Oleg Shein was elected mayor of the city of Astrakhan. People voted for him, but his rival was declared mayor instead — a representative of the Party of Crooks and Thieves (a derogatory nickname for United Russia). Everywhere there were electronic ballot-counting machines and polling-station observers, Shein won by a wide margin. Wherever observers were not allowed in, SUDDENLY the United Russia guy won. Shein and his colleagues have announced an indefinite hunger strike. What an interesting political system we have: it’s not enough just to win an election — you then also have to go on hunger strike to get anyone to notice that local thugs stole your victory.