Press Release, 03.06.2014

YABLOKO consider the gubernatorial elections in the Pskov region a federal task and in case of win the party will implement its programme on regional economic development including the transfer of land to citizens free of charge for housing construction. YABLOKO founder Grigory Yavlinsky announced this at a press conference in Pskov. He supported the candidacy of Lev Shlosberg, Chair of the Pskov branch of YABLOKO, for the post of governor and promised him financial and intellectual support.

“The Pskov region doesn’t need a temporary governor but the governor who loves this land, who grew up here, who doesn’t aim to get to Presidential Administration to become a second rate clerk, who won’t go to another city for a weekend to have some rest form the importunate citizens of Pskov,” answered Grigory Yavlinsky to the journalists’ question about the rivals of Lev Shlosberg.

The founder of YABLOKO characterized Lev Shlosberg as an honest person and a true patriot. “He was born and grew up here, he walked down every street [of Pskov], everybody knows him and where he lives,” said Grigory Yavlinsky.

In case YABLOKO’s candidate wins the gubernatorial elections, the Pskov region will become the pilot region for implementation of YABLOKO’s “Land-Housing-Roads” programme which envisages mass-scale transfer of federal lands to the citizens free of charge under their housing construction and development of infrastructure (water, gas and electricity supply), as well as construction of roads at the expense of the federal budget. The funds for infrastructure development may be obtained at the expense of the fact that the Pskov region is a transit region and part of the profit from customs activity should be spent on the development of the region and remain in the region which service the transit, commented YABLOKO founder.

What is more, the agro-industrial complex, agricultural machinery industry  focused on the climatic zone of North West and health improvement industry should be developed in the Pskov region.

On behalf of head of YABLOKO faction in St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly Grigory Yavlinsky promised to summarize the working experience of the faction  in terms of budgetary policy and housing and public utilities for the Pskov region.

According to Yavlinsky, the gubernatorial elections in the Pskov region is a federal task for YABLOKO therefore all the resources of the party will be focused on these elections as well as the elections in St. Petersburg.

“We will use our intelligence, knowledge, professionalism to help Pskov. All the issues should be solved using a clever head not a strong arm. That’s the future of Russia including the Pskov region,” concluded Grigory Yavlinsky.