Press release, 10.10.2017

Today the President of Russia Vladimir Putin has dismissed another governor – Pavel Konkov, the Ivanovo Region. He is the 10th governor to be dismissed within the last two weeks. It seems likely that the provisional governors appointed by the Kremlin will go through the election procedure without leaving any alternative and will proceed with their obligations on a regular basis. The election itself will take the form of a referendum on trust – a real competition for the votes is almost nowhere to be expected. The appointees are mainly the so called “young technocrats”, whose will is tested by jumping off a cliff. This type of officials is gradually excluding the “political heavyweights” of 1990s and “effective managers” of 2000s from the gubernatorial field. However, we can hardly expect any changes in the absence of political competition. This is why Yabloko and Grigory Yavlinsky, Yabloko’s presidential candidate, initiated the collection of signatures for the return of direct elections of mayors, governors and members of the Federation Council – without any restrictions or filters. The initiative was launched on the change.org website. Direct elections are one of the key points of Yavlinsky’s presidential electoral programme.

The slogan says: ‘I want to vote myself’

The Ivanovo Region: Governor Pavel Konkov was dismissed. Stanislav Voskresensky, deputy minister for economic development, was appointed provisional governor.
Daniel Bedayev, Chair of the Ivanovo Region branch of Yabloko:

The Presidential Administration is trying to think for the whole country violating the vary essence of democracy. Governor Konkov, who has just been dismissed, fell victim of this very logic of the staffing policy. Konkov was not a public politician and did not plan to become one. He became Governor on the orders of the Kremlin. The result is quite unfavourable: a number of corruption scandals involving the members of Konkov’s team, poor economic performance.

Such experience shows that the Kremlin’s staffing policy is failing to make a decision for the people and choose effective and responsible governors. Competitive election is a much better option.

The Novosibirsk Region: Governor Vladimir Gorodetsky was dismissed. Andrei Travnikov, Vologda Mayor, was appointed provisional governor.
Svetlana Kaverzina, Chair of the Novosibirsk branch of Yabloko:

In the first place, the decisions to dismiss a governor made by Moscow show the governments attitude to the residents of the regions and voters, who do not understand why they should elect a governor if he or she can be so easily removed. We had a difficult relationship with Governor Gorodetsky, but we could cooperate somehow. We knew what to expect from him. It is not clear how to cooperate with Travnikov who was neither elected Mayor of Vologda, nor Governor of the Novosibirsk Region. But for some region he is going to be in charge. Delevoping relations with a person who is actually illegitimate is a difficult thing to do.

The Samara Region: Governor Nikolai Merkushin was dismissed. Senator Dmitri Azarov was appointed provisional governor.
Igor Yermolenko, Chair of the Samara branch of Yabloko:

Merkushin’s resignation was about to happen. He has been causing a split in the local society of late. I think he experienced a psychological shift at some point connected with his search for internal enemies, foreign agents, CIA adherents and so on. All this has noting to do with the Samara region. Sensible people live here. They realised that the policy of the regional administration was nonsensical. As for Azarov, despite thee fact that one United Russia member is going to replace another, there is ground for some positive expectations, in my opinion.

The Krasnoyarsk territory: Governor Victor Tolokonsky was dismissed. Speaker of the regional parliament Alecander Uss was appointed provisional governor.
Oksana Demchenko, Chair of the Krasnoyarsk Territory branch of Yabloko:

The previous governor’s three years in office show that he was not fit for the post. He failed to join the local elite and establish a dialogue with political parties. The elections to the State Duma were not transparent and legitimate, and he bears responsibility for this.

Alexander Uss ia a local person. He headed the regional parliament for a long time and is well familiar with local politicians and business structures. But the disadvantage is that he may turn out to be dependent on business.