Candidacy of oppositionist from YaNAO, who nominated his whole family for City Duma election, has been withdrawn

The territorial election commission denied the registration of Alexander Bondarchuk as a candidate for the Noyabrsk City Duma on August 4. All 19 signatures endorsing Bondarchuk’s candidacy were deemed invalid because he allegedly collected them at workplaces. The commission also pointed out that the voters' data was incomplete.

Bondarchuk believes he was put under surveillance to catch him violating the rules of signature collection. He told "7x7" that his house was patrolled by a traffic police car. He claims it is "not the first time he has been located through mobile phone billing."

Alexander Bondarchuk aimed to participate in the election with his family to increase the number of independent deputies in the City Duma. The authorities nominated a representative of the City Hall and Alexander’s namesake, Maria Bondarchuk, to compete against the oppositionist.

The election commission also withdrew Bondarchuk’s mother, wife, son, and daughter from the election. A few days ago, the politician was fined 1,000 rubles for displaying the symbols of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK)* on VK. Bondarchuk asserted that the page was fake.

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