A DELEGATION from the Council of Europe, the only major European democracy watchdog that will monitor Sunday's presidential election in Russia, has said it fears the poll will not be fair because the campaign is slanted in favour of President Vladimir Putin's chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev.
Head of the delegation Andreas Gross said that "although it seems as if the Kremlin would have won even a free election, even a fair election, they did not allow it, that's the real point. Why does a power who can be sure to stay in power not really allow a free competition?" he asked.
The head of Russia's election commission yesterday angrily rejected the criticism. "This is part of an international policy, part of activities directed against the Russian Federation," said Vladimir Churov.
"Some international observers come to Russia with ready-made conclusions and opinions which have nothing in common with reality," he added, while noting that about 300 foreign monitors would oversee the poll, many from around the former Soviet Union.
Mr Gross said his post-election report could only echo a previous one, because hardly any of the failings outlined earlier had been rectified by Russian party or election officials. "Our statement on Monday will not be less tough than the one three weeks ago, because nearly nothing improved," he said of a campaign that has seen Kremlin-backed candidate Dmitry Medvedev receive vastly more coverage than his rivals, all of it positive.
Europe's main election monitor, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, pulled out after Russia refused to allow its members into the country early enough to monitor a large part of the campaign.
But preparations for the election were also assailed yesterday by anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International and Russian election monitoring agency Golos.
"I'm quite sure the Kremlin is using what it calls the verticals [of power], working through the regional governors and mayors," said Viktor Vakhshtain of Golos.
"They will talk to the heads of hospitals and schools and other civil groups to make sure they pass on the message to their doctors, nurses and teachers that if they don't vote for the right person, they may not have a job in a few months."
Opinion polls give Mr Medvedev about 70 per cent of the vote. Mr Medvedev has asked Mr Putin, who is constitutionally prohibited from serving a third term, to be his prime minister and has vowed to follow Mr Putin's policies. He has declined to take part in televised debates and has largely ignored campaigning, saying he is too busy working.
Figures released yesterday by Russia's Centre of Journalists in Extreme Situations showed main television channels were giving Mr Medvedev only positive blanket coverage. "State broadcasters failed comprehensively to meet legal obligations to create equal conditions for all candidates by demonstrating clear bias in favour of Dmitry Medvedev, both in tone and the amount of devoted coverage," it said.
Television pictures have filmed Mr Medvedev, currently first deputy prime minister, following Mr Putin around the country, delivering positive economic data and jetting off to Europe on state visits.
"He should not be allowed to do that," said Yelena Pamfilova, head of Transparency International in Russia. "He should break from his work and campaign as usual, in a free and fair election." - (Additional reporting from Reuters)