CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER REVIEWS TRIP TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 012630

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/RUS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM RS
SUBJECT: CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER REVIEWS TRIP TO
U.S.; REACTS TO ELECTION LAW AMENDMENTS

REF: MOSCOW 12498

Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns: 1.4 (b) and (d).

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Summary
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1. (C) Central Electoral Commission Chairman Aleksandr
Veshnyakov described to Ambassador November 21 his reaction
to State Duma-adopted amendments to the existing electoral
law (reftel). Veshnyakov's key judgments:

-- elimination of the minimum threshold for voter turnout in
Russia was premature, and might allow parties to court only
that small group of voters likely to vote for them. A
turnout of less than 50 percent, in Veshnyakov's view, could
call into question the legitimacy of those elected;

-- amendments adding to the list of circumstances under which
candidates could be excluded are not welcome. Although the
decision not to register the Republican Party of Russia was
not made by his Central Election Commission, Veshnyakov
suggested that, in principle, parties should be excluded for
"real reasons," not bureaucratic ones.

-- although the law did not allow them to be independently
registered as election observers, Russian NGOs wishing to
observed the elections could do so with the sponsorship of
registered political parties. End summary.

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Reaction to Changes in the Electoral Law
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2. (C) In a November 21 meeting, Central Election Commission
Chairman Aleksandr Veshnyakov offered Ambassador the
following observations on recent changes to the Russian
electoral law (reftel):

-- in Veshnyakov's view, there was no need for further
amendments to the law. Some of the new amendments are "not
logical."

-- Veshnyakov remained opposed to the elimination of a
minimal threshold for voter turnout. While noting that
Germany, Great Britain, and the United States had no
threshold, Veshnyakov worried that its elimination in Russia
would allow political parties to "campaign only with those
voters who will vote for them." A turnout of less than 50
percent would call into question the representative nature of
the elected government, he thought. Veshnyakov said that his
final verdict on the decision would have to await the results
of the 2007 elections.

-- As a general principle, Veshnyakov thought it better not
to exclude candidates for "formal" or "technical" violations
of the electoral law. If a would-be candidate inadvertently
did not provide the full disclosure required by the law, or
incorrectly completed a registration form, s/he should not be
penalized. There are already more than enough reasons in the
existing electoral laws for disqualifying candidates,
Veshnyakov thought. More should not be added.

-- As an addendum to the preceding and in response to a
question from the Ambassador, Veshnyakov termed the refusal
of the Federal Registration Service (FRS) to register the
Republican Party of Russia (RPR) an "unpleasant theme for
me." While repeatedly stressing that the decision was not
his to make, he again said there should be "real reasons, not
bureaucratic reasons," for refusing to register a political
party. The RPR, said Veshnyakov, is free to appeal the FRS's
decision through the courts.

-- Veshnyakov sidestepped difficulties faced by Russian NGO
representatives wishing to be accredited as observers, noting
that they could be registered with the sponsorship of
participating political parties. The Foundation for Free
Elections, under the Chairmanship of Public Chamber member
Andrey Przhembskiy would also be able to coordinate the
efforts of NGOs wishing to observe the elections, Veshnyakov
said.

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Party Financing
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3. (C) In response to a question from the Ambassador about
the comparatively deeper pockets of Kremlin-associated

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political parties like United Russia, Veshnyakov defended
Russia's campaign finance system. Among its features:

-- each registered political party is required to set up a
special, transparent campaign account;
-- the maximal amount allowed to be spent on a campaign is
determined by law;
-- state television networks and state print media are
required to provided minimal free access for all registered
parties;
-- political parties can purchase additional media coverage
with money from the official campaign funds;
-- Veshnyakov noted parenthetically that nothing of course
prevents the media from devoting more air time to the more
telegenic or interesting candidates.

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Electronic Voting
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4. (C) Veshnyakov and members of his commission had recently
returned from a trip to the U.S., where they observed the
conduct of the November elections. Asked by the Ambassador
what he had gleaned in the U.S. that might have application
in Russia, Veshnyakov offered the following observations:

-- even in Illinois, which Veshnyakov described as "far
advanced" in the development of electronic voting, it
appeared to him that the voter was often not "psychologically
prepared." Veshnyakov guessed that as many of 80 percent of
the voters there preferred more traditional means of
registering their votes to electronic voting. The October 8
experiment with electronic voting in Novgorod suggested that
the same was the case with the Russian voter. Veshnyakov
described to Ambassador plans to offer informational
seminars, outreach to voters through the mass media, and to
provide training modules as the Russian experiment with
electronic voting advanced. During a lengthy transition
period, his Commission planned to offer voters the option of
using a paper ballot, as well. The CEC had determined that
each electronic terminal would be equipped to allow voters to
print a copy of their ballot, should they choose to do so. A
paper record, he thought, should quell the worries of those
worried that their votes may have been recorded incorrectly.
BURNS