Press Release, 14.10.2016

Boris Vishnevsky, head of the YABLOKO faction in the St. Petersburg parliament, will not be member of the new composition of the Land Use and Development Commission. Such a decision has been adopted today by the standing committee of the Legislative Assembly on Municipal Services, Urban Planning and Property.

“This is a high assessment of my work in the Commission in 2012 – 2016 by the developers’ lobby,” Vishnevsky wrote in his Facebook page. “Do not worry, friends, I will go on being their pain in the neck, and I will insist on the adoption of decisions in the interest of citizens,” Vishnevaky promised.

“Excluding Vishnevsky [from the Commission] is a revenge by the authorities and dishonest developers,” Mikhail Amosov, leader of the St. Petersburg branch of YABKLOKO, said. “The parliamentary majority” defiantly ignored the achievements of Boris Vishnevsky in the fight against unlawful construction, and for the protection of green areas and historic sites.”

Vishnevsky was the only MP in the present Legislative Assembly who won the election, but did not retain his place in the Commission. United Russia’s Alexey Makarov and Alexei Kovalyov from A Just Russia party retained their places in the Commission.

Also, YABLOKO representatives are not included in the Commission on drafting amendments to the General Plan of Development of Saint-Petersburg. The Legislative Assembly will send there representatives of United Russia, CPRF and the Growth Party.

Neither is YABLOKO included in the Commission on another acute urban problem – development of built-up areas.