The offices of the ex-candidate for the State Duma from Yabloko Oleg Mandrykin were searched
Press Release, 9.02.2022
Photo: Oleg Mandrykin and Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov (left). / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
All the offices of the real estate agency Variant in Severodvinsk, the Arkhangelsk region, headed by Oleg Mandrykin, one of the leaders of the STOP-SHIES coalition [a public movement against organisation of a giant landfill instead of part of the forest in the Arkhalgensk region where waste from Moscow and some of Western Russian regions could be transported and stored], were simultaneously searched. According to the official version, the searches were caused by an inspection under Article 198 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on non-payment of taxes. The Arkhangelsk regional branch of Yabloko is confident that the attack of the authorities on the business of the opposition activist represents political pressure.
Oleg Mandrykin is a former candidate for the State Duma from Yabloko in 2021, he headed the regional group and was nominated in a single-mandate constituency. In 2020, the politician was nominated by Yabloko for the post of Governor in the Arkhangelsk region, but did not pass the municipal filter.
In addition, Mandrykin is a member of the STOP-SHIES coalition against the construction of a landfill in the region. Now, together with other residents of Severodvinsk, he supports a civil protest against building of a residential quarter instead of a park. Every Sunday, citizens go out into the street and collect signatures in favor of creation of a park, which was originally planned in the master plan of Severodvinsk development.
Elections to the City Council of Severodvinsk are coming up in 2022. Mandrykin has a high chance of winning a mandate, but if a criminal case is opened against him, he will be banned from running in the election.
Oleg Mandrykin is certain he has not violated tax laws. Moreover, the police and officers of the tax authority presented no resolution on the inspection before conducting the search, and the day was specially chosen when the director of the company was in another city and could not be present during the search.
Posted: February 11th, 2022 under Elections, Environmental Policies, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Protection of Environment, Regional and Local Elections, Regional and Local Elections 2021, Regional and Local Elections 2022, State Duma Elections, State Duma Elections 2021.