Kremlin critic Navalny allies say voting Communist harms ruling party

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Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny attends a rally in Moscow, Russia on February 29, 2020. REUTERS / Shamil Zhumatov / File Photo

MOSCOW, Sept. 15 (Reuters) – Allies of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Wednesday urged Russians to vote for the Communist Party in a parliamentary election this week, as part of a tactical voting campaign intended to harm to the ruling party, United Russia.

Navalny’s “smart vote” campaign aims to consolidate the voices of those who oppose United Russia, which currently holds three-quarters of the seats in the lower house of parliament and dominates Russian politics.

The initiative is one of the few remaining levers for Navalny, who is serving two and a half years in prison for alleged parole violations, which he says are fabricated.

His movement has been called “extremist” in the run-up to the September 17-19 vote, and a law signed by President Vladimir Putin in June banned members of these groups from standing for election. Read more

“Millions of people in Russia hate United Russia,” said Leonid Volkov, Navalny’s ally, in a video accompanying a list of candidates. Navalny’s allies have the best chance of defeating United Russia in different constituencies.

“Explain to all those who are not happy with what is happening in the country that they have to go and vote in these elections.”

Most of the candidates backed by Navalny’s allies come from the Communist Party, Russia’s second most popular party. It currently has 43 legislators in the 450-seat legislature. Navalny’s allies recommended Communist candidates in 11 of the capital’s 15 districts.

Putin, who has been in power as president or prime minister since 1999, helped found United Russia but is not a member.

As the vote approaches, Putin approved higher salaries and one-off payments to the military and law enforcement. He promised similar measures for retirees. Read more

Critics of the Kremlin say the measures are designed to bolster support for United Russia. The Kremlin says support measures have nothing to do with voting.

Reporting by Gabrielle Ttrault-Farber; Editing by Bernadette Baum

Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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