819 UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAJ PAGE 01 ACTION EUR-01 MOSCOW RELEASED IN PART PTQ7598 09349 01 0F 04 B t4L5492 l INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ArD-00 CrAE-oo SMEC-oo rNr-01 DOEE-oo SRPP-oo DS-00 FBrE-oo VC-01 H-01 rNR-00 LAB-01 L-00 MCO-01 MOF -o4 MOF-03 AC-01 NRRC-oo NSAB-oo PM-00 PRS-00 ACB-00 uslE-oo sA-00 rlp-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-OO p L4L547Z ApR OO NSCE-oo 0MB-01 0prc-01 p-00 scT-00 sp-00 sNls-oo Nlsc-oo pMB-00 FDIC-o1 NFAT OO SAS-OO --4BEC94 L4L550Z 38 FM AI EMBASSY I' oSCOW TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1511 INFO MOSCOW POTITICAI COLTECTIVE CIS COLI ECTI IE C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 E o 12958 DECL TAGS PGOV RS SIIBJECT MOSCOW 009349 z 4 L4 OO ROUND-UP OF BTECTION MONITOR BXPERIEIICES -- CENTRAT RUSSTA PART TWO OF TWO INTRODUCTION 1 SBU FROM MARCH 22-27 MORE TrrAlI 60 OE'FTCERS FROM THE EMBASSY AI'ID THE THREE CONST IATES FAIINED OUr CONFIDENTIAL AROUND pAcE MOSCOW 09349 01 0F 04 L4L549Z 02 RUSSIA TO TAICE THE PULSE OF THIS COUNTRY ON THE E IE OF TTIE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AS I ELL AS MONITOR THE VOTING PROCESS ON BLBCTION DAY WHILE TIIEIR EXPERTENCES SAY MUCH ABO II THE ELECTTON THEY AI SO PROVIDE OTHER INSIGHTS INTO RUSSTA'S REGIONS THE FOtLOIfINc IS A SAII PLING OF OBSERVATIONS BY EMBASSY MONITORS WHO SPENT ELECTION DAY IN CENTRAI RUSSTA SAI'TARA 2 C IN S AMARL OBI AST THERE I ERE NT'MEROUS COMPI AINTS OF MEDIA INACCESSIBILITY TO CAI DIDATES UNITED STATES DEPARTIITENT OF STATE REvtEw AL TTHORITY FRANK It PEREZ CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL REASON 1 4@ DECLASSIFY AFTER 12 APR 2010 DATE CASE ID 05 SEP 2007 2007023E0 LINCLASSIFIED 1 4 D 86 DODE-OO TEDE-OO M-00 PA OO TRSE-OO DSCC-00 o2ow UNCLASSIFIED OTHER TITAII PIITIN DURTNG THE RUN UP TO THE ETECTIONS IN FACT PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN THEIR ORGAIIIZATIONS EAD BBEN I'NABIE TO BtnI AD IERTISING FOR THETR CN DIDATES ON T IE NATIONAI TELEVISION CHAI NELS OF ORT RTR AND Nn rN ADDTTTON TO THE r ACK OF FArR ACCESS TO tltB NATIONI rDE MEDTA THBRE ldAS A GENERAL SENSE OF UNE ASE IN SAIIAR A ONCE IT BECA 'E CLE AR THAT A RUN-OFF BLEqTION WOUI D NOT BE NECESSARY AI THOUGH NO ONE EMBOFFS SPOKE WITH IN SAIqIARA ACIIJAI LY BBLIEVED TIIAT SAIIARJA GO IERNOR KONSTANTIN TITOV WOI'LD BE A SERIOUS PRESIDENTIAI CONTENDER IN THIS RACE I''ANY HAD HOPED HB WOT'I D FORCE A SECOND ROUND A ID PERHAPS IIT EMPERI WHAT TIIBY EXPECT TO BE E TOUGH STA ICE E'ROM PUTIN ON I AW ORDER A ID PBRSONAI EREBDOM IN RUSSIA CONFIDENTIAI PAGE 03 3 MOSCOW 09349 01 0F 04 L4L549Z C TrTOV DrD NOT DO AS I ELL rN HrS OI N OBT AST AS BET'IEEN HE TIAD HOPED 13 AND 48 PBRCENT DEPEITDING ON THE RAYON A ID SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT THIS WAS AII INDICATION OF HOW ELL HE WOUI D HA IE DONE IN THE GT'BBRNATORTAT EI ECTIONS HAD TITOV NOT SUBSE9UENTLY RESIGNED FORCING EARLY GUBBRNATORIAI ELEqIIONS HE IS EXPECTED TO BE A CA TDIDATE A ID WIN E ASILY PERHAPS IN A FIT OF POST-BI ECTORAI DESPAIR SE IERAI 'OKINGLY EMBOFF FOR INFORMATION ABOUT IMMIGRATION TO THE UNISED STAIES OR TYUMEN 4 C EMBASSY MONIIORS IN TYT'MEN FOT'ND THAT THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE PRECINqT ELECTION COI ISSIONS TYPICAIIY I ERE MIDDLE-AGED NE IERTHBI ESS TI BRE IIERE SEVSRAI YOT'NG PEOPLE I ERE MEMBERS OF MA IY OF TTTE 'IHO UNCLASSIFIED BI 86 coMl'flssIoNs PAGE 04 HOME TO UNCLASSIFIED THE AREA WHERE EMBOFFS MONITORED CONFIDENTIAI MOSCOW 09349 01 0F 04 WAS L4L549Z AT LBAST ONE TEKNICI'T A ID OTHER II ISTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING SO THE STUDENT POPI'LATION OF THB EXPIAIN THE REI ATIVETY I ARGE NT MBER OF YOT NG PEOPLE ON A IY OF THE LOCAI COMMISSIONS MOST POI LING PI ACES II BD AT TEAST OITE PUTIN OBSER IER AND ARF A D' AY OCCASIONAI LY THERE WERE OBSERVERS PRESENT FROM NASH DOM NASH IrRiAI YA8LOKO OR KPRF 5 C THE PROCESS OF BALLOTING APPP ARED ELLORGAIIIZED IN lqlOST OF THE TEN POLLING PLACES VfSITED BY EMBOFFS THERE I ERE NO LONG LINES OF VOIERS usuALLY A VOTER COttLD C AST A OTE WITHIN A ggw MIN IIES OF ARRTVTNG TO VOTE EMBOFFS OBSER ZED QUITE A EEW INSTAIICES OP COUPLES USUALLY ELDERLY COUPIES GOING INTO THE BOOIHS TOGETHER OFFICIAIS QUBSTIONED ABOTIr THIS TEIIDED TO SAY THAT THEY WOT'LD NOT IR Y TO PRE IENT A COT'PLE EROM GOING INTO THE BOOIH TOGETHER IF THAT'S I HAT THEY' 'E DECIDED TO DO PHONING IN UPDATES ON THE PERCENTAGE OF VOTERS T HO HAD C AST THEIR BAI LOTS WAS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR COI ISSION CIIAIRPERSONS THEY IiIERE REQUTRED TO MAICE SE IEN CAILS AIt ACCORDING TO A STRICT SCHEDUI E 6 C BAILOT COT'NTING PROCEEDED EFFICIENTLY EMBOFFS THEN FOLIO IED THE CHAIR IA I OF THE LOCAI CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDBNTTAI PAGE 01 ACTION BI'R-01 MOSCOW 09349 02 0F 04 P197599 L4L550Z INFO LOG-OO NP-OO AID-OO CIAB-OO SMEC-OO INL-01 DOEE-oo SRpp-oo DS-00 FBrE-oo vc-01 H-01 rNR-00 r AB-01 L-00 Mco-01 Mor I -o4 MoF-03 AC-01 NRRC-oo NSAB-oo NSCE-oo 0MB-01 0pIC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 Sp-00 usrE-oo sA-00 rrp-00 sNrs-oo Nrsc-oo pMB-00 PRM-O DRL-02 G-OO p L4L547Z ApR OO FM EMEMBASSY IOSCOII TO SECSTATE WASIIDC PRIORIIY 1512 INFO MOSCOW POLITTCAI COLTECTI IE CIS COLTBCTIVE FDIC-o1 NFAT-OO SAS-OO --4BEC9B L4t550Z 38 UNCLASSIFIED DODE-OO TEDB-OO M-00 PA-OO TRSE-OO DSCC-00 ozovt c oNFI DENTr AL SEqTION LINCLASSIFIED 02 0r 04 MOSCOW 009349 E o 12958 DECL 4 L4 OO TAGS PGOV RS SUBJECT ROIIND-UP OF BLECTION 'ONITOR PART TlrO OF TWO -- E PBRIENCES CSNTRAL RUSSTA ELECTION COMMTSSION TO THE TERRITORIAI EI ECTION COMMISSION I HERE A NUMBER OF CHAIRPERSONS WERE LINED T'P TO GI IE THEIR RESUTTS TO THE TERRITORIAT COMMISSTON THE TERRITORIAI COId ISSION KNEW TH ET EMBOFFS MNTED TO WITITESS THE PROCESS OF ENTERTNG THE voTE TOTATS rNTO THE COMPIIIER THUS AS A CONCESSTON CONFIDBNTIAT PAGE 02 MOSCOW 09349 02 0F 04 L4L550Z TO EMBOFFS THEY O IED THE CHAIRIIAII EMBOFFS IIAD FOLI oI ED TO THE HE AD OF THE LINE KAZA I C THE EI ECTION IN KAZ N COMBIIIED THE PRESIDENTTAT BLBCTIONS WITH ELEqIIONS FOR THE LOCAL DT' A IN SE IERAL CITY DISTRICTS THERE WAS A HIGH I E IEL OF INTEREST BY LOCAI OBSBR ZERS IN THE I OCAL BUT NOT THE PRESIDENTIAI EI ECTIONS THE HIGH IURNOTXI AIfiOST EIGHTY PERCENT SOMEI HAT EXCEEDED PREDICTIONS BY TARIOUS OBSER IERS I HO IIAD PREDICTED 65-70 TIURNOtII PTIIIN RECEMD 68 PERCSNT OF THE VOTB IN TATARSTAN A FTGURE THAT ROUGHLY CORRESPONDS WITH POLLING 4ADE PRIOR TO AIID DITRING THE BLECTION PRESIDENT SHAY'I'IIYEV STRONGLY ENDORSED PUTIN lfHO HAD PArD A HIGH-PROFILB VISIT TO KAZAII DAYS BEFORE THB ELECTION INTERESTINGTY PUTIN AISO ENiIOYED THE SUPPORT OF LOCAI LIBERAIS WHO HOPED THAT ONqE ELECTED HE WOTLD REIGN IN SHATA IYEV THE BALTOT TABI'I ATION AT THE PRECINCT I HERE EMBOFFS OBSER IED SBEMED TO I ACK PRECISION A ID ACCOUNTABILITY VORONEZI 8 C BMBOFFS MET WITH REPRESSNTATI ZES OF 12 POLITICAL PARTIES AI D NGOS IYIARCH 23-25 LOCAIED IN CONFIDENTIAT I INCLASSIFIED PAGE o3 09349 02 0F 04 UNCLASSIFIED L4L550Z RUSSTA'S RED BELT MAlty OF VORONBZH'S TWO MTLLTON VOTE RS TRADITIONAILY VOTE FOR THE COMMT'NIST PARTY IN THE DECEMBER Dtl'tA ELECTTONS 29 97 PERCENT VOTED FOR TIIE KPRF A ID 32 66 PERCENT FOR ''YEDINSN O '' PARTISA I ELEqTION IATERT AI S ERE RARE ON THE STREETS OF voRoNEzH B II e RATITER LARGE POSTER OF ptItIN Ht Nc SROM IA 'OR INTERSECTION EMBOFFS OBSERVED A VERY SI'TALL RAILY FOR TITOV ON ARCH 24 IN THB MAIN S9UARE OF SOME 25-30 PARTICIPANTS MOSCOW 8 C POTITTCAI PARTY REPRESENTATIVES PREDI TED TO EMBOFFS THAT I T'RNOIIT WOT'LD BE GRF-ATER TIIA I 50 PERCENT DURING THE DIrMe ET ECTIONS IN DECEMBER AGAINST ALL cAIrlE IN SBCOND PLACE IN SINGTE-LIAIIDATE DISIRICI NUMBER 77 rN VORONEZH POR THE IIARCH 26 ELECTION AGAINST AI L'' CAME IN FOI'RTH WITH THREE PERCENT OF THE VOTE NONE OF TIIE PARTY REPRESENTATI TES EMBOFF MET WITH HAD A IY SUBSTA ITI IE COMPI EINTS ABO II VIOI ATIONS IN THE CONDUCT OF THE CAMPAIGI OR ABOtIII EXPECTED VIOI ATIONS oN voTING DAY SE VERAL NOIED HOT E ER THAT GI IEN THE LACK OF REAL COMPETITION PARTTES AllD ADMINISIS ATORS IIAD TAICEN M ASURES TO E TSURE THAT NO VIOIATION WOUTD TAINT THE RESULTS 9 C IN EMBOFFS' MEETINGS WITH NGO LBADERS THEY EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS ABOIN THE EIIN'RE OF RUSSIA AI D ABOUT THE EEI PATGN PERTOD NOTED ''THE ONLY IIIDEPENDENT INFORIq ATrON THAT CAll BE FOUND TODAY IS SROM PTTBLICATIONS BY NGO AIID BUSINESS COlr$ t NITIES THE CONFIDENTIAI PAGE 04 MOSCOW 09349 02 0F 04 1415502 SUB 'ECT EI ECTION COMMISSION SEC NOTED THAT THE PREELE TION PROCESS I A s NORI'IAI AND THS IEES ''BI E TIONSMEDI A SEI' INAR HEID IN VORONEZH WAS HELPFUL HOIIEVER SEC OFFICTALS SAID THAT JOURNAI ISTS SEEMED TO PORG T MUCH OF T HAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE SEMINAR THE PRMARY SOITRCE OF INFORI'IATION COMMT NICATED BY TELEVISION WAS CONSIDERED TO BE MORE SERIOUS 10 c oN ErJcTroN DAY EMBOFFS VrSrtED SE IERAL POLLING STATIONS IN THE CITY OF VORONEZH AI D IN THE OF THE OBI AST EMBOFFS WERE STRUCK BY THE RELATT ZE LACK OF PARTY POLLWATCHER S rN CONIRAST TO THE DBCEMBER DUI'IA EI ECTIONS WHEN POLLING MORE RT'RAL ARF A S STATIONS OFTEN I AD MORE PARTY POLL WATCHERS THAII EI EqTION OFFICIAIS I HEN EMBOFFS ASKED IIHY THE DIRTH UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PARTY REPRESENTATTVES AT Tr E pOtLS PRECINCT ELBqTTON OFFTCIALS OFTSN REI'TARKED THAT THE ADMTNISTRA TION SEI ECTED THE PARTY POLLWATCHERS A ID THAT THERE WAS A EENERAL I ACK OF ENTHUSTASM FOR THE ELECIION THE PUTIN CII PAIGN OFTEN HAD I'IORE THAN ONE OBSERVER AT A POLLTNG STATION A TD IN ONE CASE THEY WERE THE ONTY OBSSRVERS THE KPRF ALSO IIAD OBSBRVERS AT lAl Iy POtLING STATIONS PUTIN OBSER IERS A lY OF I HOM iERE OBSERVTNG FOR THE FrRST TIME RE ARKED TO EMBOFFS TI AT THBY IIAD ATIEIIDBD TRAINTNG SEMINARS AND oF CONFIDENTTAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 ACTION EUR-01 MOSCOW 09349 03 0F 04 PTO 833 1415502 rNFO tOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CrAE-oo SMEC-oo INL-01 DOBE-oo SRpp-oo DS-00 EBrE-oo VC-01 H-01 INR-00 taB-01 L-00 MCO-01 MOEM-o4 MOF-03 AC-01 NRRC-oo NSAB-oo pM-00 pRs-00 AcE-00 usrE-oo sA-00 IIp-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-OO p L4Lil47Z ApR OO NSCE-oo 0MB-01 0prc-01 p-00 scT-00 sp-00 sNrs-oo Nrsc-oo pMB-00 FDIC-o1 NFAT-OO SAS-OO --4BBCB8 L4L550Z 38 Flt a'EMBASSY IIOSCOW TO SBCSTATE WASTIDC PRIORITY 1513 rNFO MOSCOW POLITICAI COLLECTIVE CIS COTLBCTIVE C O N F I D B N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 MOSCOW 009349 E O 12958 DECL 4 t4 OO TAGS PGOV RS StBatECT ROIIND-UP OF ETECTION I'ioNITOR EXPBRIENCES PART nVO OF TWO -- CEIITRAT RUSSIA I ERE BEING PAID USD EIGHT PER DAY A NUMBER PRECINCT OFFICIAIS AISO STATED THIS WAS THBIR FIRST TIME IN THIS ROLE 11 C EMBOFFS NOTED THAT THE IE ZEI OF SECURITY SEEMED TO BE NOTICEABLY INCREASED SINCE DECEMBER'S CONFIDENTIAI PAGE 02 MOSCOW 09349 03 0F 04 1415502 DttdA ELECTION PERHAPS DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT CHECHNYARELATED TERRORTSM UNLIKE IN DECEMBER I IIEN THERE WAS UNCLASSIFIED DODB-OO TEDE-OO M-00 PA-OO TRSE-OO DSCC-OO o2ow UNCLASSIFIED USUALLY ONLY ONE UNARMED POLICE OFFICER AT POLLING PI ACES THERE WAS A SIGNIFICAIIT PRESENCE OF ARMED POLICE AT EACH STATION REGIONAI ADMINTSTRATION OFFTCTALS ALSO ERE PRESENT AND OBSER ZED THE PROCESS ctosEtY L2 C THE TABUIATTON OF VOEES I ENT ERY SMOOTHLY TrrE POLLTNG STATTON gUICKty COUNTED THE BALLOTS WrTH A O 'ERIVHELITIING NUMBER OF VOTES GOING TO PUTIN IitHEN THE VOTER REGISTRATION LTST INDICATED IHAT 12 BAILOTS WERE DISCO IERED MISSING THB POLLWATCHERS QUrCKty DISMTSSED THIS AS VOTERS TAI ING BATLOTS HOME I ITH THBM A RECOT'NT WAS CI EARLY IN ORDBR BTIT THERE WAS LITTTE BNTIIUSIASM ON THE PARI OF THE POLL IORKERS A TD NONE OF THE PARTY POLLI ATCHERS PROTESSED HOI EVER A REVIBW QUICKTY RE ZEjAIED THE ERROR TO BE llr THE PROTOCOL PREPAR ATION NOT rN THE COtrNT AT THE TEC THE RESULTS WERE BI TERED INTO THE COMP ITER SYSTEM AS RECORDED IN THE POLIING STATION THE TBC WAS IERY oPBN TRAIISPARENT AlfD ELCOMING TO BMBOSFS EMBOFFS OBSBRVED AI MOST AT L OF THE POTLI IG STATIONS PRESBIITING THBIR INFORMATION TO THE gEC A ID EEW EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS r HEN PROTOCOLS ERE CHANGED IT APPBARED TO BE DI'E TO A MATHEMATICEL ERROR OR ADMINISTR ATNZE ERROR IN TI E PROTOCOL PREPARATION AIID WAS ITAITDLED rN AII OPEN A ID TRA ISPARENT MANNER NIZHNIY NOVGOROD CONFIDENTIAT PAGE 03 MOSCOW 09349 03 0F 04 t4L550Z 13 C EMBOSFS rN NTZHNTY NOVGOROD MET WrTH REPRESENTATI ZES OF ATI IOST ALL IA 'OR PARTIES AIID PRESTDENTIAT CAITDIDATES INCLI'DIITG PUTrN'S LOCAI CAII PAIGII IA IAGER VAI ERIY BIRYUKOV INTERESTINGLY PTITIN'S NIZHNIY CEMPAIGN WAS RT'N BY MILITARY VETERA IS OF THE AFGIIA I A TD CHECHEN CONFLICTS GOVERNOR SKLYAROV WHO OPENLY EI DORSED PUIIN ON IOCAI IEI EVISION IS DEEPLY TNVOL IED I I IETERA IS' ACTIVITIES HE IS WORKING IN THE EEDERATION COI'NCIL TO COMBINE THB GOVERNMSNT'S SEPARATE SUPPORT PROGRAI S FOR IETERNIS OF THE AFGTIA I WAR A ID CHECHEN CONFLICTS 14 C ZYUGA IOV ARRI IED IN NIZHNIY BY TRAIN IN THE CAR IMMEDTATELY AIIF AD OF EMBOFFS ON IHE MORNING OF IIARCH 22 HE ADDRESSED A LARGE RALLY OF WORKERS AT THE KRASNAYA SORMA MILITARY FACTORY A ID HBLD OTHER LINCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED MEETINGS THB NEXT DAY EMBOFF STOPPED IN ON ZYUGAITOV'S I'TARCH 23 RAI TY IN THE TUPITER THF ATER WHICH HAD A PACKED CROI D OF OVER 1OOO PENSIONERS ZSUGAI OV'S SPEECH CONTAINED NO ST'RPRISES HE COMPLAINED ABOUT Tt E UNFAfR CO ZERAGE OF HIS CeIi PAIc l oN THB LOCAT STATE ItI AFFTLTATE 9 G ON MARCH 20 THB LOCAT RTR AFFITI a TE NTR BLOCKED OR CO ERED O 18R IIIS PAID RTR DOCI IIENTARY FILt't WITI AI OTHER PROGRAM ON THE OTHER HAND THE LEADING TOCAL 1 COMPAI IY VOLGA PROVIDED TIMELY LITER AILY-UP-TO-THEHOIR COVERAGE OF ZYIGANOV'S VISIT AllD UNPAID NEWS COVBRAGB AS I IELL AS PAID TI IE FOR SPEECITES A ID KPRF POLITIC AI ADVERTISEMENTS IN THE DAYS I E-ADING UP TO THE CONFTDENTTAI PAGE 04 ELEqTION MOSCOW 09349 03 0F 04 L4L550Z 15 C EMBOF'FS WI ESSED NO CLEAR I'IAJOR VIOIATIONS ON ETBCTION DAY FAII ILY VOTING HOI BVER WAS COMIION PARTY POLLWATCHERS WERE PRESENT AT AI L STATIONS ONLY ONE POLLING PI ACE IIAD NO OBSERVERS AT ONB POLLING STATION EMBOFF OBSERVED A WO AN CONDUCTTNG BXIT POLLING POR A I''ARKETING FIRM WHTLB soME voTERS ANSI ERED READILY OTHER RESEI TED THE INTRUSION THE MILITIA PRESENT RESPOIIDED TO A CITIZEN CoMPLAINT ABOUT THE POLLTAIGR HO EVER AFSER PRESENTING A I ETTER LUTHORIZING HER TO CONDUCT THE POLL THB POLICEMEN LEFT HER ALONE 16 C EMBOFF AI SO ACCOMPAI IED A IOBILE BATLOT BOX A ID OBSBRVED VOTTNC AT HOME BY FIVE IIIDIVIDUAI S TN oNE CASE A HUSBAIID BERATED HIS WrFE DEI IANDTNG SHE VOTE FOR A PARIICT'I AR CAI IDIDATE SHE RESPOIIDED BY SHoIIIING CUP SING AND HITTING HIM BtIr VOrED FOR TrrE CAIIDIDATE H8 INDICAIED IT WAS NOT CI E AR I HETHER THIS HAD BAEN HER DECISION AI L ALONG OR WHETHER SIIB WAS RESPONDING TO HER HUSBAIID'S REQUESTS IT WAS CTEAR THIS WAS NOT A I UNUSUAI INTERACTION BETI EEN THE TI O IN AIIOTHER CASE A tot'tAt WHO APPARENTLY IIAD ST FFERED A STROKE A ID LOST THE USE OF HER ARM LISTENED TO HER CONFIDENTIAT CONFIDENTTA PAGE 01 ACTION ET'R-01 MOSCOW 09349 04 0F 04 PTQ76O4 1415502 INFO LOG-OO NP-OO AID-OO CIAE-OO SMEC-OO INL-01 UNCLASSIFIED DODE-OO UNCLASSIFIED DS-00 FBrE-oo VC-01 H-01 INR-00 LAB-01 L-00 Mco-01 MOFt't-O4 MOF-03 AC-01 NRRC-oo NSAE-oo NSCE-oo 0MB-01 0pIC-01 pM-00 pRs-00 AcE-00 p-00 scT-00 sp-00 usrE-oo sA-00 rrp-00 sNrs-oo Nlsc-oo pMB-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 c-00 mrc-01 NFAT-oo sAs-00 --4BECC1 L4L55LZ 38 p L4L547Z epR OO DOEE-oo SRpp-oo ta ALIEMBASSY OSCO I TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRTORITY 1514 INFO MOSCOW POLITICAI COLTECTIVE CIS COLLECTIVE coNFr DENT E O 12958 DECL TAGS PGOV r AL SEqrrON 04 0E 04 MOSCOII 009349 A LAIOO RS SItBitECT ROUND-IIP OF ELECTION I'IONITOR EXPERIENCES PART TWO OF TWO -- CENTRAI RUSSIA THE LIST OF CA IDIDATES A ID THEN TOLD HER WHICH CAI DIDATE SHE PREEERRED THE GRAIIDDAUGHTBR I ADB THE ACTUAI ''ARK ON THE BALIOT HEN TTIE OTI ER EMBOFF ACCOMPAIIIED A MOBII E BALLOT BOX HE OBSERVED SE IEN BI DERLY VOTERS A ID A YOUNG TNVAIID CAST THEIR VOTES AT HOME FOUR OF THE BIGHT CITOSE NOT CONFIDENTTAI GR AIIDDAUGHTER RF AD 02 MOSCOW 09349 04 0F 04 L4L550Z TO HIDA THEIR PRESERENCES A ID EACH ONE VOTED FOR PUTIN PAGE l7 u oN ltARcH 2 GOVERNOR SKYLAROV FIRED T'NFORTUNATE RAYON SUPERVISORS RESPONSIBLE FOR 8 RAYONS WHICH VOI'ED MOST HEAVILY FOR ZYUGAI OV A I NI REPORT SPECUIATED THAT THE OBIAST ADMINISTRATION WAS DISPI BASED WITH THE RESULTS IN THOSE RAYONS THE FTRING TOOK PI ACE ON I TARCH AT A MEETING TO DISSUSS THE ELEqIION RESULTS IN THIS REPORT KPRF LEADERS CI AIMED THIS PROVIDED AT LEAST INDIRECT E VIDBNCE OF REGIONAI ADMINISTRATION EFFORTS TO AI'EECT THE RESUITS OF THE PRESIDENTTAI SI ECTION MOSCOII OBLAST CITY 18 C ONE EMBASSY MONITOR WHO COIIERED TEE rOI NS OF oREKHOVO-ZUYEVO BLECTROGORSK NOGENSK pA rtOVSKry POSAD AltD I AIININGRAD IN OSCOW OBT AST NOTED NO MA IOR UNCLASSIFIED TEDE-OO M-00 PA-OO TRSE-OO DSCC-00 o2ow LTNCLASSIFIED VIOIATIONS THERE ALSO I BRE FEW PARTY POLL ATCHERS PRESBNT A tD WI EN THERE WERE THEY WERE USUALTY FROM THE KPRI WHEN EMBOFF ARRI IED AT THE FIRST TO n OREKHOVO-ZI'YEVO SHE WAS STOPPBD By THE POLICB WHO 9IERE CURIOUS ABOTIT WHO SHB WAS AND TT AT SHB WAS DOING THE POLICE TOOKED AT BMBOFF'S DOCI'MENTATION AI ID WROlrE DOI N THE INFORMATION THE POLICE THEN ASKED 1AT WAS EMBOFFS' NEXT STOP TO I HICH SHE REPLIED SHE DID NOT KNOW EMBOFF RAI DOMLY cHosE A sEcoND sIlE B It LO AllD BBHOLD ONB OF THE CONFIDENTTAI ELECTOR AI PAGB 03 MOSCOW 09349 04 0F 04 t4L550Z OFFICERS AT THE FIRST SITE SHO ED T'P THERE 19 C IN PAVLOVSKIY POSAD OIIE pRBCINqt CHATRMAIT REFUSBD TO AIISI BR AMBOFF'S QIESTTONS EMBOFF THEN PROMPTLY WENT TO THE rEC I HO CALLED THE PRECINCT CHAIRI TA I TO ASSURE HER IT I AS OK FOR EMBOFF TO MONITOR WHEN EMBOFF RETIRNED THE PRECINCT CITATRMAII SATD THAT SITE ITAD BEEN NERVOUS ABOUT HAVING E FOREIGITER PRESENT IT SEEMED THAT SHE HAD NEVER MEI A FOREIGIIER BEFORE 20 C I HILE FeI ILy VOTING IS QUITE COMMON At EMBOFF I HO OBSER IBD IN THE MOSCOW OBLAST TOIIN OF VOLOKOLO 'ISK FOI'IID A PRECINqT THAT SEEMED TO ATLOW A IYONE TO ACCOMPA IY OTHERS INTO THE VOTING BOOTH ON8 VOTER CA IE IN WITH SOMEONE I EJARING AIT LDPR ARMBA ID WHO I ATER WAS AI I OIVBD TO ACCOMPAI Y TIIAT VOTER INTO THE BOOITI IN ADDITION A FEtLOll IIARKED A BALLOT FOR HIS DRUNKEN ERIEND AT AITOTHER VOLOKOLOI''SK PRECINCT ONE PERSON DECLINED A BAI LOT I HBN HE DTSCOVERED HE WA s NOT oN THB VOIING LIST E EN THOUGH THE PRECINCT CHAIRMAII OFFBRED TO REGISTER HIM 2I C IN A MOSCOW CITY PRECINCT ONE EMBOFF OBSERVED PEOPI E VOTING O IT IN THE OPEN ON A TABLE SOME RA THEIR FINGERS DOIIN THE PAPER LOOKING FOR PUTIN AIID IIIARKED IT OTHERS WITH RELISH MARKED AGAINST AI L'' RIGHT AWAY OTHERS STILL RE AD THB BAILOTS FOR A LONG TIME AS IF IT WAS THE FIRST THEY IIAD EVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT OR AS IF THEY 9IERE WONDERING WIO AI L THOSE ''OTHER GI'YSU IIERE A LOT OF VOTERS RED CONFIDBNTIAL PAGE 04 MOSCOW 09349 04 0F 04 1415502 THB POSTER TISTING THE Ca IIDIDATES AFTER THEY VOTED WHEN THIS EMBOFF ACCOMPA IIED A PRECINCT'S MOBILE BALLOT BOX SHE FOITND THAT FOI R OF THE SIX ELDERLY LINCLASSIFIED I 'NCLASSIFIED I@TTIOITSD I'ITO TEY IVBRB OTII O FOR CND IT ttAS DUTIIT KPRF OBSERVBRIS EI SO AIIIGD ETGOFF IA TSET COT'LD OBI'BR TB A U S EEEetIq ONDNAT Col FIDENTI TI EID OF DOCTDIEITT I JNCLASSIFIED