Former Astrakhan mayoral candidate Oleg Shein ended his 40-day protest hunger strike on Tuesday.

      The main aim of the strike was to draw attention to vote rigging during the mayoral election in Astrakhan on March 4, 2012. Earlier Oleg Shein said he would begin eating again after the release of all his supporters (many of them were detained during protest rallies in Astrakhan). On Thursday the last of arrested people was released.

      During the hunger strike Shein lost 14 kilos and got several health problems. But at the same time, the strike has become the central point or Russia’s fractured opposition in recent weeks, and the cause of new protest waves in Moscow in other Russian regions. 

      According to the official vote results, Shein lost the election to the United Russia party candidate, Mikhail Stolyarov, 30% vs 60% of the votes. The opposition candidate declared the election rigged and began a hunger strike after 12 days. The action attracted mass attention only after the 20th day. Then Moscow supporters of Shein went to Astrakhan and held a mass protest rally in the city center.

       The Astrakhan city court is now preparing for hearings concerning the cancellation of the mayoral vote results. Shein says he has enough proof for the court to cancel them. 

Sources: RIA Novosti gazeta.ru Image: top.rbc.ru