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Study Finds Mass Rigging in Russian Vote

Up to 1 in 3 Medvedev votes was fraudulent, says researcher

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 18, 2008 6:00 AM CDT
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(Newser) – As many as one in three votes for Dmitry Medvedev in Russia's presidential election were fraudulent, according to a comprehensive study by a computer analyst. Not only was Medvedev's total inflated by about 7 points, but the turnout was also exaggerated, reports the Times of London. That means that only a third of Russia's 100 million voters actually backed Vladimir Putin's successor, according to the analysis.

Ballot returns reveal statistical abnormalities, such as an unusually common prevalence of round numbers in Medvedev's vote count. Those anomalies suggest local officials manipulated the results, perhaps in an attempt to impress their superiors. But the vote-rigging was largely unnecessary "because he would easily have won without it," the author of the study concedes.

Members of the Central Election Commission are seen during the announcement of final election results for Russia's presidential election.
Members of the Central Election Commission are seen during the announcement of final election results for Russia's presidential election.   (AP Photo)
Members of the media are seen during a press conference by the head of the Central Elections Commission Vladimir Churov.
Members of the media are seen during a press conference by the head of the Central Elections Commission Vladimir Churov.   (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)
Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana hold ballot papers at a polling station in Moscow Sunday, March 2, 2008.
Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana hold ballot papers at a polling station in Moscow Sunday, March 2, 2008.   (AP Photo)
President-elect Dmitry Medvedev speaks as he conducts a government meeting in Moscow's Kremlin, Wednesday, April 16, 2008.
President-elect Dmitry Medvedev speaks as he conducts a government meeting in Moscow's Kremlin, Wednesday, April 16, 2008.   (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Pool)
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More on bizarre statistical finds of the Russian vote
Moscow Times

 
Russia • United Russia • Dmitry Medvedev • election fraud • Russian elections

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