RUSSIA: The leader of opposition party 'Yabloko', Grigory Yavlinsky casts his vote in parliamentary elections, calling it a 'small step' for Russian democracy

Record ID: 327640

  • Title: RUSSIA: The leader of opposition party 'Yabloko', Grigory Yavlinsky casts his vote in parliamentary elections, calling it a 'small step' for Russian democracy
  • Date: 5th December 2011
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 4, 2011) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF POLLING STATION INTERIOR POLLING STATION, VOTERS REGISTERING WOMAN CASTS BALLOT SEAL ON BALLOT BOX ELECTION WORKER REGISTERING VOTER VARIOUS OF PILE OF BALLOT PAPERS AND ELECTION BADGES ON DESK 'YABLOKO' LEADER GRIGORY YAVLINSKY WALKS INTO POLLING STATION WOMAN IN VOTING BOOTH YAVLINKSY CASTS BALLOT WOMAN AND CHILD IN VOTING BOOTH (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) 'YABLOKO' LEADER GRIGORY YAVLINSKY SAYING: "What's happening today is just a small step, but the step must be taken anyway. Because the time when Russia will be a free and open and confident democratic country--this time will come. But it will take a very long time before we achieve this, all of us together." ELECTION OFFICIAL GIVES BALLOT TO VOTER POLLING STATION INTERIOR
  • Embargoed: 20th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADIC3WEY92SH3XZSYR4C64UNF5
  • Story Text: Russian liberal party leader Grigory Yavlinsky cast his vote in parliamentary elections in Moscow on Sunday (December 4), saying that the poll was important to the future of the country.
    "What's happening today is just a small step, but the step must be taken anyway. Because the time when Russia will be a free and open and confident democratic country--this time will come. But it will take a very long time before we achieve this, all of us together," Yavlinsky, who leads the Yabloko party said.
    If United Russia, which has dominated the State Duma lower house since 2003, does not retain its two-thirds majority, the biggest gainers could be the Communist Party, which is likely to remain the second biggest force. Yavlinsky's Yabloko party, which had no seats in the previous parliament, also hopes to gain votes from United Russia.
    United Russia, headed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin could see its vast parliamentary majority cut back in an election that will indicate the scope of fatigue with Putin's 12-year rule just three months before he asks voters to endorse his return to the Kremlin as president.
    Polls show Putin's party is likely to win a majority but less than the 315 seats it currently has in the 450-seat lower house of parliament, known as the Duma. If it gets less than two-thirds of seats, Putin's party would be stripped of its so called constitutional majority which allows it to change the constitution and even approve the impeachment of the president.
    Opposition parties say the election is unfair because the authorities support United Russia with cash and television air time while they say vote rigging will be employed to boost United Russia's result.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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