Defeated candidates in Russian election try to annul 'crooked' online results

FILE PHOTO: Members and supporters of the Russian Communist Party attend a rally to protest against the preliminary results of the parliamentary election in Moscow, Russia September 20, 2021. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A coalition of defeated parliamentary candidates in Moscow who allege they were cheated of victory in a parliamentary election by a crooked online voting system said on Thursday they would try to overturn the results via lawsuits and public pressure.

Some of the defeated candidates, most of whom are Communists, have called on voters to gather in Moscow on Saturday after eight parliamentary seats where the Communists had been ahead suddenly flipped to the ruling United Russia party once online voting results were added in.