Press release, 18.04.2016
Former Mayor of Petrozavodsk, the Republic of Karelia, will stand for the elections to the State Duma as YABLOKO’s candidate. She will also support Grigory Yavlinsky’s candidacy in the presidential elections.

“In September 2013 the citizens of Petrozavodsk confided in me: they elected me Mayor of the city. For two years my team and I have been advocating the interests of the citizens in deed and not in name, we have been fighting against corruption. In my opinion, it was our uncompromising stance in defending the interests of the city that made the deputies-businessmen from the [ruling] United Russia party and our Governor from the ruling party dismiss me. YABLOKO was the only political party which rendered support to me in such difficult period for my team,” Galina Shirshina said explaining why she had decided to stand for the State Duma as YABLOKO’s candidate.

Former Mayor of Petrozavodsk stressed that she knew the ideology of the party, fully shared its programme and had know Emilia Slabunova in person for years. Shirshina characterised YABLOKO leader as “an excellent professional and an absolutely honest person”.

Shirshina said that the aim of the campaign was “the change of the political course” of the country. “Decisions must be made on the base of the interests of the majority. Independent court, strong local self-government must fight against corruption and defend the interests of ordinary people,” she stressed.

Galina Shirshina also explained why she was going to support Grigory Yavlinsky’s candidacy in the presidential elections.

“Grigory Yavlinsky is the person who can make Russia a prosperous and respectable country. For me, in the first place, Yavlinsky is a strong and charismatic leader, an economist whose achievements have been recognised by the world professional community. Of course, he is a person with a spotless reputation and a true patriot of our country,” Shirshina noted.

She stressed that “Yavlinsky is able to create such a Russia where everyone will feel himself a person with a capital letter”.

On 25 December 2015, Galina Shirshina was dismissed by the Petrozavodsk Council: 23 deputies out of 26 voted for her dismissal. Governor of the Republic of Karelia Alexander Khudilainen supported the decision.

On 3 December, Galina Shirshina won the RBC (RosBusinessConsulting) award in the nomination the State Person.

The Swedish People’s Party of Finland (SFP), together with its Women’s Association Svenska Kvinnoförbundet, announced their nomination of Ms. Galina Shirshina for the prestigious European award – The LeaDeR Award. They named Shirshina one the key liberal players on regional and local level. The finalists will be announced at the ceremony in Brussels on 25 April, 2016.