Press Release, 15.08.2024

Photo: Alexander Dudchenko / Photo from Alexander Dudchenko personal archive

In August, the Mayor of the city of Voronezh will be elected. Earlier, the head of the city, Vadim Kstenin, resigned. Direct elections of the Mayor were canceled in 2016, and for six years already, since 2018, the Mayor has been “elected” by the Voronezh City Duma from candidates submitted to the city parliament by a special competition committee. Yabloko does not consider the “election” of the Mayor by the Duma deputies to be a fair and democratic procedure, but believes it is important to present an alternative programme for the development of Voronezh. Therefore, Yabloko supported the nomination of human rights activist and civil activist Alexander Dudchenko.

Alexander Dudchenko is 34, he was born in Voronezh. Graduated from the Voronezh Law College with a degree in Law and the Law Faculty of the Voronezh State University with a degree in Law. He worked as a deputy director for internal audit in a private company, a lawyer in a branch of Russian Railways, and in the Bailiff Service of the Voronezh Region. Currently self-employed. Since 2023, he has headed the Voronezh branch of the public movement “Association of Consumers of Russia”. He is a member of the public council under the Ministry of Entrepreneurship, Trade and Tourism of the Voronezh Region.

Alexander Dudchenko began his human rights activities in 2022. He protects the labour rights of citizens and the interests of consumers. In addition, Dudchenko, through the court, achieved the return of 40 million roubles illegally withdrawn from the city budget.

The Chair of the Voronezh branch of Yabloko Tatyana Shkred notes that it is important for the party to use all opportunities to advance the main position of Yabloko – the demand for an immediate agreement on a ceasefire and the release of all political prisoners.

“The Voronezh development programme, which was prepared by Yabloko supporter, human rights activist Alexander Dudchenko, reflects important city problems. Meanwhile, we understand that any changes for the better are possible only after the killing of people stops. This is as important for Voronezh residents as it is for the entire country as a whole, because drones were flying over our heads. Therefore, the candidate for the post of Mayor of the city whom we support stands for peace and freedom,” Tatyana Shkred commented.

The meeting of the commission for the appointment of the Mayor of Voronezh will be held on 21 August.