Russian community in Yemen votes for Russian parliament [Archives:2007/1108/Local News]
SANA'A, Dec. 2 – Last Friday, tens of Russians in Sana'a headed to the Russian Embassy there to vote for candidates in the Russian parliament. Ballot boxes were distributed for voting earlier in the governorates of Aden, Taiz, Hodeidah and Ibb for Russians residing in those governorates or neighboring ones.
In the Federal Republic of Russia, parliamentary elections ran smoothly, according to media sources, among which some sources expected that the United Russia party chaired by Vladimir Putin would achieve a sweeping victory.
However, media sources reported that Russia earmarked 4.3 billion rubles for the elections from the federal budget, exceeding the amount allocated for similar elections in 2003 by 1.5 billion rubles.
1,000 police officers and 150,000 members of interior forces maintained security during the elections, with eleven political parties participating. More than 170,000 security officers guarded polling stations.
Moreover, the election candidate lists covered 4,600 persons, with 10 candidates running for each seat in the Russian parliament, consisting of 450 members.
The participating parties are: the Russian Agricultural party, Civil Force party, Russian Democratic Party, Russian Communist Party, Right forces Union, Social Justice Party, Russian Democratic Liberal Party, Fair Russia Party: “Home, Retirees and Life,” Russia's Patriots Party, United Russia Party, and Yabolko Party.
More than 108 million Russians are entitled to vote. The voters' list includes Russians residing abroad, numbering about 1.7 million. 96,000 polling centers were opened, 360 of which were in 141 foreign countries.
Three million people participated in running the elections, with 1.5 to 2 million observers affiliated with 11 political parties. In addition, one million people will be working within the electoral committees at different levels.
Three hundreds and thirty six invitations were given to international observers to participate in observing the parliamentary elections. 55 of these invitations were given to the Parliamentary Association of Europe Council and Parliamentary Association for Security Organization and Cooperation in Europe as well as the Parliamentary Association for Independent Countries League.
It is expected that the election results will be announced Dec. 3rd. However, they will be officially proclaimed by the Central Commission for Elections three weeks after the casting day. The first session of the new parliament will be held on the thirtieth day after the elections.
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