21 December 1999
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Election Results In Tatarstan
As of 21 December with approximately half of all ballots there counted, Fatherland-All Russia (OVR) had collected some 56 percent of votes in the Russian Duma election. The Communists (KPRF) received 16.34 percent, Unity (Yedinstvo) 12.08 percent, the Union of Right Forces (SPS) 2.61 percent, Zhirinovsky's bloc 2.3 percent, and Yabloko-1.18 percent. Thirty eight Tatarstan State Council deputies were elected on 19 December in 67 territorial election okrugs of the republic. A second round will be held on 29 December in 25 territorial okrugs.
Shaimiev Says Communist No Longer "Masters in the Duma"
President Mintimer Shaimiev told RFE/RL on 20 December that he is satisfied with the results of the State Duma elections. He said "now, according to the results, communists are not the masters in the Duma. We tried for constructive forces to come to the Duma, and as a whole, the main aim is achieved. If we take Unity (Yedinstvo), Fatherland-All Russia (OVR), Right Forces Union (SPS), and Yabloko together, we can see that more than 50 percent of State Duma may be constructive forces." Shaimiev said he is also satisfied with the fact that Fatherland-All Russia gained some 42 percent of votes in Tatarstan. He said "if we sum up the votes given in favor of OVR and Yedinstvo in Tatarstan, they will make over 60 percent. I consider it the victory of constructive forces."
Central Election Committee Head Reports Few Violations
The chairman of Tatarstan's Central Election Committee, Marat Sirayev, said on 20 December that there had been only insignificant violations of the electoral law during the19 December voting in Tatarstan. Sirayev told Tatar Radio that there had been cases when some officials had prevented observers from doing their jobs but that the CEC had intervened to put a stop to this. In addition, he said, there had been several attempts to conduct political propaganda during the poll. But Sirayev said that "I can't say these were significant violations." Sirayev said one more violation was connected with the fact that it had not been possible for some who couldn't visit polling stations to take part in the balloting because the CEC's three mobile polling stations were clearing insufficient.
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova