Towards the , the fresh eastern Siberian town of Yakutsk try the actual only real regional investment within the Russia so you’re able to choose a challenger mayoral candidate. Forty-eight-year-dated Sardana Avksentieva beaten Alexander Savvinov of one’s across the nation prominent United Russia party to be the first lady actually to guide this new city. Just after delivering work environment, Avksentieva circulated a campaign to implement exactly what she states is actually their own “well-known mandate”: reducing spending on Area Hallway, shooting debateable authorities and you can designers, and you may selling off the deluxe cars registered to your mayor’s place of work. As a result, Avksentieva has gathered national prominence, along with her popularity on line even comes with the Kremlin’s political strategists interested. Meduza’s special correspondent Taisia Bekbulatova decided to go to Yakutsk for more information on Avksentieva’s alarming profit and just what awaits her as the city’s gran.
On , four days till the town of Yakutsk try set to hold mayoral elections, Sardana Avksentieva got a call. The sound on the other side avoid announced, “Really that’s all, momma, you might be brand new mayor.”
Brand new person is actually Vladimir Fyodorov, a businessman and you may local parliamentary deputy when you look at the Yakutsk. Before day away from August step 3, he’d also been a well known becoming this new city’s second mayor. A few days before he titled Sardana Avksentieva, he was the person who told the fresh new forty eight-year-old to become listed on the newest battle, telling her he could well be unable to work with themselves.
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Vladimir Fyodorov got currently work on to own because the a different candidate. He finished in second put which have 25 % of your own vote about Joined Russia’s Aisen Nikolaev. About pursuing the round out of elections during the 2017, Fyodorov supported Nikolaev hoping your ruling party’s applicant would in the near future feel advertised to lead entire the new Republic off Yakutia, leaving the newest mayor’s seat open to have Fyodorov themselves.
One to pledge did reach fruition, but not in its entirety. Aisen Nikolaev performed become the head of the Yakutian local authorities, but regional authorities did not transfer the assistance regarding Yakutsk mayoral elections so you’re able to Fyodorov. As an alternative, it selected a unique Joined Russia applicant, Alexander Savvinov, the fresh 58-year-old audio speaker of the city’s legislature.
“It’s obvious: he was clear, foreseeable. They realized what to anticipate from your, which is nice and you may comfy. [When the Savvinov was actually decided on,] that which you [would have been] different, not like these days it is,” an enthusiastic election specialized in your community advised Meduza.
On the 2018 elections, Vladimir Fyodorov went towards Motherland team, however, one to solutions soon backfired. Throughout the heat of campaign, this new party’s leadership first started demanding he step out of the fresh new race, and you will local bodies considering him prestigious administrative positions in return for leaving the brand new election. Fyodorov, who may have said themselves he has already established his cardio put with the mayor’s position to have a decade, would not prevent their candidacy, but the guy performed begin setting-up a governmental safety net inside instance regulators finished they to have your. You to definitely element of their plan B are guaranteeing Avksentieva to run.
A processor chip toward their shoulder
Into early morning out-of August step 3, Yakutsk’s Election Committee was planned so you’re able to distribute confirmation documents for each and every candidate’s registration. Two hours before the fulfilling, Fyodorov got a visit out of Alexey Zhuravlyov, a state Duma deputy while the frontrunner of federal Motherland people. Zhuravlyov again recommended that Fyodorov hop out the fresh mayoral battle as the the cluster had hit an accept Yakutian government leaders – a great deal that were authorized by the Kremlin by itself. “You may not earn anyway,” Zhuravlyov told you, predicated on a journalist toward newsprint Kommersant which took place to get into the bedroom. Fyodorov refused once again – and you will is remembered from the their party you to definitely same go out.