Press Release, 8.09.2020

Photo: Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov and Yabloko candidate Ksenia Sverdlova

Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov visited Saratov on September 7, as part of his tour to Yabloko regional branches participating in regional elections on 13 September. Ksenia Sverdlova, Chair of the Yabloko branch in Saratov, will take part in the by-elections of deputies of the Saratov Regional Duma in the Volga single-mandate constituency No. 1.

Nikolay Rybakov began his visit from inspecting the Freedom Park in the Yubileyny district, where about 20,000 residents live. For more than 20 years since its opening, the park has been under the threat of cutting under construction sites.

Photo: Visit to the Freedom Park

During a walk in the park, the head of Yabloko, together with representatives of the regional office, discussed the possibilities for its improvement and came to the conclusion that the best solution to such issues of improvement should be the introduction of a two-tier system of self-government, so that the issues of improvement are decided by elected representatives of the governing, rather than a appointed head of Aminsitration.

After visiting the park, the Yabloko Chairman went to the presentation of the Clean Air programme – an independent civilian air quality control programme. This programme is the result of the initiative of the regional branch of the party and Fedor Demyanchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Saratov branch of Yabloko.

Photo: Installation of an air quality sensor in the apartment of activist Roman Vasiliev

The idea of ​​independent air quality control came about a few years ago, when a group of Saratov activists recorded complaints from local residents about the deteriorating air quality and unpleasant odours at night. At the same time, citizens’ appeals to specialised departments did not bring results. After studying the chart of prevailing and dominant winds, the activists managed to establish that the cause of the unpleasant odour is most likely the emissions from two Saratov refineries, the Saratov refinery and Sarotovorgsintez (Saratov Organic Synthesising facility). Their emissions, most likely, are not recorded by the government sensors, because they work only during the daytime.

Special equipment was purchased for the Clean Air programme, this equipment will record air quality and transmit it to the international website aircms.online, which records the state of the air around the world. The first air quality sensor was installed on September 7 in the apartment of Yabloko party activist Roman Vasiliev. In the near future, the sensors are planned to be installed by volunteers in different districts of the city.

Photo: Meeting with residents of the Ivolgino district

During the day, Nikolai Rybakov also visited the Ivolgino district, the so-called Saratov ghetto, where social housing was built. Despite population of 3,000 people, the district lacks the necessary infrastructure. In Ivolgino there is no school, post office, ATMs and a police station, as well as a recreational area or park. During his visit, the head of Yabloko also noticed that there was not even a single tree in the neighbourhood. Nikolai Rybakov also talked with local residents and decided to send several appeals to the relevant departments with a request to pay attention to the problems faced by the district.

On the initiative of the head of Yabloko, a visit was also made to the local station of young naturalists, which is planned to be transferred from federal subordination to the city authorities in order to expand the territory of the school adjacent to the station. In this regard, local activists have fears that after the transfer of property, the station may be closed.

Photo: Meeting with the Regional Council of the Saratov branch of Yabloko

At the end of the day, Nikolai Rybakov met with the regional council of the Saratov regional branch, as well as new members and candidates to join the party. At the meeting, Rybakov and party activists discussed the work of the party and its strategy in the context of the strengthening of the authoritarianism of the Russian government. The panelists also discussed Yabloko’s proposals for mitigating the negative consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, talked about the upcoming elections and the participation of party representatives in them, as well as practical steps to develop the regional branch of Yabloko.