PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
RUSSIAN ELECTIONS (6 May 1996)

That this House believes that it is incumbent upon all western governments having called for democracy in Russia over many decades, including Her Majesty's Government, to make clear their total opposition to any proposal to postpone or cancel Russia's presidential election scheduled for 16th June, or any subsequent run-off between the two leading candidates; condemns the statements quoted in the Observer on 6th May by leading members of President Yeltsin's entourage calling for the elections to be cancelled as representing a serious threat to democracy in Russia which might have unforseeable consequences for that country; further notes the widespread concern in Russia that there may be attempts to evade the verdict of the polls by electoral fraud; and reaffirms its support for the right of the Russian people to select their own government through fair democratic elections.

Sponsored by:
Mr Ken Livingstone (Independent)