
27 June 2021
by Lev Ponomarev, human rights defender and member of the Moscow Helsinki Group
Source: Moscow Helsinki Group [original source: Эхо Москвы]
“THIS MESSAGE (MATERIAL) IS CREATED AND DISTRIBUTED BY FOREIGN MASS MEDIA PERFORMING THE FUNCTIONS OF A FOREIGN AGENT, AND (OR) A RUSSIAN LEGAL ENTITY PERFORMING THE FUNCTIONS OF A FOREIGN AGENT” – Thank the Ministry of Justice for this ridiculous phrase.

Perhaps you like the constant arrest of opponents of the authorities.
Perhaps you want to live in a society dictated by class, where all the well-paid positions and privileges have been securely and consistently distributed among the sons and grandsons of the powerful.
Perhaps it doesn’t bother you that during the pandemic, the number of incredibly rich has continued to grow against a background of ordinary people’s ruin and suffering.
If you like all this, then sit back and relax, nothing needs to be changed. Don’t engage with anything, don’t vote, don’t watch the elections.
If you still want to change something, then WAKE up. OBSERVE! VOTE!
According to the law, 19th September was the unified day of voting. Despite all reasonable objections, the Central Election Commission, based on its successful experience of falsifying multi-day votes, added 2 more days to the voting period. Significantly more observers are needed than in the previous parliamentary elections.
Sign up as an observer through our application form. This is the application form of the joint coordination centre “Citizens Watch 2021”, whose ranks include experienced electoral experts, human rights defenders, and public figures (the full list and manifesto can be found on our website).
Sign up immediately and invite your friends!
The training of observers will begin soon. Regional observation centres are being opened all over Russia. Those centres will engage in training and send observers to the polling stations.
Please share this banner image. Concurrently, I am announcing a competition! The most beautiful posters will flood social media sites.
Translated by Ruairidh Irwin