The Russian foreign ministry summoned US ambassador John Sullivan, to complain about alleged interference by “digital giants” in Russia’s upcoming parliamentary election. The programme aims to advise voters which candidates are in the best position to defeat candidates from United Russia, the party that dominates parliament, in the September 19 election. Although the other sizeable parties on the ballot routinely support President Vladimir Putin, as does United Russia, Smart Voting’s intent is to undermine United Russia’s dominance of the political landscape, thereby casting a shadow on Mr Putin. In 2019, it helped opposition candidates win 20 of 45 seats on the Moscow city council. Authorities have blocked most access to Smart Voting’s website, leaving it available largely through apps, and it is unclear how widely it will be used in the parliamentary election.

Source: Irish Independent September 11, 2021 04:07 UTC