Boris Miklyukov, an observer for the Yabloko party, was detained at polling station No. 58 in the settlement of Yuzhny in the Azov district of the Rostov region, the party's press service said. There has been no contact with Miklyukov since.
Three officers came for him: two police in plainclothes and balaclavas and one officer in uniform. All were from Rostov-on-Don, roughly 100 kilometers from Yuzhny. Miklyukov was put into a car and driven away, presumably to police department No. 8 in Rostov-on-Don.
The reasons for the detention are unknown. Yabloko believes police interest in the party member may be linked to a comment he made on social media. The party did not specify which comment.
In 2022, Miklyukov was already fined under the article on the "discrediting" of the army, over comments in a chat.
In the Tambov region, police are summoning Yabloko observers for talks: their list, submitted to the electoral commission, ended up with the security services. Police in various districts of the region are calling the observers appointed by the party and seeking meetings, as well as issuing warnings about the inadmissibility of unlawful actions on voting days.
Yabloko is running its campaign under the anti-war slogan "For Peace and Freedom." Elections in Russia will be held from September 18 to 20, with voting having begun early in front-line regions. Campaigns of various levels will be held across the country, including elections of deputies to the State Duma of the ninth convocation.