Russian electoral rights group's bookkeeper questioned
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 2 April 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russian electoral rights group's bookkeeper questioned, 2 April 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/552f9dc146.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
April 02, 2015
By RFE/RL's Russian Service
SAMARA, Russia – Russian police have searched the apartment of the bookkeeper for the independent electoral-rights group Golos (Voice) branch in the Volga River city of Samara.
The group's regional leader Lyudmila Kuzmina (eds: a woman) told RFE/RL that the April 1 search was linked to a tax-evasion case she called politically motivated.
Bookkeeper Liliya Chibarchikova (eds: a woman) was interrogated after the search. The interrogators implied that Chibarchikova might have been involved in the alleged theft of at least 2 million rubles ($34,500) through tax evasion.
However, Kuzmina said Chibarchikova presented documents proving the group's regional branch got its financial support from tax-exempt donations.
On March 30, investigators in Samara sealed Kuzmina's apartment and impounded her car in connection with the same investigation.
Golos has irked President Vladimir Putin's government by documenting claims of violations in key votes, including a fraud-marred 2011 parliamentary election that sparked street protests.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website