Churov promises to reply to resignation demands in four years’ time

The critics of Russia’s Central Election Commission chief, Vladimir Churov, who have been demanding his resignation, may have to wait for years to hear an answer. “I shall reply in four years’ time,” Churov told the media, who asked him about his likely response to those who were urging his resignation. “I have already promised that upon the end of this term of mine – the last one, I hope - I shall speak my mind,” the CEC chief said. The demand for Churov’s resignation was one of the main ones at the numerous rallies that have been held across the country since the December 4 election. Also, this demand has been regularly voiced inside the Central Election Commission. Starting from December 9 the CEC member from the Communist Party with advisory voting rights, Kirill Serdyukov, has repeatedly called for including the question of Churov’s resignation in the agenda at each meeting of the CEC. However, it has been systematically rejected by the CEC members. “We have no intention of putting the question (of Churov’s resignation) on the agenda,” CEC secretary Nikolai Konkin told Itar-Tass on December 26. Konkin also said that in accordance with the current legislation, even if one imagines a hypothetical situation in which CEC members may raise the question and vote for Churov’s resignation, he would retain his seat anyway. There is no body of authority that can revoke or dismiss him, even the body that appointed him. He can leave the CEC only his own accord, Konkin said.