ACPC Weekly News UPDATE
November 30, 2009 – December 6, 2009

The latest developments surrounding electoral processes in Dagestan have revealed mass voter fraud during local elections that were held on October 11. Last week, the municipal court in Derbent, one of Dagestan’s largest cities located on the southern Caspian coast, annulled the results of the mayoral election sending a direct challenge to United Russia’s virtual stronghold on politics in Russia. Official results confirmed by the Derbent election commission stated that the incumbent mayor and member of the United Russia party, Feliks Gaziakhmedov, had won the election with 67 percent of the vote, but independent observers and opposition candidate Imam Yaraliyev claimed that widespread violations and irregularities occurred during the vote. It was later revealed that only 23 of 36 polling stations were open on election-day and that voters were turned away from numerous polling stations that were open. The court’s decision was immediately appealed by the United Russia candidate. Russian political analysts expect the case to reach Russia’s Constitutional Court, but doubt that  the decision will be upheld. However, the Derbent court’s decision is still ‘unprecedented’ for Russia and the North Caucasus. Some analysts interpreted it as a political defeat for the current president of Dagestan, Mukhu Aliyev, who has been trying to secure a reappointment by President Medvedev when his term expires in February. Aliyev is among five candidates that were presented to Medvedev last month for consideration by United Russia chairman Boris Gryzlov.

A brief political row surrounding the candidate selection process erupted when members of Daghestan’s parliament, which is dominated by the United Russia party, protested against the candidate list and adopted a resolution requesting that President Medvedev hold further “consultations” about presidential candidates. The resolution was a direct challenge to United Russia’s General Council which nominated two of the five candidates without consultation with the parliament of Dagestan.

The appointment of the president of Dagestan is considered an important political decision for President Medvedev. Dagestan has been plagued by violence with daily attacks on security services and government officials and an increasingly deteriorating human rights situation. In last month’s annual address to the Federal Assembly, President Medvedev called the situation in the North Caucasus Russia’s “most serious domestic political problem.” Political analysts believe his success in quelling the conflict in the region could play a factor in the 2012 presidential elections.

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Daghestani court annuls mayoral election results due to fraud
RFE/RL, December 7, 2009

Chechens arrested in connection with the “Nevsky Express” train bombing as rebel leader claims responsibility

Last week two Chechen brothers and an Azerbaijani national were arrested in Moscow in connection to Novemer’s deadly train bombing of the “Nevsky Express.” According to the suspects’ attorney, authorities detained Yunus and Murat Amirkhanov along with Zaur Guliev, whom the brothers were visiting from Chechnya. The attorney proclaimed his clients’ innocence and stated that authorities had beaten the suspects repeatedly attempting to force a signed confession. Officials dismissed reports of abuse and insisted that the investigation was being conducted with strict legal adherence. Authorities have since released Zaur Guliev but are still holding the two Chechen brothers at an undisclosed location. They have not been formally charged with any crime. Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov has claimed responsibility for the bombing that killed 26 people, including two government officials.

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