Ex-Mayor of Petrozavodsk: I made the system change and was deprived of the post for this
Deutsche Welle, 03.02.2016
By Nikita Batalov
Galina Shirshina, ex-Mayor of Petrozavodsk, gave DW an interview about threats to take her to court, participation in elections to the State Duma and her fight against the system.
After a loud dismissal of Galina Shirshina, Mayor of Petrozavodsk, the interest of the media has been once again focused on Karelia. In late January, Russian authorities expelled Finnish journalist after an interview with the ex-Mayor and annulled his Russian visa. Later the Federal Migration Service reported that journalists need to have a special working visa. Galina Shirshina said she did not rule out her participation in the autumn parliamentary elections. Shirshina also said that a criminal case could be filed against her, and also explained why the Karelian branch of YABLOKO had had problems with the law, and how businessmen did not let her to change the city governing system.
DW: After your dismissal, Petrozavodsk city councilors said they would seek filing criminal cases against you. Are these threats well founded?
Galina Shirshina: These threats represent the councilors’ attempt to justify my dismissal, to show that I was an “inefficient” Mayor. Public Prosecutor’s Office had previously tried to raise a case against me, but failed to find grounds for it. However, there are concerns that real criminal cases may emerge now. The matter is that there has been [criminal] investigation launched against my closest associates. In fact, all the top people of Karelian YABLOKO are currently defendants in criminal cases.
DW: What kind of criminal cases?
Galina Shirshina: The most loud case is the so-called Petropit case. The investigation accuses the defendants, my colleagues, of participation in the sale of a municipal building for an allegedly low price. It was a typical transaction, when a tenant buys a municipal building. There had been a valuation of the property, there had been an auction. There are many deals like this, but the investigators saw fraud in this very deal. I personally examined all of the circumstances of the sale of the building and can confirm that there had been no violations.
In fact, until my dismissal, there was no corpus delicti, because I as Mayor did not recognise that the city had suffered any damage. This case would have just fallen to pieces in court. And immediately after my dismissal, the city administration announced an allegedly caused damage, and the case was sent to court. I do not rule out that the next criminal case may be raised against me. For two and a half years that I worked as Mayor, I knew that the work was rather dangerous. So what now? Everyone takes his own way.
DW: Alexander Bekhov, who claims he is a representative of the City Council, has been speaking much about criminal cases where you are involved. What is this man?
Galina Shirshina: This is a very peculiar person. He was hired specifically so that to “oust me” (Ed.: from office) by legal means. He has no relation to the city. I assume that this person was hired directly by Governor Alexander Khudilainen.
DW: Why did they decide to dismiss you at the end of 2015? In fact, the councilors could have done this before, could not they?
Galina Shirshina: Several factors coincided here. First, they had to close that story with Petropit and thus strike a blow on YABLOKO in Karelia. Second, in my performance as Mayor I created problems for [personal] business interests of many of the councilors.
For example, Chairman of the City Council has direct links with the business of transportation carriers. I fought for preservation of public transport, did not allow to raise the price of travel, because it was unprofitable to [city] residents. The councilors who just wanted to make money on residents regarded us a bone in the throat.
DW: Your opponents have been saying that the city did not change much when you were in office. What can you tell them?
Galina Shirshina: The economic situation in the city was quite difficult, as everywhere in Russia. The budget had not been increased for two years. But we managed to accomplish several things: we opened five new kindergartens, social centers for the elderly, centers for children with disabilities. The concept of urban development was changed. We began to focus on historical and cultural preservation of the city, on requests of people, rather than businessmen.
We managed to conduct urban policies basing on the opinion of the expert community. We returned to the people the right to decide how the city should function. Those who used to live in the old way did not like the changes. Now everything has returned back to how it was two years ago. I forced the system to change and lost my post.
DW: Earlier you have said that you could not rule out the possibility of participation in the elections to the State Duma this Fall. Can you confirm these plans?
Galina Shirshina: It will be possible to solve this problem only after I will go through all the judicial instances seeking cancellation [of the councilors’ decision] on my dismissal from the post of Petrozavodsk Mayor. We lost one trial and now are actively preparing for the appeal. The hearings of the Supreme Court of Karelia on my case should take place by mid-February.
I do not vest much hope in the Supreme Court of the Republic of Karelia. However, there are chances of a positive decision in the Supreme Court of Russia. If the courts are not on my side, I will participate in the elections to the State Duma.
DW: Would it be better for you to get elected in a single-mandate constituency in Karelia?
Galina Shirshina: It does not necessarily have to be a single-mandate constituency. This may be a nomination from YABLOKO in their list of candidates. But I will not take an independent decision on this, the decision will be developed together with the leadership of the party. Now I have frequent discussions with Grigory Yavlinsky, but we do not focus on this issue. You have to understand that participation of Karelian YABLOKO in the elections could be much hampered because of the previously mentioned criminal cases.
Posted: February 4th, 2016 under Elections, Situation in Karelia, YABLOKO against Corruption.