Statement by the regional branch of the YABLOKO party in the Republic of Karelia, 09/27/2013

The YABLOKO party won a landslide victory in the election of the Mayor of Petrozavodsk. In addition, YABLOKO was successful in the elections in the Olonetsky and the Prionezhsky districts of the Republic of Karelia. A remarkable success was achieved in Prionezhsky district where 57 out of total 109 mandates were won by YABLOKO candidates. It is already clear that the deputies of the Prionezhsky Council will support YABLOKO’s Svetlana Chechil for post of the head of administration of the Prionezhsky district.

However, Alexander Khudilainen, Governor of Karelia and member of the ruling United Russia party, says that the candidacy of Svetlana Chechil is unacceptable for him. To date, Alexander Khudilainen has had not political resource and weight so that to influence the decision of the Prionezhsky District Council. But, as we have learned, the Governor decided to use law enforcement resource against Chechil. At present the law enforcement have been trying to file a criminal case against the present head of the Prionezhsky Administration Svetlana Chechil. The Prionezhsky Mayor’s Office plans to conduct searches and Svetlana Chechil may be arrested merely on the grounds that she has a passport [for traveling abroad].

The YABLOKO party states that this is inadmissible. Such a way [of ousting a political competitor] undermines the foundations of the state power, causes irreparable damage to the credibility of power and boosts the rise of protest moods in Karelia.

Alexandra Spiridonova,
Chair of the YABLOKO branch in Karelia