Press Release, 26.10.2017

One of the most famous politicians in the Yaroslavl region supported Grigory Yavlinsky’s petition for the return of direct elections

Oleg Vinogradov, former Deputy Governor of the Yaroslavl region, former Vice-Mayor of Yaroslavl from the team of the oppositional head of the city Yevgeny Urlashov and leader of the Yabloko branch in Yaroslavl, put his signature in support of Grigory Yavlinsky’s campaign for the return of direct elections of mayors and senators of the Federation Council and cancellation of the municipal filter in the gubernatorial elections.

“I agree with Grgiroy Yavlinsky that the return of direct elections is the most important thing that is on our domestic political agenda today. Local self-government is the foundation of the state,” Vinogradov said. “Because it directly deals with how people live. If the head of a municipal entity, district, city, or region does not depend on the opinions of people, then he will certainly not work in the interests of people. ”

Oleg Vinogradov was nominated by Yabloko as candidate for the Governor of the region, but was not allowed to run in the September 2017 elections, because he could not overcome the municipal filter (i.e. collect a required number of signatures of municipal deputies most of whom come from the ruling party in his favour).

“I experienced it personally what it is. When it was necessary to collect signatures of [municipal] deputies in 15 of the 20 districts of the region, whereas in 10 districts one hundred percent of the deputies signed to nominate Mr.Mironov, a candidate from the ruling party, and his backups. Deputies told me in private conversations that they were ordered to do so. That is, it is impossible in principle for an independent person to pass a [municipal]. ”

According to Vinogradov, the problem of lack of responsibility and accountability of local authorities to residents is also urgent on the city and district levels. Therefore, the regional branch of Yabloko initiated a referendum for the return of popular elections of heads of cities, settlements and municipalities.

“The authorities canceled elections of almost all heads of municipalities,” Vinogradov said. “Just a couple of years ago [the ruling] United Russia [party], changed the regional law, depriving people of this right under the pretext that independent candidate Urlashov won the election in the city. If we do not manage to return direct elections and the responsibility of the authorities to voters, then devastation in our country will continue,” Oleg Vinogradov summed up.

The return of direct elections is one of the key positions of the presidential programme of Yabloko leader Grigory Yavlinsky.

Earlier, his initiative was joined by Yekaterinburg’s city head Yevgeny Roizman and ex-Mayor of Petrozavodsk Galina Shirshina.

Photo by yar.kp.ru, Elena Vakhrusheva