RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

That this House notes that the candidacy of Mikhail Kasyanov collected two million signatures supporting his nomination for the Russian presidential elections; is concerned that the Central Electoral Commission has now barred his candidacy; is aware that he was considered unlikely to win that election; recognises that this will inevitably be interpreted as a retreat from Russia's freely given commitment to the internationally recognised principle of democratic elections; and asks the Russian authorities to clarify their commitment to free and fair elections whereby the Russian people have the chance to decide not only the winner but also how strongly to support candidates putting forward views opposed to the winning candidate.