On 11 March, Commissioner for Human Rights in Saint Petersburg Alexander Shishlov, speaking at the meeting of the Commission on Election Rights of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights and the Human Rights Council of Saint Petersburg, underscored the current decrease in public confidence in elections.

The meeting focussed on implementation of the voting rights of citizens in 2014. In this regard, the regional commissioner underlined that "the current trend contradicts interests of society and undermines legitimacy of the authorities, discredits the existence of a strong and efficient state which protects human rights."

Mr Shishlov recommended drawing conclusions on the results of the last elections in 2014 and striving to find ways to improve law enforcement and administrative practices in the future.

Mass media sources.