Press Release, 21.12.2022

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Today, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin delivered a report to the deputies of the Moscow City Duma on the results of the work of the Moscow government in 2022. After a short report on the successes in the economy, social policies, the development of transport, and the victory over sanctions, Mayor Sobyanin answered questions from the factions of the Moscow parliament. It was allowed to ask the Mayor of Moscow only three pre-sent questions from each faction. The faction of the Yabloko party, being aware of the decorative nature of the communication between the Mayor and the deputies of the Moscow parliament, nevertheless, did not neglect the opportunity to get answers to questions that concern the residents of Moscow.

Maxim Kruglov, head of the Yabloko faction, asked the Mayor of Moscow whether the World Health Organisation (WHO) gave permission to hold festive events in honour of the seventh anniversary of the reunification of Crimea with Russia in March 2021 and the annexation of new territories in autumn 2022. The question should not have surprised Sergei Sobyanin, because earlier, an official of the Moscow Mayor’s Office answering the request of Yabloko in the Moscow City Duma to lift the anti-COVID ban on public events said that “the decision to cancel the high alert regime would be made after the WHO announces the end of the COVID-19 pandemic”.

That is why Maxim Kruglov asked the Moscow Mayor to clarify which international organisations should authorise the holding of political rallies and public hearings in Moscow?

In a response speech, the Moscow Mayor complained that the epidemiological situation in the Russian capital is still difficult, and outpatients clinics are overloaded. At the same time, he noted that “the city was functioning normally, we were trying not to close or restrict anything”. “As for mass events held under the auspices of the state, the authorities provide sufficient control and are responsible for holding such events in terms of sanitary requirements, which cannot be achieved when holding any other events that cannot be controlled either in terms of number of participants or as of the form of the event,” Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.

In conclusion, Sergei Sobyanin expressed hishope that the time would come when Muscovites would be able to freely participate in all events. In this, Yabloko is in solidarity with Mayor Sobyanin.

Two more questions from the Yabloko faction to Mayor Sobyanin concerned the preservation of historical and cultural monuments, as well as additional payments to retired teachers who were awarded honourary titles. Sergei Sobyanin answered that the food courts built on the site of historical monuments pleased Muscovites, and standard benefits should suffice to retired teachers, as they might receive such benefits as labour veterans.

It should be noted that this year, like several times before, Mayor Sobyanin spoke to the deputies of the Moscow City Duma remotely, without coming to the Moscow City Duma.