3.09.2018

Chair of the Krasnoyarsk branch of Yabloko Oksana Demchenko believes that if the party representatives are elected to the city parliament, they will improve the quality of life in Krasnoyarsk.

– It is the 25th anniversary of the foundation of Yabloko this year. We have many deputies across Russia and a large number of initiatives which will help create equal opportunity society based on the principals of social justice. Yabloko activists also have mandates in several towns of the Krasnoyarsk Krai. They work in best interests of the local residents.

– There about 60 political parties and movements registered in the region. Do they compete among each other?

– There is no true competition! They are only pretending. If you look at the way the representatives of different parties vote in the parliament, city council or the way they support the ruling party, all will become clear. There is no real opposition! Our party representatives always tell the truth and conduct or election campaign in an honest way. It is very important to make our stance known: we will not put up with what is going on in Krasnoyarsk. We value people in the first place! This is way we prefer deeds, not words.

Our candidate Maxim Bombakov appealed to the Supreme Court with the demand to return direct mayoral elections in the city. Thanks to us a new ministry responsible for environmental management was founded in the region. We appeal to the government to solve the problems of the city and the whole region, we also bring world-class experts. But we need people whose inserts we stand for to support us. About 30 per cent of people do not vote, and this number is growing. There is a lack of trust in elections. As a result, a large number of people will be underrepresented and the problems will not be solved.

We call upon all voters not to make the same mistake again. Please come to the elections and vote for changes.

-Who are your candidates in the city duma election?

-They are experienced lawyers, doctors and entrepreneurs. But the most important thing is that their reputation is untarnished. They are democrats and civil activist. Do you think a person who constantly donates blood will be able to defend voters’ interests in the city council? By all means! We have many people like this. We have many new faces. They want to live in this city and have a future here. Our candidates are the youngest.

– What exactly do you want to change in Krasnoyarsk?

– The interests of people are our priority. We think that the government should serve people, not the other way round. It is time the officials remember that they depend on taxpayers money, our money, so they must be accountable to us. Our party offers to introduce criteria for evaluation of the governments work and well as public hearings and reports to the citizens. When need to analyse the state of affairs in detail. It is impossible to develop the city without it. The capital of so rich a region should not be so poor. Krasnoyarsk is on list of 10 most polluted cities. It is 134 out of 250 Russian cities in terms of the quality of life. In 2018 the regional government cut the expenses on environment, education and social policy but increased expenditure on law enforcement. You cannot improve unless you work on your mistakes. If Yabloko candidates are elected to the city council, they will prioritise healthcare (environment, healthy nutrition, sports), human capital (education, culture, science, art); urban development (transport, roads, communication lines, housing and utility sector).

– If you look at the list of other parties, the majority has posh slogans and unrealistic promises – they call for some kind of honesty and justice or abstract freedom. The name of your party looks bold. It has not abstract hints. 

– The name “Yabloko” was formed out of the first letters of the family names of the party founders – Yavlinsky, Boldyrev, Lukin. The word “yabloko” [an apple] itself is very positive: it is a most popular and democratic fruit. People all over the world like it. No wonder people say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away.