Korovin: journalists' non-admission to elections in Astrakhan was illegal

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Igor Korovin, chairman of the Astrakhan regional electoral commission, that journalists were not admitted to polling stations in the Astrakhan Region because the workers of local commissions were against "strangers' eyes."

"Unfortunately, the cases, when journalists were not admitted to polling stations, are in plenty. All of them are pure initiative of local electoral commissions. It's illegal. It all became possible because of disrespect of the law," said Mr Korovin.

In his opinion, heads of the local commissions surely should know that journalists have the right to be present at voting.

"I don't think that local commission chairs are unaware of such elementary things; although all of them, certainly, are temporary people in the electoral system. However, these things - who can be present at the polling station and with what functions - are the basics, it's their bread. Since they treated their duties in this manner - it means that they wouldn't like 'strangers' eyes' at the voting," Igor Korovin has added.

Nevertheless, he is sure that they did not want to hide something illegal.

"I don't say that they wanted to hide certain violations. Apart from voters, polling stations are full of people; and it creates a nervous and disturbing atmosphere," said Igor Korovin.

According to his version, no order or statement was ever adopted by the regional or city electoral commissions that to work at polling stations journalists need a special accreditation or permit, since it is against the law.

When commenting the incident which happened with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent Vyacheslav Yaschenko at one of the polling stations of the region, Mr Korovin said that he did not know about it.