Press Release, 11.09.2021

Photo: Valentina Komkova

The Second Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the Chelyabinsk Regional Court on the registration of Yabloko’s candidate Valentina Komkova for the State Duma elections in Zlatoust Electoral District No. 193. The Chelyabinsk branch of Yabloko plans to prepare a cassation appeal, which will be considered before the elections.

The formal reason for the refusal to register Valentina Komkova was the “incomplete package of documents” submitted to the electoral commission. Since the candidate was not notified in the prescribed form, the Chelyabinsk Regional Court sided with Yabloko and ordered the electoral commission to register Komkova for the elections. The electoral commission filed a complaint with the Second Court of Appeal, which overturned the decision of the court of the first instance seven days before the voting.

“A cassation appeal will be filed today. It has to be considered before the elections, so there is still a chance to reinstate our candidate,” Yaroslav Shcherbakov, Chairman of the Chelyabinsk branch of Yabloko, said.

Earlier, the Central Electoral Commission of the Russian Federation allocated an additional 1.1 million roubles to the Territorial Electoral Commission of Zlatoust for printing new ballots without including Valentina Komkova.

It should be noted that Valentina Komkova was not allowed to participate in the by-election to the Assembly of Deputies of the City of Miass either. This refusal is still being contested in the courts.