Press Release, 5.08.2019

The Vologda City Court refused to satisfy the demands of the representatives of the LDPR party, who tried to annul registration of four out of twelve candidates from Yabloko to the Vologda City Duma. Claims of the same type were submitted to court against Yabloko candidates Dmitry Tarasov, Lyubov Kryksu, Alexei Nikitin and Alexander Svitin.

Yabloko’s candidates believe that technical candidates from the LDPR party have filed lawsuits so that to “clear” electoral districts from rivals in favour of candidates from the ruling United Russia party.

According to the plaintiffs, the city branch of the Yabloko party is not an electoral association and cannot nominate candidates. Activists of the Vologda branch of Yabloko note that the claims of candidates from the LDPR are absurd and unfounded.

“We were certain that the law was on our side and proved it, and we revealed those who are afraid to play by the rules. This is important for the future,” said Dmitry Tarasov, Deputy Chairman of the Vologda branch of Yabloko.

The situation with the lawsuit against the Vologda branch of Yabloko resonated in the social networks and local media. Residents of the city and even political rivals spoke out in defense of the candidates from the Yabloko party.

The Vologda City Duma consists of 30 deputies; elections to the city parliament will be held on a single voting day 8 September according to the majority system.