Russia elects radical nationalist as poll panel head

Churov who was elected by 13-2 vote, will replace Alexander Veshnyakov, recently fired by President Vladimir Putin. The State Duma appointed him a member of the new Central Election Commission on March 9.

After his election, he said there will be less politics in his work as CEC chairman.

“The principal difference between me and Alexander Veshnyakov is that I am less likely to comment on election law and more inclined to get things done,” Churov said.

The 15-member Russia’s Central Election Commission is formed by both houses of parliament and the President.

Veshnyakov said he had no plans to join politics after his term ended and refused to comment on his future job.

Veshnyakov had opposed Putin’s administrative reform for replacing regional governors elected to the Federation Council—the upper house—by popular vote with regional representatives appointed by the President and abolished gubernatorial elections.

Putin on Tuesday awarded the “Order for Services to the Fatherland,” (second class) to Veshnyakov, deputy chief of the Kremlin staff Vladislav Surkov said at the first session of the new CEC.