Opposition Finds Apathy Over Election in Russia City

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

Mr. Shein, a member of the Just Russia party, insists that if the results had not been falsified he would be mayor of Astrakhan. But if residents have little faith in the election system, they also seem to have little interest in Mr. Shein’s plight. Their indifference poses a major challenge for antigovernment activists from Moscow who have flocked south in recent days to lend him support, and are hoping to use his case to build wider momentum for political reform.

Even as more organizers of this winter’s huge street protests in Moscow arrived here on Thursday — ahead of a protest set for Saturday afternoon —residents seemed not to care.

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