Putin cancels rigged UR primaries in Far East

VLADIVOSTOK, September 9 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin and the leader of the ruling United Russia Party decided on
Thursday to cancel the results of party primaries in two cities in the Far
East after vote-counting commissions reported mass falsifications.
"The normative base of United Russia allows me, the chairman of the
party, to cancel the results. New party ticket will be formed by the time
of its congress in contact with you and other colleagues," he told a
lawmaker of the Vladivostok city legislature, Georgy Martynov.
At a meeting with visiting Putin Martynov said the results of
primaries in Artem and Nakhodka were rigged in favor of representatives of
local authorities.
Chairman of the budget committee of the regional legislature and noted
businessmen Galust Akhoyan won the primaries, however members of both
vote-counting commissions refused to sign the protocols and reported mass
falsifications.
Putin said it was a correct decisions to hold primaries of the United
Russia as "everything taking place is very good, not because someone has
rigged something, but because you see it."
"It is good that we introduced such instruments and can see the whole
process and correct it if necessary," he said.
The United Russia Party ticket for December 4 parliamentary election
will be approved at a congress on September 23-24.