Press Release, 29.08.2019

Yabloko Chair Emilia Slabunova arrived in Vladikavkaz, capital of North Ossetia-Alania, on a two-day visit so that to support Yabloko candidates in the election to the Assembly of City Representatives.

Yabloko’s list for the election includes 14 candidates and is topped by Badri Gazzati, leader of the North Ossetian Yabloko and Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper “Ossetia. A Free Viewpoint”. Gennady Betrozov, director of the Bashnya Zhizni (Life Tower) charity foundation, is number two on the list, and businessman Andrei Vinarsky closes the top three.

During her visit, Emilia Slabunova held a working meeting with Rustem Kelekhsaev, head of the administration of the head of North Ossetia and the government of the Republic. Emilia Slabunova emphasised at the meeting that the republic has enormous potential, which is not used to the full extent.

Photo from left to right: Anatoly Sidakov, curator of the party’s branches in the North Caucasus, Rustem Kelekhsaev, Emilia Slabunova and Badri Gazzati

Slabunova outlined a number of problems in the region, the solution of which the party will seek. One of them is the situation with the Electrozinc plant. Recently, the plant, which is dangerous for the life and health of the region’s residents, has been closed, among other things, thanks to the efforts of Yabloko: for many years, the party sought to liquidate it.

Emilia Slabunova spoke about the need for reclamation of the territory of the plant and recultivation of the land outside it. She also emphasised the need for in-depth medical examination for residents of Vladikavkaz, and basing on the results of such examination – development of a programme for rehabilitation of residents and detoxification of the territory of the plant.

Slabunova also pointed out the need to develop a programme for employment of the staff of the plant and publicly informing residents of the republic about environmental situation. Environmental monitoring and its results should be accessible to citizens, Slabunova stressed.

Slabunova also touched on the topic of low salaries of teachers. The average salary of teachers in the region following the results of the first half of this year is less than 26.500 roubles — this is lower than the average salary of teachers in Russia and the average salary in the region.

The politician also talked about the need to solve the problem of provision of land to the North Ossetian peasants, the development strategy of the republic and solution of the problems of those who suffered from the terrorist attack in Beslan School No. 1 on 1 September, 2004.

“We need a law on the status of victims of political repression, and the republic could initiate this law,” Slabunova said. “The housing issues have been resolved, but at the same time there is a problem with rehabilitation of these people.” We need a serious rehabilitation programme at the level of the Ministry of Health of the republic, she added. Slabunova also stressed the importance of conducting a meaningful independent investigation into the causes of the tragedy, identifying the real culprits of the huge number of victims.

At the meeting with voters Slabunova confirmed the party’s willingness to solve these problems. “It is important that deputies from Yabloko come to the Assembly of Representatives of Vladikavkaz. No other party will put the solution to these issues on the agenda,” she said.

Emilia Slabunova also met with Yabloko candidates and thanked them for their courage. “Thank you for your fighting spirit, for participating in elections from an opposition party in an aggressive, toxic socio-political environment,” she said.

Badri Gazzati, Chairman of the North Ossetian Yabloko, emphasised that the campaign was taking place under difficult conditions: the ruling party seized all advertising resources, hindering the campaign. “However, despite this, we still hope for a successful outcome and party representation in the Assembly of City Representatives,” he said.

At the press conference, the politicians talked about Yabloko’s electoral programme. In case of victory, party deputies will engage in “garbage” reform: ensuring separate collection and recycling of garbage.

Yabloko also advocates the support and development of environmentally friendly transport: the development of tram traffic and restoration of trolleybus services.

Emilia Slabunova emphasised that “one of the points of the party’s programme is modern budget policies, when the priority is given to the interests of city residents.” Today the share of environmental expenditures in the city budget is only 4,4 mln roubles, i.e., 0.01% of the budget, and only 10 mln for physical education and sports, i.e.0.2%.

Modernisation of the housing and utilities system, development of institutions of culture and fight against corruption – all this will become important tasks for MPs from the party, Emilia Slabunova emphasised.

Photo: At School No. 1 in Beslan

Slabunova also met with representatives of the public organisations founded after the act of terror in Beslan School No.1 so that to help the victims and their relatives: Susanna Dudieva (Mothers of Beslan) and Ella Kesaeva (Voice of Beslan). The politician visited the scene of the tragedy – School No. 1 in Beslan and the memorial cemetery “The City of Angels” (where the victims of the terrorist attack are buried), where she commemorated the victims.

Photo: At the memorial The City of Angels