Statement by the Novgorod branch of Yabloko, 1.10.2019

An unidentified person attacked Anna Cherepanova, Chair of the Novgorod regional branch of the Yabloko party and the deputy of the City Duma, at the entrance to Mayor’s Office, before the meeting of the Novgorod Duma on the morning of September 26. The man poured white powder on her.

The Novgorod regional branch of the Yabloko party regards this attack as an act of political pressure on the opposition party and personally on MP Anna Cherepanova. This represents a reaction to the effective political work of Novgorod Yabloko, as its results are confirmed by a significant increase in the support of party candidates in the elections and growth in the number of supporters in different disrticts of the region.

We are outraged by the actions of the political forces, which prefer provocations and attacks to parliamentary discussions, and demand that the law enforcement objectively and thoroughly investigate this incident. Perpetrators, organisers and those who ordered this should not evade responsibility. Only the inevitability of punishment will eliminate further provocations.

If the goal of the provocation is to intimidate opposition politicians, then it has not been achieved. We will continue to fight for the rights and interests of the Novgorod residents to affordable medicine, high quality education, improving the living standards and quality of life and friendly environment, we will control budget expenditures, investigate corruption and talk about it in the media.

We thank our supporters and like-minded people for their solidarity with the regional branch of the party and their readiness to uphold our common values ​​in polling stations, street rallies, in government bodies and local self-governments. Your support makes us stronger. Join the party of brave and honest people. Our goal is to change the antinational regime.

Adopted by the Regional Council of the Novgorod branch of the Yabloko party on October 1, 2019.