The politician supported Grigory Yavlinsky’s initiative for the return of direct election of mayors, governors and senators
Press release, 07.11.2017

Politician Vladimir Ryzhkov signed the petition for the return of direct elections of mayors, governors and members of the Federation Council – without any restrictions or filters. The collection of signatures was initiated by Grigory Yavlinsky as part of his presidential campaign.

“Up to 80 per cent of issues concerning people’s daily lives are solved at the local level. They are – the situation with roads, parks, squares, kindergartens, polyclinics, street illumination, garbage disposal, culture, feasts as well as many other things on which the comfort and health of Russians depend. At the same time, the local level authorities are deprived of nearly all their power and money these days. Mayors are not elected but appointed from above. They become faceless, weak functionaries lacking initiative,” Ryzhkov said.

According to Ryzhkov, the situation will not improve until people get the right to elect mayors and governors in fair and free election.

“I strongly support and Yabloko and Grigory Yavlinsky’s initiative on returning direct election of mayors and governors,” he stated.

Yekaterinburg Mayor Evgeny Roizman, Petrozavodsk ex-Mayor Galina Shirshina, politician Dmitry Gudkov, former Vice-Governor of the Yaroslavl Region Oleg Vinorgadov have already put down their signatures in support of the initiative.

Yabloko has collected over 20,000 signatures by now.