Press Release, 3.08.2021

Photo: Nikolai Kuzmin and Lev Shlosberg / Photo by the Press Service of the Pskov branch of Yabloko

The Electoral Commission of the Pskov Region removed Lev Shlosberg, the leader of the Pskov branch of Yabloko and a member of the Federal Political Committee of Yabloko, and Nikolai Kuzmin, a member of the Regional Council of the party branch, from the elections to the Pskov Regional Assembly

This decision will be appealed to the Pskov Regional Court, Lev Shlosberg said.

According to Dmitry Permyakov, the Deputy Chairman of the Pskov branch of Yabloko, who was present at the meeting of the electoral commission, the reason for the withdrawal was the participation of Lev Shlosberg and Nikolai Kuzmin in the rally, allegedly organised by the Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (which has been listed as an extremist organisation). Permyakov suggested that it could be a rally on January 23.

Then Lev Shlosberg was arrested in Pskov and fined for alleged participation in an unlawful action. The politician pleaded not guilty in court and said that he neither organised the demonstration, nor knew the organisers. He said he realised that the action did not have a permission from the authorities  and offered people to go to the so-called Hyde Park (the place officially designated for rallies, thus no permissions are required for events there).

It should be noted that on 3 August, Lev Shlosberg was registered as a candidate for the State Duma elections in single-mandate constituency No 207 (Moscow). He also tops the regional group candidates on the federal list of Yabloko candidates, which unites the Pskov and the Tver regions.

The Yabloko party will provide Lev Shlosberg and Nikolai Kuzmin with all the support they may need.