The Central Elections Commission on Friday ruled that Russians can't vote in a referendum on the country's future membership in the WTO, stating as one of the reasons that Russian is not the official language of the trade organization.
A group led by Konstantin Babkin, a co-owner of farm equipment companies in Russia and Canada, petitioned the authorities to allow the referendum in a last-ditch attempt to reverse the agreement between Russia and the WTO that envisages Russia's accession by the end of the summer. The group said the membership would damage domestic producers by inviting unfair competition.
The Central Elections Commission said the referendum would require people to study the accession terms that include at least 23,150 trade and tariff obligations by the country — all in English, French and Spanish, which are the official WTO languages. That prevents Russians from making an informed decision, the commission said in a statement.
Another reason to scuttle the referendum is that international agreements are in the exclusive remit of the federal government, the commission said.
The referendum's organizers said they would take the matter to the Supreme Court.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
