Who chose the KS

A PublicPost correspondent visited Trubnaya Square, where elections to the Opposition Coordination Council were held this weekend, and met with voters.

Yuri, 34 years old, entrepreneur and poet

— Why did you decide to participate in the elections to the Constitutional Court?

It is stupid to participate in official, state elections, because your vote will be stolen anyway. The last time I voted was in the 2008 presidential election. Even then there were doubts about the advisability of participation, but after this year’s winter campaign I realized that it was completely pointless: the protocols were drawn as needed. So elections to the Constitutional Court are one of the chances to vote and then see how my vote will be taken into account. I wonder which of the candidates will win and how they will then fulfill the promises they made during the election campaign.

— How did you choose who to vote for?

I know some of the candidates personally. For example, Matvey Krylov organizes the Mayakov readings, and I also participate in them. By the way, he once threw water in the prosecutor’s face and served three months. For me this is a positive act. And who doesn’t know Dmitry Bykov and Alexei Navalny? There are also lesser-known candidates. For example, Vladimir Pribylovsky. He helped my friends who were involved in a political case and made a fairly objective examination. For example, I did not vote for Nemtsov, because I know the value of his words. One of the criteria was that they had not stained themselves in any way in the past, either I just don’t know this, or I know their good deeds. So I have candidates for and against.

— What do you expect from the CS?

I expect the Constitutional Court to get together and develop a strategy for joint action. After all, everyone has a plan and some thoughts about what needs to be done, how to put pressure on this system and how this FSB structure can be destroyed or at least disciplined so that it pays attention to people.

Anna, 29 years old, sociologist

— Why did you decide to participate in the elections to the Constitutional Court?

I’ve been going to rallies from the very beginning, since December last year. Because I have a child growing up, and she needs to live in this country. And then, if you can take part, if you can do something, then why not do it?

— How did you choose who to vote for?

I chose candidates whose point of view was closer to me. To do this, I used a political compass , I knew someone, I watched some debates. But I won’t say who I voted for.

Alena, 18 years old, student

— Why did you decide to participate in the elections to the Constitutional Court?

The idea of ​​the Constitutional Court seems constructive to me, in contrast to the Organizing Committee, a closed structure that made decisions without consulting anyone. I hope that the new body will represent a wider range of views, and will include not only media personalities, but also someone closer to ordinary activists.

— How did you choose who to vote for?

I did not vote for the media Navalny-Udaltsov, but for candidates from the regions, for activists whose views I sympathize with and know that they have many constructive ideas. I met someone at a protest. I didn’t know some of them, for example, Ivan Degtyar from Voronezh. I saw him in a debate on Dozhd, then I read his program, then we met by chance at the elections in Khimki, talked, and I liked him. One of the most prominent in the media was, perhaps, Sergei Davidis (member of the bureau of the federal political council of the Solidarity movement - editor's note).

— What do you expect from the CS?

I’m not even waiting for any specific program, but for a unified organization of opposition actions, greater unity among activists. So that it doesn’t happen that the Left Front organizes a rally, but the liberals don’t go to it. Or, for example, the nationalists organized some kind of general event, but the leftists do not go there.

Sergey, 30 years old, researcher

— Why did you decide to participate in the elections to the Constitutional Court?

It's natural. A good start. Because the election process is something fundamental, in which you need to participate and, indeed, cast your vote, so that some kind of normal political process can take place, there are some rudiments of it. And even the process itself is important. I believe that CC can change something. But what is important, above all, is the process of nominating candidates, fair voting, fair and open debate. In addition, a culture of political process is instilled.

— How did you choose who to vote for?

I watched the debates on the Dozhd TV channel, I liked the debates. It was very surprising when lesser known people beat more famous people simply by what they said. I already knew some of my potential candidates, and I liked some during the debates. The closest thing to me is “Civic Platform” (Ksenia Sobchak, Dmitry Bykov, Tatyana Lazareva, Rustem Adagamov and others - editor's note). They are unprofessional politicians.

Irina Grigorievna, 76 years old, doctor

— Why did you decide to participate in the elections to the Constitutional Court?

I follow the news closely. I see what is happening on the street, I see how the demonstrations are dispersed. So my participation is natural. I don’t know if the KS can somehow change the situation, but I think it’s necessary to try. There will be different people represented on the council, and it is not yet clear whether they will be able to agree and develop a common platform. Still, they are very different, but I would like there to be something unified. I'm tired of what's happening in the country.

— How did you choose who to vote for?

I chose those I knew: Sergei Udaltsov, Alexei Navalny, Ksenia Sobchak, Boris Nemtsov. The list is long - about 30 candidates.

— What do you expect from the CS?

I wish they had a program and a plan of action.

Irina, 29 years old, English teacher

— Why did you decide to participate in the elections to the Constitutional Court?

I have been following the news with interest for a long time and would like for our country to have some kind of alternative to the existing government, like in other civilized countries. Such elections in Russia using the Internet are an interesting precedent. I think the Constitutional Court may be the prototype of some kind of opposition force. I miss political diversity. When power is usurped by only people—we have only one ruling party—then we cannot hope for its impartiality and incorruptibility. There must always be some other forces that will control power. There must be competition. It seems to me that the process has already begun in Russia.

— How did you choose who to vote for?

I decided a long time ago, but just in case I used the Political Compass, and in principle everything coincided. I vote for Navalny, Udaltsov, Yashin and Sobchak, as well as for their associates. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to watch the debate.

— What do you expect from the CS?

If something works out: a lot of people vote, and we actually elect the council, then this will already be a significant step. I would like the council to develop a program for alternative development of Russia. I hope that there will be such an opportunity when the government finally changes, and there will be political competition and fair elections, and presidential candidates will participate in normal debates. I think sooner or later we will come to this.