Press release, June 4, 2013

Grigory Yavlinsky, founder of the YABLOKO party, has reiterated his proposal to nominate YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin for the post of the Mayor of Moscow, if the mayoral elections are scheduled for September 8. Grigory Yavlinsky proposed this first a year ago at a conference of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO, and then the conference supported that proposals.

“Sergei Mitrokhin is the most deserving candidate for the Mayor of Moscow post. He is an experienced politician, but at the same time an honest and prudent person and a native of Moscow. Mitrokhin repeatedly won the Moscow City Duma elections, and has considerable experience in Moscow urban economy and a decade experience as deputy of the State Duma, he professionally knows Moscow economic and social problems and is the author of the laws on financing of local self-government,” Grigory Yavlinsky said.

Yavlinsky also stressed that “Mitrokhin is a man of liberal-democratic convictions, unmarred by big money or dubious political transactions”. “Neither does he represent clans and groups, nor is he obsessed with populism, in power he will represent only the interests of the residents of Moscow. Many residents of the city know Sergei well due to his fight against infill construction, preservation of historical heritage of the city and uncompromising protection of nature and environment,” said the founder of YABLOKO.

Yavlinsky believes that YABLOKO should spare no effort so that to unite broad democratic and constructive political forces so that to develop a programme and then invite employees to the [Moscow] government in accordance with their professional abilities”.

Nomination of a candidate from YABLOKO for the mayoral elections will be discussed next Thursday, on June 6, at the meeting of the Regional Council of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO. The Regional Council will set a date of the conference that has to decide on nomination of a candidate.