‘Golos’ has addressed an open letter to CEC member Siyabshah Shapiev

The movement ‘Golos’ has addressed an open letter to the CEC member Siyabshah Shapiev. The organization requests to disclose the facts to which Mr. Shapiev referred, alleging that the coordinator of the movement in Dagestan Eduard Atayev ‘is manipulated by persons who are hostile towards Russia’.

Text of the open letter

Dear Siyabshah Magomedovich!

On 31 October, at the session of Central Election Commission, while discussing the candidates for the Election Commission of the Republic of Dagestan, you expressed an opinion on the citizen Eduard Atayev Abdullaevich saying ‘he was manipulated by persons who were hostile towards Russia’. As Eduard Abdullaevich is the coordinator of our citizen movement ‘Golos’ advocating for voter rights in the Republic of Dagestan, we would be interested in facts supporting your statement and the persons you refer to.

Our opinion about the activities of Eduard Atayev is the opposite. For many years, Eduard has been demonstrating exceptional courage and persistence, putting efforts to disclose grave violations of the election law in the Republic.

During the previous, as well as the last federal elections, he disclosed the facts which suggest that the election results at the polling stations, which he visited, were falsified by making some radical manipulations.

In his opinion, in the current federal elections at the polling station No. 1573, the turnout was misrepresented - 12 times higher than the actual statistics, the number of ballots in support of the All-Russian party ‘United Russia’ - 18 times higher, the number of votes for one of the candidates for the State Duma - 132 times higher! These facts cast a shadow on the election results in the entire Dagestan, as well as undermine the most important principles of the Russian Constitution (Article 3).

Eduard Atayev collected such evidence while holding a public office of PEC member in decision-making capacity. He personally observed the voting, took part in the vote count, invalidation of ballots and signed the final protocol. He received a copy of the protocol containing data which completely differ from the official statistics. One more election official in an advisory capacity, who as well has witnessed these violations, confirms all the information disclosed by Atayev.

We are convinced that the vote rigging and concealment of such facts undermine the State, rather than a public statement made by a person who sincerely loves his country and therefore tries to disclose such fraud.

These facts should be examined by independent institution informing the public about the process. Otherwise, citizens might have an impression that the election commission of the Republic of Dagestan and you, Siyabshah Magomedovich, member of the Russian CEC, who oversees the region, attempt to conceal the serious violations. I would like to believe that this is not the case.

We sincerely hope that you will do your best to support the efforts of Eduard Atayev in eradication of disclosed destructive elements in the electoral system of Russia.

Co-Chairs of the Board of movement ‘Golos’:

A. Buzin

Y. Gurman

A. Lyubarev

G. Melkonyants