Thiruvananthapuram: Russian nationals in Keralam exercised their franchise in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday ahead of the parliamentary elections in Russia, scheduled to be held from Sept 18 to 20 to elect members to the State Duma.A voting facility was arranged at the Russian honorary consulate as part of arrangements made at Russian embassies and consulates across the world to enable citizens living abroad to cast their votes.The voting process was led by Aleksandr Fomin, deputy consul general of Russia in Chennai, along with Russian honorary consul in Thiruvananthapuram Ratheesh Nair and officials Anastasiia Pismennaia and Sergei Kliukin from the Chennai consulate.Russian nationals who are residing in Keralam as well as tourists in the state were eligible to vote. Another voting facility was also arranged on Sunday for Russian nationals working at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.Nair said the Russian honorary consulate in Thiruvananthapuram, which was opened in 2008, has been a venue for Russian presidential and parliamentary elections.“Usually, more Russians turn up for presidential elections. Since those elections are held in March, there are also more tourists in Keralam. The ongoing conflict in West Asia has affected the number of tourists arriving from Russia,” he said.Though citizens also have the option of voting online, around 10 people arrived at the honorary consulate to cast their votes.
