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Russia Seeks U.S. Opinion on Elections in Astrakhan Village

Russia's Central Elections Commission has sent a letter to the U.S. State Department inquiring whether the U.S. leadership recognizes the results of recent elections in a small village in the Astrakhan region.

A copy of the letter, dated Oct. 13 and signed by the commission's deputy head Stanislav Vavilov, was published on the commission's website. The elections in question were held on Sept. 14 in the village of Volgo-Kaspiisky.

The letter does not specify why Russia's electoral commission is seeking the official U.S. opinion on municipal elections in a small village of 2,500 people. The cover letter of the document says the request was sent on behalf of the commission's head, Vladimir Churov.

The letter has 26 pages of materials attached, including a description of the candidates, ballot protocols and observers' complaints.

… we have a small favor to ask.

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