A prominent environmentalist and a member of Yabloko’s Federal Council will try to return direct elections if he is appointed
Press release, 09.11.2017

On 9th November, a competition commission selecting candidates for the position of the Mayor of Omsk registered Sergei Kostaryev as candidate. Sergei is a member of Yabloko’s Federal Council, a prominent environmentalist and professor at Omsk State Railway Engineering University. He applied for the position of Mayor along with other 36 people. The next stage is an interview with the candidates that will be held on 17th November. On 22 November, the deputies of the local city council will elect the Mayor.

Direct election of Omsk Mayor was abolished in 2015. “Active residents usually disapprove of the appointment of mayors. And I realise that the best way to make a Mayor legitimate is to hold direct and free election. However, in the present conditions the best way is to win the competition for the position of Mayor and return direct elections,” Kostaryev said.

Earlier Grigory Yavlinsky, Yabloko’s presidential candidate, initiated the collection of signatures for the return of direct elections of mayors, governors and members of the Federation Council – without any restrictions or filters. He launched this initiative on the change.org website. Direct elections are one of the key points of Yavlinsky’s presidential electoral programme.