1 of 5

Andrei Ishchenko, communist candidate of the governor election in Primorye region, centre, attends a protest rally with his supporters in Vladivostok, Russia's Far East, Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Ishchenko said on Monday he is starting a hunger strike over alleged irregularities in a gubernatorial race. (AP Photo/Alexander Khitrov)

2 of 5

People gather for a protest rally at the Primorye region administration's building after the governor election in the Primorye region in Vladivostok, Russia's Far East, Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Communist candidate Andrei Ishchenko, in Russia's Far East said on Monday he is starting a hunger strike over alleged irregularities in a gubernatorial race. (AP Photo/Alexander Khitrov)

3 of 5

Andrei Ishchenko, communist candidate of governor election in Primorye region, center, speaks with his supporters in Vladivostok, Russia's Far East, Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Andrei Ishchenko said on Monday he is starting a hunger strike over alleged irregularities in a gubernatorial race. (AP Photo/Alexander Khitrov)

4 of 5

5 of 5

Andrei Ishchenko, communist candidate of governor election in Primorye region, speaks with his supporters in Vladivostok, Russia's Far East, Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Andrei Ishchenko said on Monday he is starting a hunger strike over alleged irregularities in a gubernatorial race. (AP Photo/Alexander Khitrov)

Russian election officials cast doubt on gubernatorial vote

By Associated Press AP

PUBLISHED 2:06 PM ET May. 09, 2019

MOSCOW (AP) — Election officials have moved closer to canceling the results of Sunday's gubernatorial elections in Russia's Far East, bending to the pressure of accusations of blatant vote rigging.

The Central Election Commission voted on Wednesday to recommend to the local election authorities in the Primorye region that they should nullify the results due to numerous violations.

Communist candidate Andrei Ishchenko had a comfortable with 95 percent of the ballots counted before the final results showed an extraordinary surge in votes for the pro-Kremlin candidate. Ishchenko called his supporters onto the streets and said his team had evidence that the results had been tampered with.

The move is the first time in many years that officials have paid heed to widespread reports of vote rigging.