818 UNCLASSIFIED CoNFIDENTIA PAGE 01 ACTION ET'R-01 toc-00 INFO MOSCOW 09243 01 0F 04 NP-OO SRPP-OO ArD-00 DOEE-OO INR-OO I AB-01 L-00 AC-o1 NRRC OO NSAE-OO PM-OO PRS-00 rRsE-00 usrE-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 ACE-00 sA-o0 DRL-02 DS-00 o2ow PTQ2844 L3L6L Z CIAE-OO FBIE-OO MCO-01 NSCE-00 SMEC-00 c-00 B l 1 4 D 86 rNr-0t H-01 TEDE-OO MOtfM-04 oMB-o1 MOF-03 M-00 oPrc-01 PA-OO sP-00 rRM-00 Nrsc-00 PMB-OO NFAT-OO sAs-00 ----4867C2 L3r6L7z 38 P 1316162 APR 00 FM A EMBASSY I' oSCO T TO SECSTATE WASTIDC PRTORITY 1419 INFO MOSCOW POLITICAT COLLBCTIVE CIS COLI ECTI IE C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 MOSCO I OO9243 E o L2958 DECLz 4 t3 OO TAGS PGOV R S SITBJECT ROIIND-UP OF ELECTION MONITOR E PBRIENCES PART oNE -- STBERTA FAR cr AssIFIED By ttNIT aAST EDWARD SAT AZ AR CHIEF REASONS 1 5 B D POLITICA INTERNAT INTRODUCTION CONFTDENTIAI PAGE 02 MOSCOW 09243 01 0F 04 L3L6L7Z 1 C BBTWBEN ARCH 22-2 MORE THA 60 OFFTCERS E ROM THE EMBASSY A ID THE TI REE CONSUIATES FAT NED OUT ACROSS RUSSIA TO TAICE TIIE PULSE OF THIS COT'NTRY ON THE BVE OF TT E PRESTDENTTAI ELECTTON AS WELL AS MONITOR THE VOTING PROCESS ON ELECTION DAY I'IARCH 26 WHII B TIIEIR EKPERIENCES SAY MUCH ABOIII THE ELECTION THEY AISO PROVIDE OTHER TNSIGHTS INTO RUSSTA'S REGIONS THE FOLTO TING IS A SAI PLING OF OBSERVATIONS BY EMBASSY MONITORS 9IHO SPBNT ELECTION DAY IN SIBERIA AI D THE FAR EAST NOVOSIBIRSK UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AIJTHORITY FRANK H PEREZ CLASSIFICATION CONTIIDENTIAL REASON 1 4 D 2010 DECLASSIFY AFrER 12 APR DATE CASE ID 05 SEP 2007 2007023E0 DODE-OO vc-01 scT-00 sNrs-00 FDIC-01 P-00 IIP-OO RELEASED IN PART UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED 4 C DESPTTE AII O ZERmIEIffING FEELING eMONc THE POPUTATION THAT PIIIIN WOUTD WIN MORE THAI 65 PERCENT OF NOVOSIBIRSK VOTERS TURNED OUT MAIIY LOCAL OBSERVERS INCLITDING iTOURNAI TSTS BUSTNESSMEN AlitD OBT AST OFFICIATS TOLD EMBOFFS TIIA T TIIEY BETIE ZED A PUTIN PRESTDENCY WOUI D USHER IN A I ERA OF STABILITY AI D PREDICT ABILITY WHICH IIE ZERTHET ESS WOULD NOT AFFECT THEIR LrVES SIGNTFICAIITLY NEI LY-ELECTED GO IERNOR TOLOKONSKIY TOLD EMBOFFS ON q ARCH 2Z THAT HE SKPECTS THE KREMLIN TEAM TO BE ONB WITH IHOM HE CAII I ORK TO DE IELOP LONG-TERM PI ANS FOR BCONOMIC DE ZEIPPMENT IN THE OBIAST 3 C VOTERS SEEMED RETIE IED TTTAT THE BLECTION WAS O IER A ID TI AT PUTIN WOI'LD NOT BE FACING A SECOND ROUND BETTI S WITH THE COMMUNISTS AITHOUGH Zn cAllOV RECEI ED 38 3 CONFIDENTIAL 03 MOSCOW 09243 01 0F 04 L3L6L7Z PERCENT YA ZLINSKIY RECETVED N ARLY EIGHT PERCENT OF THE voTE sHoltlNc THAT HIS MESSAGE HAS RESONAITCE IN THIS ACADEMIC qENTER gltEN WITHOLIlI HIS CAMPAIGNING PERSONAILY FROM THE IIARCH 27 NEWS ON A LOCAL CHAIINEL IHICH ONLY PAGE sHolfED ELECTION RESI'LTS AI TER TWO OTHER STORIES rT WAS CLEAR T IAT NOVOSIBIRSK VOTERS AI READY WBRE MO 'ltNG ON WITH THBrR LI IES I ARDLY CONSTDERTNG THE POSSIBILITy TIIAT A PUIIN PRESTDENCY COULD CITANGE THETR AIID RUSSTA'S POLITICAI AI D ECONOMTC SITUATION THB PEOPLE OF NOVOSIBIRSK SEEMED TO HA E gEW EXPECTATIONS OF THE NEW PRESIDENT BXCEPT THAT HE WILL NOT WORSEN THEIR SITUATTON KEME ROVO 4 C THE BMBASSY OFFICER S WHO TRAIIELED TO KEMEROVO TO OBSERVE THE PRESIDENTIAL EI ECTIONS HAD MEETINGS WITH A WIDE-RA IGE OF POLITIC AI FTG 'RES PRIOR TO THE EI ECTION INCLT'DING THEY ALSO ATTENDED CAMPAIGN E IENT IN THE KEMEROVO PHILITARMONIC HA L A TypICAt SOVIET-STYLB RATLY WHERE REPRESENTATI IES OF SVERY SOCIETAI ETEMENT TERE cAREFUtLy INCLTDED -- PENSIONERS MTLITARY YOUTH OMEN AI ID IETERANS 5 C ON BLECTION DAy EMBOFFS SEpARiLTBty VISITP D 23 POLLING STATTONS IN 20 LOCATIONS ABOUT HAI F TN KEMEROVO UNCLASSIFIED BI 86 AI ID HALF PAGE 04 IN UNCLASSIFIED THE COT'NTRYSIDE AROT'ND KEMEROVO A ID CONFIDENTIAI IN THE 09243 01 0F 04 L3L6L7Z CITIES OF TAPKI AllD LENINSK-KUZNETSK I AD NT'MEROUS OBSER TERS AS IIELL IN OTHER CITIES IN MOSCOW SMAT LBR DEPRESSED THE OSCE THE OBI AST NO SERIOUS VIOLATIONS WBRE NOTED SIMPTY THE USUAI LY FAMILY VOTING A iID BOOTHS NOT QUIIE ACCORDING TO REGUI ATION BTIT PRESENTING NO OBSTACIA TO SECRET BALLOTING REGARDING POLLIIATCHERS PtIfIN TULEYEV A rD ZntcANOV ttAD oBSERVERS VIRTUAILY EVERYI IGRE AltD ZHIRINOVSKIy OCCASIONAITY HOI E IER OBSERVERS FOR OTHER CAI DIDATES WERE EEW AIID FAR BET'IESN YOUNGER VO IERS RAREIY I BRE NOTICED AI D TATI S WITTI OTHER POLL-IVATCHERS CONFIRMED THAT VOTER TURNOIN FOR ''YOUTH'' WAS IJO I C 6 ET BOFFS FOITND VIRTUALLY NO Srcll OF All ACTfVE C8MPAIGII PITBLIC CAI PATGN ADVERTISEMENTS I ERE RESTRICI 'ED BY M'NICIPAI ORDINANCE TO ONB SITE ONLY ONE FORMAL CoMPIAINT BY YABLOKO WAS I'iADB AIID rT WAS SETTLED A ICABLT ACCORDING TO BOTH ''YABLOKO'' OFFICTALS A ID RMYGRAYB ' LOCAI TEI EVISION GAVE A LOT OF CO ZERAGE GOVERNOR TUIEYEV TO BI CA IDIDATBS APPAARED TO BE ON THE NATIONAI TEI BVISION STATIONS A LOCAT YABIOKO'' OFFICTAS TOI D EMBOFT IHAT HE IIAD PARTICIPATED IN DEAATES BET9IEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONFIDBNTIAI CoNFTDENTIAL PAGE 01 ACTTON EnR-01 INFO roc-00 MOSCOW 09243 02 0F 04 DOBE-OO NP-OO SRPP-OO AID-OO DS-00 INR-OO IAB-O L-00 AC-01 NRRC-OO PM-OO PRS-00 NSaE-00 ACE-00 tRsE-00 usrE-00 sA-00 P-00 IIP-OO DSCC-00 PRM-o1 DRL-02 c-oo o2ow P 1316162 Ilr PTQ2845 L3L6L7Z CIAE-OO EBIE OO MCO-01 NSCE-00 SMEC-00 vc-01 MOEI't-04 oMB-o1 scT-00 sNrs-00 FDIC-01 rNt-01 DODE-OO H-01 MOI'-03 M-00 TEDE-OO oPrc-01 sP-00 Nrsc-00 PA-OO NFAT-OO sAs-oo ----4B6 CC L3L6L7Z l3e APR 00 AIr EMBASSY I'IOSCOVI TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY T42O UNCLASSIFIED IRM-OO PMB-OO INFO CIS MOSCOW POLIIICAI COLLBCTIVE UNCLASSIFIED COTLBCTIVE c o N F r D E N T r e L SEeTION 02 0F 04 MOSCOIT 009243 E o 12958 DBCL z 4 L3 OO TAGS P@V RS SITBaIECT ROIIND-UP OF BLECTION LONITOR EXPBRIEIICES PART ONB -- SIBBRIA FAR EAST CAI DIDATBS ON LOCAL R ADIO A3t CA IDIDATES RECEI IED GRATIS CO TERAGE IN THE OBI AST-OIINED OFFICIAI PRESS KIIABAROVSK 8 C ON IIARCH 24 EMBASSY ELECTTON MONTTORS rN KITTBAROVSK MET VTITII THE ACTING GOVERNOR THE ACTING AYOR THB HBAD OF THE KRiLY D r dA AND A GROUP OF 40 REPRESENTAII ZES OF LOCAL POLITICAI PARTIES THE MEEIING PARTY REPRESSNTATWES T HICH TIAS HOSTED BY THE KRAY ELEqTORAL COMMISSION AND THE KRAY ADMTNISTRATION WAS HBLD AT THE KRAY DT'MA BUILDING IT IASTED ONE HOI'R AND WAS FII ITIED BY THE LOCAL MEDIA OSCE ELECTION OBSER IERS E SO ATTENDED PIITIN Ca PAIGN REPRESENTATT 'ES ERB PRESBNT BIII DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE DISgUSSION I ITH CONFIDENTIAT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED 03 MOSCOW 09243 02 0F 04 L3L6L7Z C DT'RING THE MEETING KPRF REPRESENTATIVES PAGE 9 DENOT'NCED THE LOCAI POI ER STRUCTIURE FOR ABUSING GO IERNMENT OFFICES TO FURTHBR THE PUTIN CAI' PAIGN A lD FOR T NFAIRLY LIMITING MEDrA ACCESS A ID CAI IPAIGN ACTIVITIES BY THE OTHER CAI PS A I OSCE OBSERVER PRESSNT TOLD TITE AUDIENCB TITAT THEIR AILEGATTONS OF ELECTORAI IAW VIOI ATTONS WERE MINOR AND NO DTFEERENT FROM COMPI AINTS HEARD I I GERIIA IY OR BLSET HERE ONE PARTY REPRESENTATI IE ASKED IF HE COULD MEBT AGAIN WITH THE ELEqIION OBSER ZERS AT TIIE END OF ETECTION DAy BUT HIS REQUEST ldAS NOT TRAIISLATED AND WHEN TI E MEETING EIIDED THE ATTENDEES T ERE ASKED TO REMAIN TN THE IIATT FOR A EXCUSED 10 C THE COMPIAINTS VOICBD BY THE PARTY REPRESENTATI ZES INCLUDED THE REGIONAT ADMINISTRATION HAD TT RNED INTO A CAII PAIGN HBADQUARTERS THE PRESIDENTTAI REPRESENTATI IE IN IN THE ELECTION THE GO IERNOR IN HIS MEETTNGS WITH GROUPS OF BUSINESSPEOPI B KHABAROVSK WAS MEDDLING CA 'PAIGNED MILITARY BTC THE GO TERNOR CONTROLS WHICH VfEWS ARA REPORTED ON L@AI T 7 LOCAI MEDLA EMPLOYSES KNOW THEY CAlr BE FIRED IF THEY GI IE TOO M'CH CO ERAGE TO THB POLITICEI OPPOSITION THE OUTCOME OF ONE DUI'IA RACB IS BBING CONTESTBD rN THE KRAy SUPREME COttRT Brrr pOLrTrCAt INFLIBNCE ON THE COT'RT T'IAIGS IT I'NLTKELY THAT THE DECISION ITILL BE IMPARTIAL VOTER LISTS ARE INACCITRAIts OMITTING SOME NAI ES HII E INCLUDING THE NAMES OF PEOPLE I HO HAVE MO IED OR DIED A iID THE AREAS APPROVED FOR HA IGING CA 'PAIGN POSTERS I ERE TOO LIMITED CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 MOSCOW 09243 02 0F 04 L3I6L7Z 11 C FOR HrS PART THE HEAD OF TI E KRAY DUt'tA IN A MEETI IG WITH THE TNTER TATIONAL OBSER IERS STATTD THAT BOTH HB A ID THE GOVERNOR HAD ''PUBLICLY DISTAITCED' TIIEIISIEL IES EROM AI L PARTIES A ID THAT ''O 'R PARTY TS KITABAROVSK KRAY COMMENTTNG ON SPECUIATION TEAT PIITIN WILL REDUCE REGTONAL AtITONOt'fy THE DUt'tA T EADER SAID HE AGREED WITH THE IDEA THAT ''FREEDOM VIITHIN THB S 'B 'ECTS SHOT'LD BE ACCORDING TO TTIE LE ZEL OF FEDERAT GOVERNMENT INTEREST IN THAT SI'Bi'Eqf HE TI OUGHT IT WAS SHNdEFUL TITAT soME sttBJEcTs INCLI DING TATARSTAN AlrD BASHKORTOSTAII I AD GONB BEYOND THE BOI'NDS OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION A ID SAID THE ONLY ONES IIIIO NEED TO FEAR THE NEW PRBSIDENT ARE THOSE WHO ARE OIXTSTDE THE BOUNDS OF THE CONSTITUTION AS E SEPARJA TE UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED OF THE FEDERATION COT'NCIL HE E PECTED THAT THE COUNCTL SOON WOT'LD TAICE UP THE ISSUE OF CONSTITUTIONAI MEMBER REFORM wAS SOME CONSTERNATION ON THE DAY AHIER THB ELECTION BOTH At TIIE KRAY ET ECTORAI COMMTSSION AltD AT EMERCOM THAT AS OF MIDDAY IIARCH 27 WrTH ABOUT 95 PERCENT OF PRECINCTS REPORTING PIITIN IIAD RECEI ED ONLY 49 97 PERCENT rN THE CONFIDENTIAI CONFIDENTIA 09243 03 0F PAGE 01 ACTION EUR-01 MOSCOW INFO DOEE-OO NP-OO SRPP-OO AID-OO DS-00 INR-OO LAB-o1 L-00 AC-01 NRRC OO NSAE OO PM-OO PRS-00 USIE-OO PRM-01 ACE-00 LOG-00 rRsE-00 DSCC-00 PTQ2849 1316182 04 CIAB-OO FBIE-OO MCO-01 NSCE-00 SMEC-00 INL-01 vc-01 H-01 TEDE OO MOFM-04 oMB-01 MOF-03 M-00 PA-OO sAs-00 scr-00 sA-o0 P-00 IIP-OO sNrs-00 oPrc-01 sP-00 Nrsc-00 DRL-02 c-00 FDIC-01 NFAT-OO o2ow ----4867P 7 L3L6L8Z 38 P 1315162 aPR 00 Fl' EMEMBASSY MOSCO T TO SECSTATE TASHDC PRIORITY L42L INFO MOSCOW POLITICAT COLLECTIVE CIS COLLECTI IE C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 MOSCOW OO9243 E o L2958 DECL 4 L3 OO TAGS PGOV RS SIIBJECT ROIIND-UP OF BLECTION I4ONITOR ONE -- SIBERLA FAR B @ERIBNCES PART E AST EMBOFFS BELIE TED TIIAT THIS WAS A GOOD IIIDICATION THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO VOTE TAIr PERING BEC AUSE OTHERWISE PUTIN WOI'LD IIAVE POLLED MORE THE T 50 PERCENT THERE WAS SOME DfSGTSSION AT THE ELECTORAI COI' fiSSrON THAT WITHIN MILITARY STRUqTURES I HILE NO O IERT PRESSURE WAS E ERTED TO KRAY CONFIDENTTAI PAGE 02 MOSCOIT 09243 03 0F 04 DODE-OO 1316182 UNCLASSIFIED IRM-OO PMB-OO UNCLASSIFIED voTE FOR PUTIN THE pRrlrCIptES OF MILITARY DISCTPLTNE elID SUBORDINATION 'IADE IT LTKELY THAT TROOPS WOULD VOTE THE SAI E WAY AS THEIR COM IIA IDER IF THE COMIIA IDER LET IT BE KNO N WI ICH CANDIDATE I 8 purrN HE StppORTED 13 C IN ORDER TO BOOST VOTER TT'RNOUT THE CITY OF K IABAROVSK OFEERED EREE PT'BLIC TR A ISPORTATION ON EI ECTION DAY IN ADDTTION rN TI E I EEKS LEADING Up TO THE ELECTION MEETINGS IiIERE HELD PARIICUI ARLY I ITH YOUTH TO INSTITL A SENSE TIIAT VOTINC IS A PART OF THBIR CIVIC DUTY VOTER TURNOIII IN THE KRAY WAS APPROXIMATELY 68 PERCENT SIIGHTLY SHORT OF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSTON'S GOAI OP 70 PERCENT THE HBAD OF THE KRAY EI ECTORAI COMMISSION THOUGHT TURNOUT COUI D HAVE BEEN FTVE PSRCENT HIGHBR IF NOT FOR IHE CHANGE TO DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BAD WF ATHER AIONG THE COAST OF THE SEA OF OKTIOTSK ACROSS EROM SAICITATIN ALSO AFEEqCED VOTER ruRNorrr rN soME ARE as AccoRDING TO THB COMMISSTON THIS ELBCIION WAS EASIER AND LESS EXPENSIVE TO ORGAI IIZE TtlAll THE DECEMBBR DI MA ELEqTION AROUND 2 500 VOTERS IN REMOTE AREAS VOTtsD P ARLY WITH BAI LOTS AIID BAITOT BO ES THAT WERE TRA ISPORTED BY HELICOPTER L4 C EMBOEFS HEARD RUSSIAIT RESIDENTS OF KTTABAROVSK CHAWINISTIC ATTITITDES REGARDING THE CHINBSE THErR CLOSE NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE AIvtUR VARIOUS PEOPLE TOLD B PRESS BMBOFF THAT THE CHINESE BEFOUT ED THE RMRS SOLD ONLY TNEERTOR PRODUCTS AIID FOUL-SMELLTNG FOOD PRODUCTS l'rArNLy AT A CHTNESE Rt lIOK' OUISIDE OF TOI N AlitD UNDERqUT THB PRICE OF RUSSTAI MAAT BY BRTNGING IN CH APER INFERIOR MEAT -- IflIICH RUSSIA AI IOT ED ONLY TO BB USED FOR PROCESSING TNTO SAUSAGES EVEN THOUGH RUSSIA IS MAY TRA EL WITHOUT VISAS IN CONFIDBNTI AI P e cE 03 MOSCOIT 09243 03 0F 04 L3L6L8Z THE ST'MMERTIME BY HYDROFOII ON ONE-DAY SHOPPING TRIPS TO A NEARBY CHINBSE TO $I MOST PBOPTE SEEMED UNINTERESTED IN THIS ONE ELDERLY ''YABLOKO'' POLL WATCIIER TOLD EMBOFF THAT THE AITTUR RIVER REPRESENTS THE CULTT RAL BOUNDARY BET'IEEN EUROPE AI ID ASIA AltD HE IS NOT TNTERESTED IN ENTURTNG TO THE NON-EUROPBAN ZONE 15 C NOT EVERYONE IN KHABAROVSK EEELS THAT WAY HOWBVER DALAVIYA TIIE KHABAROVSK AIRLINE IS SESKING TO OPEN A ROIITE BETT EEN KHABEROVSK AI D TIIE SOIITHBRN CI INESE CITY OF GUANGZHOV EMBOFF limo SPEAI S MAIIDARIN SPOKE WITH A FEW CHINESE MERCHAITTS AT THE CHINESE RY'IqOK THESE MERCIIA ITS SAID BUSINESS HAD DECLINED BECAUSE OF THE POOR RUSSIAIT ECONOIIY AT ID COMPI AINED OF HARJilSSMENT BY RUSSTA I aUTHoRITIES EivEN WHEN THEIR VISAS ARE rN ORDER IN AlrStfER TO A QUESTION EROM AN OSCB ETECTION MONTTOR THE ACTTNG LINCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED MAYOR SAID THB CHTNESE CONSUI ATE IN KIIABAROVSK HAD SHOI N AN INTEREST IN BOTH THE DECEMBER DUMA A ID T'TARCH PRESIDENTIAI EtBqrroNs ALTHOUGH NOT OFFICTAT OBSERVERS THEY I AD SENT A LETSER TO THE EI ECTOR AL COMMISSION IO ASK FOR COMPI ETts INFORMATION ON EI ECTION RETURNS KRASNOYARSK 16 C KRASNOYARSK KRAY IN CENTRAIJ RUSSTA BORDERS CHINA IN TITE SOIITH A ID THE ARCTIC OCE AN IN THE NORTH TOCAI I EADERS CONSIDER IT A AELLWETHER REGION -- SOMETI ING OF A RUSSIA T PEORIA HOIIE IER IN THIS PRESIDENTTAI BLECTION KRASIIOYARSK DID NOT VOTE AS HF il rILY FOR PUTIN AS IHB NATION CONFIDBNTI AI PAGE 04 MOSCOW 09243 03 0F 04 L3L6L8Z AS A I HOI E DID IIHILE VOTING WAS ORDBRLY A ID I ELtoRGAIfIZED AT KRASNOYARSK PRECINqTS THE TERRITORTAT ELBqTION COMMISSION TEC IN THE OKTYABRSKIY REGION EXPERIENCED A TOTAT BI ACKOI IT FOR 30 MINUIES DURING THE BI ACKOUT IHBRE WAS TAI I OF IT BEING A ''PROVOCATION B IT THE TERRTTORIAL EI ECTION COMMISSION TEC WAS QUICKLY BACK TO NORI'TAI ONCE PO ER WAS RESTORED ONLY ONE OBSBR TER WAS PRESENT rN THE TEC A SHARP CONTRAST TO THE KRASNOYARSK POLLING STATIONS I IIERE ALI THB T''A TOR CAIIDIDATES HAD OBSER IERS FAI ILY VOTING'' WAS SEEN E ZERYWHERE IN KR ASNOYARSK WITH HUSBANDS AllD I MS A rD PARENTS A ID CHII DREN OFTBN SIIARING THE VOTING BOOTH IIHEN QT'ERIED EIECTION OFFICIATS SAID THEY KNE THE RT'I ES A ID TRIED TO BNFORCE THEM BUT THE PRACTICE 9IA S SEEN OFTEN Al D MOST BLEqTION OFFICTAIS SIMPLY LOOKED THE OTHER WAY L7 C IN CON IERSATION WITH EMBOFF CI AIMED THAT GO IERNOR I EBED ' s E UTURE NE IERTHELBSS HE ALSO BBLIEIZED THAT PTITIN COI'LD PROVIDE THE STABILITY NEEDED TO ATTRACT ADDITIONAL FOREIGI IN IESTORS TO RUSSTA IS LOOKTNG TO FIRST ATTRACT RUSSIAII INVESTORS rO KR ASNOYARSK AS HE REASONED THEY ARE MORE WILIING TEAN FOREIGNERS TO TAIG RISKS IS CREDITED WITH BRINGING BUSINBSS TICOON BEREZOVSKIY TO KP ASNOYARSK AIID FORCING OIIT IIAFTA FIGT'RE BIKOV EROM THE KRAS AI MINT'M PI AI T TO ATTRACT I CONFIDENTIAI CONFIDENTIAI PAGE 01 MOSCOW 09243 04 0F 04 PTg2850 1316182 UNCLASSIFIED 81 86 UNCLASSIFIED ACTION BUR-01 INFO toc-00 DOEE-OO NP-OO SRPP-OO AID-OO DS-00 INR-OO I AB-01 L-00 AC-o1 NRRC-OO NSAB-OO CIAE-OO FBIE-OO MCO-01 NSCE-00 PM-OO PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 1RSE-00 DSCC-00 usrE-00 s e -00 rIP-00 PRM-o1 DRL-02 c-00 ozow P 1316162 APR 00 SMEC-00 INL-o1 H-01 TEDE-OO MOEI -04 oMB-o1 MOF-03 M-00 oPrc-01 sP-00 Nrsc-00 PA-OO NFAT-OO sAs-00 scT-00 sNrs-00 FDIC-01 ----486 F4 L3L6LAZ 3A l'M A BMBASSY ltlOSCO f TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRTORITY L422 INFO MOSCOW POLITICAI COLI ECTIVE CIS COLLECTIVE c o N F I D E N T I A L SEqIION 04 0F 04 MOSCOIT OO9243 E o X2958 DECL A 13 OO TAGS PGOV RS SUBJECT ROIIND-UP OF ELECTION r' ONITOR EXPERIENCBS oNB -- SIBBRTA FAR BAST PART FOREIGN INVESTORS RUSSIA WILL HAVE TO BE MORE SINCERE AIID TRAIiTSPARS iIT'' IN ITS DIATOGUE WITH THE WEST HE SAID TOO oFTEN RUSSIAII POTICY IS MELODRAIATIC CITING RUSSTA'S ''FAI SB SLOGAN OF ''SI AVIC BROTHERHOOD DT'RING THE KOSOVO CONELICT AS A I EXA PLE II8 AISO SATD THE WBST'S PICTURE OF CONFIDBNTIAI 02 IS MOSCOW 09243 04 0F 04 L3L6L8Z DISTORTED BY COI D WAR STEREOTYPES A ID OVERLY NBGATI IE E ZERYONE IN KRASNOYARSK ADMITTED THAT ORGANIZED CRIME IS A PROBLBM BITT SOME RATIONALTZED IT BY SAYING THE PROBLBM IS MORE SEVERE IN MOSCOW PAGE RUSSIA 18 C EXPECTED DODE-OO vc-01 OTHER LOCAT I EADERS WITH IIHOM EMBOFF SPOKE CIIA IGES I'ITDER PUTIN EMBOFF FOI' D THAI BIG I ERE MOSTTY INGIIBSS TO TAICE ON A TD EVEN REMO IE CORRT'PT GO IERNORS THEY ALSO DID NOT THINK THAT P IITN WOULD BACK AWAY FROM THE BASIC NORITS OF DEMOCRrcY IOI D US THAT ARE JA YOUTII Y ARB INTERESTED IN THB KPRF ESPECTATLY AFIER THEY GRADUATE AI ID DISCOVER HOVI DIFFICT'LT IT IS TO FIND A IOB HE SAID THERE ARE SERIOUS SOCIAT PROBLEMS IN THB TERRITORY PARTICT'I ARLY IN THE NORTHERN crTY oF NORITSK 9IHERE 35 000 PENSTONERS HA IE BEEN AB A IDO 8D HE WAS PROI'D THAT ZYUGANOV IIAD NOT CIIANGED TINCLASSIFIED IRM-OO PMB-OO UNCLASSIFIED ONE MIILIMETER EROM HIS LAST ETECTION CAI' PAIGN ADDING THAT THE KPRS DID NOT HAVE TO RELY ON A CHARISMATIC I F ADER TO ATTRA T VOTES TO MEINTATN A VIABI E PARTY PUTTN'S SUCCESS IN KRASNOYARSK I' AY I ELL BE MP-A SURED BY HOW IA TY OF THOSB YOUNG RUSSIA IS FIND THEMSETVES EMPLOYED IN THE NEXT EEW YEARS A ID WHETHER TIELP SORM THE MIDDI E CI ASS TIIAT SO E'AR KRASNOYARSK I ACKS IRKUTSK 19 C EMBOEFS OBSERVING IN IRKIUTSK NOTtsD CONPIDENTTAL A I ACK OF PAGE 03 MOSCOW 09243 04 0F 04 1316182 CAII PAIGNING OR EXCITEMSNT ABOUT THE ELECTIONS ON 4ARCH 24 THE LAST CAIIPAIGN DAY THERE ERE HOI EVER SEVERAT BTLT BOARDS FOR TrTOV Al D IN SPOTS yA rLrNSKry POSTER S WERE UP THE INTEREST IN THE PRBSIDENTIAL ELECTION WA S tOW AI ID RESIDBNTS IIERE MORE INTERESTED TN EMBOFFS' VIE S ON THB U S PRESIDBNTIAI RACE THERE WERE NO LOCAT EI ECTIONS IN TRKUTSK ON 'ARCH 25 BMBOFFS ATTEIIDED A PROJECT HARMONY ''INTERNET A ID EI EqIIONS'' SEMINAR WHICH WAS CIIAIRBD BY suBirEcT ELECTION COMMTSSION SEC CHAIRM IGNATENKO THE CoNSERENCE WAS QUITE INTERESTING AllD ELL-ATIEhTDED SEC CIIAIRLIAI IGNAIENKO WAS PRESENT AI D SPOKE WITH EMBOFFS AFTER THE CONFBRENCE IIE SAID THAT HE HAD WORKED CLOSBLY VTITH ISES A ID WAS VBRY TIAPPY TITH THEIR ASSISTAIICE 20 C THE ADMINISTRATION OF THB ELECTION WAS EXCBLLENT AIID ORDERLY TT'RNOIII IdAS HIGH A ID PEJAICBD AROI'ND LT'NCHTIME cAusrNG CRoI DING LONG LrNES FOR VOTING BOOTHS AND VOTERS IIARKTNG THBrR BATLOTS ON WTNDOII STLLS TABLES AlitD OBSERVERS' TABIES DOMESTIC OBSER IERS T ERE SEEN AT NE ARLY EVERY SITE AI ID MOST OFTEN INCLIJDED KPRF AllD PIITIN OBSERVERS T IEY I ERE TYPICAILY NOT VERY TELt SRAINED E ACH POLLING STATION DID ITA IE A CEC BOOKI ET ON THE RIGHTS A TD D IIIES OF OBSER ZERS THE VOTE COUNT AI THE POLLTNG STATION IIHERE EMBOFF OBSER IED WAS COMPLEIED QUTCKLY A ID GENERATLY ACCORDING TO PROCEDT'RE AI t OFFICIAIS SEEMED TO KNOW THE I AW A ID TI E ORDER OF COMPIETING TASKS OBSERVERS WERE ALLOIVED TO PEER OVER THE SHOI'LDER OF EI EqTION OFFICTATS AS THEY COUNTED VOSES AI D OBSER ZE THE ENTIRE PROCEDURE SE VERAL IIIDIVIDUAIS IHO WERE NEITHER ALECTTON OFFICfAIS NOR OBSER IERS fNCLUDING TWO IvI ID OFFfCERS WERE ALLO ED TO WAII IN A ID O IT OF THE POLLING PI ACE CONFIDENTIAI PAGE 04 MOSCOW 09243 04 0F 04 1316182 UNCLASSIFIED ORDWAY UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAI SISD OF DOCUMENT TINCLASSIFIED