A Russian opposition politician who has been on a hunger strike for 39 days to protest alleged vote rigging in a mayoral election says he will end his protest fast on April 24.
Oleg Shein, a candidate in the March 4 election in the city of Astrakhan, said, "the hunger strike has achieved its goals."
Official results show Shein finished second in an mayoral election that was won by a candidate from President-elect Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party.
Shein and his supporters launched a hunger strike on March 16 against what they called vote-count irregularities.
Putin earlier this month asked why Shein was on a hunger strike instead of challenging the official results in court, prompting lawmakers from Shein's A Just Russia party to walk out of parliament.
Oleg Shein, a candidate in the March 4 election in the city of Astrakhan, said, "the hunger strike has achieved its goals."
Official results show Shein finished second in an mayoral election that was won by a candidate from President-elect Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party.
Shein and his supporters launched a hunger strike on March 16 against what they called vote-count irregularities.
Putin earlier this month asked why Shein was on a hunger strike instead of challenging the official results in court, prompting lawmakers from Shein's A Just Russia party to walk out of parliament.
