Russian channel hires vote commentator

MOSCOW, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Just over three months before Russia’s parliamentary elections, Ostankino-based Channel One has hired Andrei Pisarev to oversee its election coverage.

The hiring of Pisarev, a television executive known to have links to United Russia, which backs President Vladimir Putin, has sparked opposition politicians to complain to the Central Elections Commission, the Moscow Times reported Thursday.

Pisarev was appointed to the newly created post of deputy director general in charge of elections coverage, by Channel One chief Konstantin Ernst in late July, a Channel One spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Although, Pisarev told Kommersant that he was not a member of United Russia, he has been credited with advising United Russia on several initiatives, including the pro-Kremlin party's Russian Project.

Channel One spokeswoman Larisa Krymova said the appointment was made for "purely professional" reasons. "Pisarev is a well-known, professional director who has worked with Channel One on more than one occasion," she added.