If someone thinks that we have seen enough of everything in the elections in recent years and nothing will surprise us, I advise them to follow the election campaign in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. I think that in terms of scandals, incriminating evidence and “black PR” it will surpass even the Yakut epic.

Krasnoyarsk residents will elect a new governor only on September 8, but passions are already running high. Firstly, there is an unprecedented number of applicants for the vacant position. Now there are already 24 of them. There are also well-known politicians, such as the speaker of the regional Legislative Assembly Alexander Uss, the Taimyr governor Alexander Khloponin, the communist economist State Duma deputy Sergei Glazyev or the head of Khakassia Alexei Lebed, the younger brother of the deceased governor. And formerly popular businessmen Artem Tarasov and German Sterligov, who promised to use their business experience and connections for the benefit of Krasnoyarsk. And unknown old pensioners who want to improve their financial affairs by taking a high position.

However, financial interests will generally play a key role in these elections. After all, the aluminum empire of Oleg Deripaska and the nickel empire of Vladimir Potanin entered the fray, and there is nothing to say about the favorite of the local public, the suspended sentenced Anatoly Bykov and his comrades.

Secondly, more than three months before the vote, mysterious PR people have already outlined the methods of the upcoming struggle. On Friday, as RIA Novosti reported, a fake issue of the Krasnoyarsky Rabochiy newspaper appeared in Krasnoyarsk, to which, according to the editor-in-chief of this publication, Vladimir Pavlovsky, the editorial board he leads “has nothing to do.” The fake is not indicated by the imprint, but it was released in a circulation of 500 thousand copies - ten times more than that of the genuine "Krasnoyarsk Worker". Judging by the printing design, Mr. Pavlovsky believes, this clone was clearly not born in Krasnoyarsk. But the point is not in the form, but in the content: all four pages of the false “Krasrab” are filled with compromising evidence on almost each of the 24 candidates for governor. And such a breadth of views will make it difficult for law enforcement agencies and the regional election commission to find manufacturers of counterfeits.

As for the real “Krasnoyarsk Worker,” his preferences are quite transparent. A week before the scandal with the alien number, the newspaper published a heartfelt article about Anatoly Bykov, a worthy and honest person, a major businessman and politician, a victim of slander and intrigue. However, as another Krasnoyarsk publication, Segodnya Gazeta, notes, the author somewhat overdid it and framed his hero. “ It turns out that after a noble man returns home, some people need to think about their safety, for example, the leader of “Honor and Motherland” (the social movement created by Alexander Lebed - V.S.) Igor Zakharov. He now needs to “ dig a reliable cache in the protected taiga, where Bykov has not set foot. And it’s time for the poor Tsvetomuzika to undergo plastic surgery to change her appearance and ask for political asylum from the cannibals of New Guinea. Otherwise the hour is uneven. The owner (the author uses a capital letter - “SG”) will ask at his leisure: “How are you living, crucian carp?” Then the courtly “mercy” “crucian carp” are short-sighted and can choke .” In short, “Tolya the Bull” turned out to be of rare peacefulness in a respectful presentation of “The Krasnoyarsk Worker” (the present).

But, I repeat, Bykov will be one of the main players on the election field. If not himself, then with the help of Alexander Uss - their connection is no secret to anyone. In the meantime, Bykov is, as it were, a “subordinate” to the regional speaker, since, despite the prison and judicial epic, he remains a deputy of the local Legislative Assembly. The other day, Mr. Uss frankly stated: “For me, Anatoly Bykov is a person and a deputy... He must answer not to accusations from television screens, but on the basis of the materials of the criminal case presented to us. The sentence handed down to him shows that the accusation had a very weak evidence base. I, as the chairman of the meeting, must respect the opinion of tens of thousands of Krasnoyarsk residents who voted for him.”

On September 8, Krasnoyarsk residents will once again be able to express their opinion. Of course, much will depend on which candidate (or candidates) the central government decides to clear the election site for. Now the Kremlin, as usual, declares that it does not intend to interfere in the Krasnoyarsk campaign. But this is unlikely - the battle ahead is too daring, the stakes are too high in a region rich in mineral resources, forests and other attractions.

THE GREAT BATTLE OF THE YENISEY