facility while the rest of the asylum seekers will be transferred on Monday as scheduled. (“Greece: Major fire breaks out at soon-to-be-closed migrant camp”, Deutsche Welle, 20 September 2021)
Russia: University shooting leaves six dead
On 20 September six people succumbed to death in an open fire in a university by a student. The University, which hosts 12,000 students, had 3,000 people in the campus at the time. The University located in Perm, reported six dead and 28 injured among the 19 people shot as reported by the Russian authorities. The authorities provided no further information beyond mentioning that the shooter was a student and regarding the change in the previously reported eight dead to the updated news on only six deaths. (“Several killed in shooting at Russian university”, Al Jazeera, 20 September 2021)
Kosovo: Serbs protest over road restrictions
On 20 September, the Kosovo police denied entry of cars with Serbian license plates from crossing borders. Protestors have blocked northern Kosovo roads after police authorities have forced drivers from Serbia to hide or remove their license plates and apply for temporary registration valid for 60 days for five pounds. Serbia on the other hand, does not allow cars with a Kosovo license plate from entering its border after losing control of Kosovo in 1999. Citing the history of non-recognition, about 50,000 Serbians living in Kosovo have refused to obey the new orders in force from 20 September and blocked roads in protests. The police charged the protestors with armed riot gear and vehicles until the PM said that the move was a retaliatory measure against Belgrade and not to harm drivers. (“Serbs block roads in Kosovo in protest over licence plate restrictions”, Reuters, 20 September 2021)
INTERNATIONAL
France: Emmanuel Macron asks veteran Algerians for forgiveness
President Emmanuel Macron has asked veteran Algerians for forgiveness. The group known as the Harkis suffered savage reprisals and denial of better living conditions after the French government refused to recognise their rights to stay in France. He expressed gratitude and forgiveness in hopes of straightening the relations between the countries that have been fraught since 1962. Recently in March, the French government had also accepted to the tortured death of an Algerian activist more than 60 years ago. Macron highlighted plans for a commission into the squalid French camps where the children of the former fighters were forced to live. From the 200,00 Harkis that fought for France only 42,000 were allowed to live in France in the wake of Algerian freedom. Despite previous apologies the Harkis group reports the inadequate fund of USD 50 million announced 3 years ago. While Macron was heckled by a few interrupting with “empty promises” most of the audience welcomed his speech. (“France’s Emmanuel Macron heckled asking Algerian veterans for forgiveness”, Reuters, 20 September 2021)
United Nations: General Assembly set to open with looming AUKUS rifts
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is set to open on September 21 in the shadow of the diplomatic spat between AUKUS members and France. Experts predict that the looming rift may divert the countries from focusing on climate issues. France cleared its priorities ahead of the meeting, putting climate discussion in the first place, followed by multilateralism and “cleaning up the AUKUS mess”. The high-level energy meet is set against the backdrop of Biden’s debut in the UNGA along with France’s disappointment with the AUKUS deal. (“German minister: Submarine dispute is a ‘wake-up call’”, Deutsche Welle, 21 September 2021)