Russia at 'crossroads' in crucial poll, warns Kremlin critic

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• published: 19 Sep 2016
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The stark warning was issued by country's former prime minister, Mikhail Kasyanov, as voters went to the polls in Russia's parliamentary elections, where Mr Putin's governing United Russia party is expected to hold on to its absolute majority. Mr Kasyanov, heads the opposition Parnas party, which is taking part in elections for the first time having previously been blocked by the authorities. However, as one of Russia's unofficial opposition parties, not approved by the Kremlin, it faces heavy restrictions. It also has to cope with constant pressure from pro-Putin supporters with Parnas members regularly harassed. :: Russia goes to the polls - All you need to know As a result, Mr Kasyanov, who was earlier this year the victim of a sex-tape sting, does not expect the result to be "credible". He told Sky News' Murnaghan programme: "The authorities of course want to demonstrate the elections are free and fair - the best elections ever - but it's absolutely not the case." While being permitted to contest the elections for the first time, Mr Kasyanov said: "The whole system, the whole environment set up by the authorities in Russia doesn't correspond to the words free and fair. "We expect the result will not be credible because of administrative pressure on candidates." He pointed to reports from the regions of so-called "carousels". "When people on buses move from one voting station to the other - the same people voting several times," Mr Kasyanov explained. He added: "Russia has come to a crossroads. I think the majority of Russians unfortunately don't understand that. "Only tomorrow and the year after they will understand." He said Russia faced a choice of a change or a return "back to the Soviet totalitarian regime". Mr Kasyanov hoped to make enough gains at the polls to stop the authorities making "fake results". He said: "Sooner or later we will have changes. "We would like those changes to be achieved through constitutional actions. That's why we believe this day is very important for Russia. "Otherwise we are moving to the absolute wrong direction. "Who knows, maybe the last elections which are held in a normal environment." Outlining the personal harassment he has faced, Mr Kasyanov said: "For many months I was followed by pro-Kremlin organisations. "A special team followed me everywhere not only in Moscow but everywhere in the regions. They tried to block my meetings with people. They tried to arrange violence against me." He added: "Pressure on our activists too... The authorities are creating cases of pressure so that other people will see opposition is not allowed." Mr Kasyanov disputed that Mr Putin was popular, but argued voters feared the alternative. He added: "People are afraid if not Putin, that there will be some kind of disaster. That's why they hate Putin, but continue to believe it's better for Putin to stay. "That's why we are in deadlock. We cannot get out of this problem. "But I believe people have started to wake up and they will vote."