Russian Opposition Groups Protest Election 'Irregularities'

ST. PETERSBURG -- Russia's opposition United Civic Front (OGF) movement is holding a demonstration in St. Petersburg on February 13 to protest against what it calls "irregularities in the work of election committees," RFE/RL's Russian service reports.

Olga Kurnosova, the leader of OGF's St. Petersburg branch, told RFE/RL that election committees have been creating obstacles for opposition candidates to register for the upcoming municipal elections, scheduled for March 1.

Opposition groups such as Yabloko, the regional Ingria movement, and the Communist Party, as well as independent candidates, have all encountered difficulties in registering candidates and are taking part in the protest.