Press Release, 1.08.2019

The Tula branch of Yabloko has collected the signatures required for registration of party candidates in the September elections to the city and regional parliaments. 6,529 residents of the region signed up for the participation of the Yabloko party in the elections to the Tula Regional Duma, 140 collectors of signatures conducted this work during a month. And 2,393 residents of Tula signed up in support of Yabloko candidates in the elections to the Tula City Duma, the collection of signatures was carried out by 85 collectors and lasted two weeks.

Vladimir Dorokhov, Chairman of the Tula branch of Yabloko, expressed his gratitude to the residents of the region for the trust vested in the party, and also thanked the collectors for the work done.

“In the conditions of continuous warnings from all the media “don’t give your passport details to anyone”, collecting of signatures in support of nomination of our candidates is incredibly difficult. Two other parties planning to collect signatures in favour of their candidates did not cope with this task. Obviously, this mechanism needs to be replaced,” Vladimir Dorokhov said.

“Now we are awaiting verification by the electoral commissions, but one our single-mandate candidate to deputy in the City Duma, Ilya Tolmachev, has already been denied registration. He personally collected 114 signatures in support of his candidacy, 13 of which were rejected by the electoral commission of the Proletarsky district. We do not agree with this decision and we will appeal it,” the leader of the Tula Yabloko added.

The Yabloko’s list for the Tula Region Duma election includes 30 candidates who share the values ​​of democracy, freedom and solidarity. The list in the Tula City Duma contains 21 candidates. In particular, the party’s lists include Vladimir Dorokhov, Chairman of the regional branch, Yelena Konovalova, local history writer and environmental activist in the Venevsky district, Vladimir Kulikov, Chairman of the Board of the Tula branch of Memorial, professor and full member of the Academy of Architectural Heritage, Vera Milyaeva, economist and expert in the field of housing and utility services, as well as many young politicians – Andrei Chekmazov, head of the farm, entrepreneur Yulia Morozova, Marina Lesnikova, activist from Yasnogorsk.

Emilia Slabunova, Yabloko Chairperons, visited Tula so that to support the team of the Tula regional branch of Yabloko.

The elections to the Tula Regional Duma will be held on a single voting day on 8 September, 2019. The Tula Regional Duma of the seventh convocation will consist of 36 deputies, of which 24 will be elected by single-mandate constituencies and 12 by party lists. The Tula City Council consists of 35 deputies; these elections will be held according to a mixed system also on 8 September.