Russians in Goa can now cast votes for their country's election

For the first time, Russia opened a polling station in Goa to enable its citizens to cast their vote to elect the State Duma -- lower house of the Parliament, in which, several Russians, either holidaying or living in Goa, today exercised their franchise.

Under strict observation of the Russian diplomats, a three-storey building in Porvorim area, 5 km away from here, which is the office of Vikram Varma, lawyer of Russian consulate in Mumbai, was converted into a polling booth between 11 am and 5 pm.

"This is for the first time that Russia has allowed voting to be done from a place, which is not its embassy or consulate office. Earlier, citizens had to travel to Mumbai to exercise their right," Varma told PTI.

Goa, which attracts around 40,000 Russians annually, has 150 Russians living here on a long-term business visa and around 5,000, who visit the state as tourists.

Roman Vorobiev, an officer from Russian Consulate in Mumbai and Eugene Kurilka, Deputy Head of trade representation of the Russian Federation in India, were the observers for the polls, which went off peacefully.

Goa police had guarded the entire place, as Russians began arriving at the booth. Majority of them arrived in groups, carrying all the necessary documents.

"There is a large number of Russians, who live in Goa. The Russian consulate in Mumbai has stepped forward to assist its citizens to cast their votes," Varma said.

Besides Goa, the Russians could also cast their vote in their country's embassy in New Delhi and consulates in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

"As a formality, the Russians, who travel outside their country, have to take a 'leave of absence' from the election office, which should be furnished to the authorities at the polling booth before getting the right to vote," Varma said.

The ballot boxes would be sealed and taken to Consulate in Mumbai, from where, it would be sent through diplomatic courier to Delhi.