Investigators open criminal inquiry into documents' falsification in Mordovia election
MOSCOW. Sept 11 (Interfax) - A criminal inquiry has been launched in Mordovia following claims of document falsification at a polling station in Saransk at the regional head's election, the Russian Investigative Committee (SKR) press service told Interfax.
"The Russian Investigative Committee investigative bodies for the Republic of Mordovia following the petition about falsification of election documents at a polling station in the city of Saransk opened a criminal inquiry over a crime under Part 1 Article 142 of the Russian Criminal Code [falsification of election documents]," the press service said.
On Sunday, "at a polling station, unknown individuals falsified election documents by putting a mark on ballot papers at the election of the Republic of Mordovia head and passed them to several individuals for further depositing into ballot boxes," according to the investigation.
During a search at the polling station, an SKR investigator discovered and seized 68 ballot papers with changes made to them, the press service said.
"Investigative actions aimed at ascertaining all the circumstances of the incident are under way, election committee members likely implicated in the election documents' falsification are being established," the SKR also said.
The Mordovia election commission has made a decision to repeal the voting results in the election of the region head at two polling stations, republican election committee head Alexander Kosov said earlier.
"All complaints have been considered. Principled decisions have been made, and we have recognized the election invalid at two polling stations," Kosov said.
The Mordovia election commission has received at 11 a.m. on Sunday a petition from a member of this commission about probable breaches at polling station No 552, Russian Central Elections Commission Chairperson Ella Pamfilova said earlier.
"Upon arrival at the polling station, the Republic of Mordovia central election commission deputy head has established that in violation of federal legislation requirements the signatures of two district election committee members have not been put on any ballot papers there [at the polling station], and the district election committee stamp is lacking, as well," she said.
It was earlier reported that acting head of the republic Vladimir Volkov has polled 89.19% of the vote at the early election of the Mordovia head after 100% of ballot papers were processed. He is a candidate from the United Russia party.
The turnout at the election amounted to 82.04%.