"Voting is actively under way in the Crimea. More than 50% of local residents have already voted," he told RIA Novosti by phone.
Meanwhile, Mr. Zatulin mentioned that Crimean residents experience some difficulties at local polling stations caused by recent changes in the Ukrainian election law.
In particular, the Russian deputy pointed out at the fact that all election committees have been created on a parity basis between Yuschenko and Yanukovich supporters. As a result, members of the committees constantly engage in disputes and cause problems for each other. Consequently, he reports, the current situation at the polling stations is rather tense.
"Yuschenko's supporters check thoroughly documents of all voters. They create long lines. The lists of registered voters are confusing and courts are inundated with requests to vote," Mr. Zatulin reports.
The deputy notes another problem that surfaced after the decision of the Ukrainian Constitutional court to allow invalids to vote in absentia.
"The decision was received by territorial election committees too late. As a result, the number of people who could participate in the election diminished. They have the formal right to vote, but cannot exercise it," the Russian State Duma Deputy underlined.
