Press Release, 10.07.2023

Photo: Representatives of the referendum initiative group / Photo by the Chelyabinsk Yabloko

On 10 July, the Electoral Commission of the Chelyabinsk Region received documents for registration of a referendum on direct elections of heads of cities and districts in the region. A package of documents was submitted to the commission by representatives of the initiative group of the referendum, Chairman of the Chelyabinsk branch of Yabloko Yaroslav Shcherbakov, civil activist Mikhail Popov and Chair of the Gender faction of the Chelyabinsk Yabloko Maria Chikulayeva.

The initiative group includes 30 people who proposed to put two questions to the referendum:

– On the return of direct elections of the heads of cities and districts in the Chelyabinsk region (the head is elected in municipal elections and leads the local administration).

– On the return of direct elections of deputies of the Chelyabinsk City Duma while maintaining district Councils of Deputies.

Within 15 days, the Regional Electoral Commission must check all the documents, register the initiative and submit it to the Legislative Assembly of the Chelyabinsk region.

After registration and opening of a special account, the initiative group will need to collect signatures of 2% of the number of voters in the Chelyabinsk region in support of the initiative.

“The first step has been made. From this moment the campaign for the preparation of the referendum begins. The Chelyabinsk region may become the first region in Russia where the residents will decide whether we need direct elections,” Yaroslav Shcherbakov, leader of the Chelyabinsk Yabloko, commented on the initiative.

Representatives of the referendum initiative group plan to open an election headquarters shortly.