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George Kline Preston IV

Versions of names: Джордж Клайн Престон IV
USA

G. Kline Preston, IV is an American lawyer who authored books about Russian regulations. Among Preston's Russian clients is Alexander Torshin, a prominent Russian politician who has close ties to President Vladimir Putin. In early 2018, Torshin came under scrutiny for illegally channeling Russian funds to the National Rifle Association in an effort to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Missions

Individual observers at the 2018 Russian presidential election

No affiliation

Institutional affiliation to Kline Preston Law Group

Это мои пятые выборы в России и, в том числе, вторые – президентские. Я не вижу повода для жалоб: стандартная система голосования, которая в результате обеспечивает честные и прозрачные выборы. Что касается активности, то она предсказуемо будет выше, поскольку это – президентские выборы. Я не удивлен таким уровнем интереса.

Мы побывали на нескольких участках, недочетов нет. Остались довольны увиденным. Отмечу хорошую организацию, четкое соблюдение стандартов: избирательный участок в Суздале и Кали

Read more about this mission here:
International experts observing elections on the 2017 Russian single voting day

No affiliation

Institutional affiliation to Kline Preston Law Group

Read more about this mission here:
Individual Observers at the 2023 territorial pseudo-elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine

not identified

Institutional affiliation to Kline Preston Law Group

Self-determination is a vital international legal principle, so the fact that the residents of these territories can express their opinion is of great importance. You know, Crimea already did this in 2018 in the presidential elections. People there are in favor of being in composition of the Russian Federation. [Translated from Russian]

https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/18688433 (2023-12-16)

This is a very disciplined system, very reliable, very transparent. I think that everything went open, clear and without problems. There were no violations of the rules. I didn’t see any problems, I’m just a little surprised by Mariupol itself, because recently there was such a battle. [Translated from English]

https://ria.ru/20230908/mariupol-1895061923.html (2023-12-16)

Corresponding elections

Presidential Election Russia 2018
legitimate
The seventh presidential election in Russia was held on 18 March 2018. With the exception of the election in Russia-annexed Crimea, this election is considered legitimate. The election held in Crimea for the Russian presidency is internationally considered to be an illegitimate election, see more on this at the election page 2018 Russian presidential election in annexed Crimea. The election took place under restrictions on fundamental freedoms and limited space for political engagement.
Local & Regional Election Russia 2017
legitimate
Election Day was held on September 10, 2017. 82 out of 85 of Russia's regions took part in the voting. Only in Saint Petersburg, Republic of Ingushetia and Magadan Oblast no elections took place
Local & Regional Election Ukraine Occupied territories 2023
illegitimate
From 8 to 10 September 2023, the Russian forces organised widely condemned regional and municipal elections in the regions of occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. The results were largely rejected by the international community, with North Korea and Syria being the only ones to explicitly recognise them.