Lev Shlosberg on political parties and elections in Russia: there is Yabloko and all the rest
Press Release, 16.03.2022
Photo: Lev Shlosberg / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Lev Shlosberg, Chairman of the Pskov branch of Yabloko, spoke on the air of radio PLN FM about the possibility of holding elections against the backdrop of Russia’s “special operation” in Ukraine.
“Formally, Russia remains a republic, as is written in our Constitution. You can laugh, you can cry, but it says that Russia is a republic. And the republic is supposed to hold elections.
We see now that the authorities are preparing for elections or for the process that they call elections. The State Duma adopted a law abolishing the institution of members of election commissions with an advisory vote.
However, it was this status that allowed political parties and candidates to control elections at the polling stations. Now there won’t be such a thing, at the level of territorial and precinct commissions there will be no such a thing.
Electoral commissions of municipalities, which in many cases in Russia made it possible to preserve the independence of the electoral system of municipalities, are being liquidated as a class. A remote electronic voting has been introduced all over Russia, which is capable of guarantees the authorities any result they plan.
Is it possible to participate in elections in such a situation? Yes, it is possible. Is it necessary in this situation to encourage people to go to the polls and vote for the opposition democratic political anti-war party that stands for peace? Yes, one can and should. How could this end? We do not know. Nobody knows. Elections have never been held in Russia under such conditions yet.
Speaking about the Pskov Yabloko, we are part of a federal political party. In fact, we are part of the only surviving opposition political party in Russia during this crazy time. There is no other political opposition in Russia. There is Yabloko and all the rest.
Accordingly, our responsibility to the people is to participate in the elections in this abnormal situation, as long as the legal activity of the party is allowed. This is not a question of the Pskov region, this is a question of the Russian Federation,” Lev Shlosberg believes.
LEV SHLOSBERG
is a member of the Federal Political Committee of Yabloko and Chair of the Pskov regional branch of the party. Headed the Yabloko faction in the Pskov Regional Assembly of Deputies
Posted: March 21st, 2022 under Elections, Foreign policy, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Political Parties, Russia-Ukraine relations, YABLOKO Against the Parties of Power, YABLOKO and Other Political Parties, Yabloko's Regional Branches.