Russian Railways chief may terminate cooperation with think-tank questioning validity of 2011 Duma elections
MOSCOW. March 13 (Interfax) - Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin may terminate his cooperation with the Center of Problem Analysis and Governance Planning that compiled a report claiming that the 2011 elections to the State Duma were rigged.
"While Vladimir Yakunin is this center's academic supervisor, he has nothing to do with this report," a high-ranking Russian Railways official told Interfax on Wednesday.
"The report is exclusively Center Director Stepan Sulakshin's initiative," he said.
"Yakunin's further cooperation with this center could well be called into question in this connection," he said.
A Kremlin spokesperson earlier expressed skepticism about the publication in the media of conclusions from the report titled 'Electoral System and State Success' analyzing the outcomes of the 2011 elections to the State Duma and claiming that the elections were rigged in favor of the United Russia party.
Kommersant identifies the report's author as Stepan Sulakshin, a doctor of physical-mathematical and political sciences. The report says the Communist Party actually garnered more votes in the 2011 Duma elections than United Russia.
Central Elections Commission Chairman Vladimir Churov suggested earlier on Wednesday in commenting on the report's findings that its authors should consult a psychiatrist, while Sergei Zheleznyak, a prominent United Russia parliamentary faction member, branded the report as "pseudoscientific nonsense."