Moscow electoral chairwoman recovering after electric shocker attack

The chairwoman of Moscow's election authority said shewas still in pain on Friday after being attacked overnight by a homeintruder with an electric shocker.As the head of Russia's Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilovawas responsible for rejecting several opposition candidates from thisupcoming Sunday's city council elections.The rejections, based on technicalities such as unapprovedsignatures, have incited a wave of protests in the Russian capital inrecent weeks.A masked intruder entered Pamfilova's home in the Moscow regionthrough a window overnight to Friday and attacked her "repeatedly"with an electric shocker before fleeing the scene, Russia's InteriorMinistry said in a statement.Pamfilova told state media that part of her hand was injured in theattack. "There is still physical pain," she said in comments carriedby broadcaster Rossiya-24.A search is under way for the attacker. Russia's highestinvestigative agency said the attack could have been linked toPamfilova's work. "Investigators will thoroughly examine each possible scenario for thecommitted crime, including an attack in connection with professionalactivity," the federal Investigative Committee said in a statement.Both the Investigative Committee and the Interior Ministry initiallyconsidered the attack an attempted robbery. The charge named by theInterior Ministry is punishable by up to 12 years in prison.Russian state media reported that nothing was stolen from the home.The Russian news agency Interfax reported that Pamfilova was"healthy" following the incident and participated in a conference inMoscow on Friday.About 2,000 people have been detained during the wave of protests,with numerous opposition supporters accusing police of a heavy-handedapproach.  Videos circulated on the internet appeared to show police repeatedlyclubbing protesters being detained.