Russian nationals in Kerala vote in Duma elections at Thiruvananthapuram polling station

Russian nationals living in Kerala and tourists visiting the state cast their votes at a polling station in Thiruvananthapuram ahead of the elections to the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, scheduled from September 18 to 20.

Honorary Consulate organizes polling

The polling station was arranged at Russia's Honorary Consulate in the state capital as part of global arrangements by embassies and consulates to enable Russians worldwide to exercise their franchise. Aleksandr Fomin, Deputy Consul General, Chennai; Ratheesh Nair, Honorary Consul of Russia; and Anastasiia Pismennaia and Sergei Kliukin of the Chennai Consulate led the arrangements.

Voting will be organized for Russian nationals working at the Kudankulam nuclear plant.

Voting pattern over the years

Ratheesh Nair said that since opening in Thiruvananthapuram in 2008, Russia's Honorary Consulate had made arrangements for casting votes for both Presidential and Parliamentary elections. Usually, the number of voters for Presidential elections was more. Moreover, as these were held in March, the voters included a number of tourists.

The conflict in West Asia, however, had led to a dip in the number of visitors from Russia. Opportunities for online voting too are available. Despite this, around 10 voters turned up to cast their votes, Ratheesh Nair said.

The Honorary Consulate has been facilitating Russian citizens' participation in their home country's democratic process for over a decade, accommodating both residents and the seasonal tourist population in Kerala.

Source: The Hindu