Press Release, 25.06.2024

Delegates to the conference of the St. Petersburg branch of Yabloko, which took place on the evening of 24 June, nominated 70 candidates for 17 municipalities of St. Petersburg. On 28 June, the regional branch plans to nominate more candidates who have expressed their desire to run for Yabloko in recent days.

Nikolai Rybakov, Yabloko Chairman and member of the St.Petersburg regional branch, also took part in the conference. He noted that St. Petersburg Yabloko members had had extensive experience of successful work in municipalities, including as heads of municipal councils and local administrations.

“These elections are fundamentally different from all municipal elections in which our party has participated since the creation of the St. Petersburg local self-government system in 1998. This year we will talk to people about the fact that the right to life, the right to freedom, and peace are much more important than a well-maintained yard. Therefore, our campaign in St. Petersburg and throughout the country, will be held under the slogan for peace and freedom, for a ceasefire agreement,” Nikolai Rybakov said.

Alexander Shishlov, Chairman of the St. Petersburg Yabloko, noted the high-quality work of the Yabloko’s election headquarters in St.Petersburg and the courage of the candidates.

“I admire the people who, in the current political situation, decided to participate in the elections under the slogan for peace, freedom and an immediate ceasefire. They demonstrate to St. Petersburg residents who aspire for peace that they are not alone, and give them the opportunity to legally express their position in the elections,” Alexander Shishlov emphasised.

Sixty percent of the candidates from the St. Petersburg Yabloko are young people under 35. However, many of them already have political experience, including as municipal deputies. About half of the candidates are members, candidates or supporters of the Yabloko party, and half were nominated for the first time by the party in municipal elections.

The conference was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Justice and twelve territorial electoral commissions of St.Petersburg, who closely monitored Yabloko’s compliance with the law when nominating candidates. There were no comments from them at the conference.

Elections of deputies to municipal councils of St. Petersburg will be held on a single voting day, 6 – 8 September, 2024, simultaneously with the gubernatorial elections. Election campaigns are taking place in 110 of the 111 municipalities of the city.

The Yabloko party calls voters to personally support – as volunteers and observers – Yabloko candidates consistently advocating peace and freedom.