Press release, 3.09.2018

On 3 September, Yabloko filed a complaint to the head of the Supreme Court Vyacheslav Lebedev in connection with the decision of the Pskov regional court to withdraw Yabloko’s candidates Gennady Kolesik and Larisa Semashko from the elections to the posts of heads of Opochetsky and Velikoluksky districts in the Pskov Region.

Both candidates were nominated in accordance with Yabloko’s charter and registered by the territorial election commissions. However, they were withdrawn from elections after their rivals from the Party of Growth filed a suit.

In 2017 Yabloko candidates Vitaly Arshinov (48 per cent of votes) and Yuri Pavlov (54 per cent of votes) were elected heads of Plussky and Gdovsky districts of the Pskov Region. The ruling United Russia party reacted badly to their victory.

According to Chair of the Pskov branch of Yabloko Lev Shlosberg, it was clear from the Strat of the election campaign that all Yabloko’s candidates have a chance to win. It means that the ruling party and the city administration will lose control over the region. United Russia and its candidates are not ready for competitive elections even within the framework of the present electoral system.

Yabloko’s appeal to the Supreme Court states that the Pskov regional court interferes in the political process depriving citizens of the right to elect governmental bodies. This way the court decision contributes to the formation of illegitimate authorities by creating artificial barriers for opposition candidates.