RUSSIA: DACHA DWELLERS

(30 Jun 1996) Russian/Nat

Millions of Russians didn't vote in the first round of Russia's presidential elections because they preferred to spend a day in the country, and may not vote in the second for the same reason.

In Russia, a day at the dacha - or country house - is a far more deep-seated tradition than taking part in democratic elections.

Because of this, Russian President Boris Yeltsin has fought to hold the elections on a weekday in the hope that people will go to the polls rather than their country homes.

Every Friday afternoon during the summer, the roads out of Moscow are clogged with dachniki, or dacha dwellers.

The trains are also full of people escaping the city and heading for the Russian countryside.

The dacha, or summer house, is of great importance in a country which suffers such long and harsh winters.

Summer at the dacha is a time to savour the long, warm days spent working in the garden and enjoying the fresh air and space that Moscow can't provide.

And for some Russians, the presidential elections have come at a most inconvenient time.

Those enjoying their summer homes are forced to choose between electing a leader or sipping tea by the samovar.

And many are choosing the cup of tea.

This woman says the nearest polling station is too far away and too costly to get to anyway.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"No, we won't go to vote. First of all, it is a very long way there. You can only get there by car. How can my husband come and get me here? It's 130 kilometres there and 130 kilometres back. That's 260 kilometres. You can imagine how much the petrol will cost, so most people won't go."
SUPER CAPTION: Nadezhda Zaitsev, Dacha dweller

Many dacha dwellers agree that it's just too expensive to go and
vote.

The money they would spend on transport could be spent on fixing up the house.

This man thinks that family matters are more important than presidential elections.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"My wife didn't vote last time because she was here with our grandchild, and she won't vote again for the same reason, along with our neighbours. There are a lot of reasons for not voting. It isn't easy to just hop on the train, especially for the elderly."
SUPER CAPTION: Nikolai Petrov, Dacha dweller

This woman claims it's not apathy that keeps people at their dachas because she says most people want to fulfill their duty to vote.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"No, it is not a lack of interest. It's just that we don't have the ability to go and vote. We don't have a car and buses don't come here. How will we go and vote? It is a real problem."
SUPER CAPTION: Marina Meshcheryakov, Dacha dweller

Some members of Russia's government are afraid that so many people will not vote because they are at their country homes that it will affect the outcome of the runoff on July 3rd between President Boris Yeltsin and his Communist challenger Gennady Zyuganov.

And they could just be right...

Tea from the samovar and a walk in the countryside are far more deep-seated traditions in Russia than taking part in democratic elections.

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