Alexei Melnikov’s blog, June 3, 2013

Alexei Melnikov

In connection with the assumptions that the elections of the Moscow Mayor may be held in September 2013, brainwashing of the residents of Moscow that there is no alternative to Sergei Sobyanin at the mayoral elections has already begun. And if there may be an alternative, then it is only Mikhail Prokhorov, leader of the oligarchic platform. All the other do not count, as allegedly they are absolutely unknown in Moscow.

An article by Ekaterina Vinokurova in my favourite Gazeta.ru is very typical in this respect. And the problem is not even in the deliberate duping of the citizens that there are only Mr. Sobyanin and Mr. Prokhorov – the two protégés of the present nomenclature government, the two instruments for different purposes, but that many people sincerely believe that either big power or big money can win in the elections.

If it is big money made with the aid of big power and beautifully wrapped in the words “civil”, “democracy”, “liberal”, the “opposition” (and certainly “constructively”), then there is nothing to think about. In this case, “all democrats” should “unite” around such big money.

In other words, they have to unite around the tail of the snake itself, which is has such scary fangs, hissing and an opened mouth. Is tail definitely looks more peaceful, noble and civilized. No hissing or biting.

However, the Sobyanin-Prokhorov tandem has the only serious and meaningful opponent in Moscow – YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin. He is the only serious opponent of the ruling and business nomenclature.

The latter are united by one goal: the city virtually belongs to those who are in power and have big money, rather than the majority. The rest are only city dwellers, who can be lulled calmed down and restrained when necessary.

Sergei Mitrokhin and YABLOKO have been working in Moscow for years protecting the interests of the citizens and acting in their interests. In fact, they have been working for creating of a civil government in Moscow. Here are, for example, the actions of the past few days only:

A rally against the reconstruction of Leninsky Prospect.

Demolition of an illegal fence closing for Muscovites the passage to the beach of Serebryaniy Bor on the Moscow River

Public inspection of the YABLOKO party for checking whether deputies of the State Duma and the Moscow City Duma pay the parking fees in the Moscow centre they have recently introduced.

Expert discussion in YABLOKO of Leninsky Prospect reconstruction projects and the construction of the Northwest road in Moscow.

The Moscow civil society should not allow to zombify itself by the allegedly obvious outcome of the Moscow mayoral elections. We should also keep in mind that these elections, as well as the coming Moscow City Duma elections [of 2014] represent a prelusion to the next federal [parliamentary] elections.

The liberal democratic forces should not allow to the authorities (Mr. Sobyanin) or the oligarchy (Mr. Prokhorov) to win or successfully contest in the Moscow elections. Joining together around Sergei Mitrokhin is the only meaningful political alternative to the stifling power of the old and the new nomenclature.