Statement by the Chelyabinsk Regional Council of the Yabloko Party, 23.08.2024

Photo by the regional branch of the party

On 8 September, 2024, there will be no candidates from the Yabloko Party on the ballots for the elections of the Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region and deputies of the Chelyabinsk City Duma.

The electoral commissions refused to register all of our candidates who campaigned in these elections with two main demands:

– conclusion of a ceasefire agreement;

– release of all political prisoners.

Counteracting the Yabloko Party already at the registration stage, the authorities confirmed the strengthening of the level of support for our demands among voters.

We believe that the decision to refuse registration to our candidates is political, made in the interests of the ruling party, which has an absolute monopoly and different names.

The monopoly also extends to opinions, so the main condition for participation in elections is the absence of an opinion and unquestioning support for all actions and inactions of the authorities at all its levels and in all its manifestations. We cannot agree to this.

For us and other independent candidates who appeal to voters and not to the “corridors of power” for support at elections, there is a procedure for collecting voters’ signatures necessary for participation in elections.

Today, this procedure is a filter sifting through candidates. It does not matter how many signatures a candidate has collected, if the authorities do not like him/her, the electoral commission can reject them. Abuse of power, alas, is an attribute of modern public authority.

The authorities make elections uncontested because now society allows them to do so, convinced over many years by the same authorities that “elections in Russia do not decide anything”.

Elections, even in their current form, still remain the only opportunity to change the government and political course in our country. However, it is only possible for us to participate and win fairly in an unfair fight with the mass involvement of citizens and their overwhelming support.

For the sake of preserving the lives and destinies of people, it is our responsibility to offer citizens an alternative in the interests of the majority – peace and freedom, the supremacy of human rights, environmental and economic well-being, so we will go on participating in elections, addressing society and relying only on its support.

We are confident that the Yabloko Party can join together sound, but yet fragmented forces of civil society, the heyday of which is ahead!

We call on all residents of the South Uralals who aspire for respect, peace and freedom to unite. Come to Yabloko! The next elections of regional and local deputies are ahead, which means that we will have the opportunity to offer citizens an honest alternative and sound changes for our native land.

Together we will win!