Ready for anything

The Other Russia called on its supporters to choose a single presidential candidate

The Other Russia coalition published an open letter to political organizations and citizens inviting them to participate in the selection of a single presidential candidate from the opposition . “Before September 20-25, we intend to hold a series of regional conferences that will discuss who should be entrusted with leadership in the confrontation with the “successor,” reads the appeal from the other Russians. However, both the list of candidates and the authorship of the appeal raise serious doubts about the reality of these plans.

“The Other Russia” really needs to decide on a single candidate as soon as possible, especially considering that the opposition coalition is now going through hard times. Former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, who was considered one of the main contenders for the role of a single candidate, refused to participate in the conference of other Russians held in early July. He also stated that “The Other Russia” as an opposition coalition has exhausted itself. Following him, the event was ignored by a number of other Russians. The leaders of the All-Russian Civil Congress Lyudmila Alekseeva, Alexander Auzan and Georgy Satarov sent a letter saying that “The Other Russia” is an organization that was conceived as a coalition, but became separate.”

However, the authors of the current appeal are not giving up. “To date, Vladimir Bukovsky, Viktor Gerashchenko, Sergei Gulyaev, Gennady Zyuganov, Mikhail Kasyanov, Vladimir Ryzhkov, Oleg Shein and Grigory Yavlinsky have declared their readiness to act in this role (opposition presidential candidates. - Ed. ). We also believe that regional conferences have the right to propose other candidates,” says the letter from The Other Russia. At the same time, under the appeal published on the coalition’s website, there are no names of other Russians. It is signed as follows: Federal Organizing Committee for the Primary Election of a Single Opposition Candidate.

Paradoxical rumors that the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Zyuganov could become a single candidate from the “Other Russia” have long been circulating in near-political circles. However, even people who were once close to the coalition have great doubts about this turn of events. “They haven’t even been able to develop a procedure for nominating a single candidate internally, so I doubt that this will work outside,” Alexey Kara-Murza, a participant in last year’s “The Other Russia” conference and president of the national foundation “Russian Liberal Heritage,” told a Vremya Novostei correspondent. . - To talk about Zyuganov in these conditions, in my opinion, is simply not serious. It is clear that he is going to the polls in any case. He has a stable rating, although it is constantly falling, but there is a certain party behind him. This is a guaranteed 15% of the vote. Any other candidate is not yet rated. Communists, in my opinion, simply will not agree to this. And was it worth making a fuss with the liberal “Other Russia” in order to then give everything to Zyuganov?”

In addition, according to Mr. Kara-Murza, Kasyanov will never withdraw his candidacy in favor of Zyuganov, and this type of cooperation, in theory, should include the process of nominating a single candidate from the “Other Russia.” “He is not even ready to do this in favor of Gerashchenko,” says Alexey Kara-Murza.

One of the most active participants in the coalition, writer Eduard Limonov, told a Vremya Novostei correspondent that he did not sign the Other Russia’s appeal and the drafters of the document did not turn to him for advice. And Gennady Zyuganov’s participation in the elections as a single candidate from the opposition does not seem realistic to him. “I think Zyuganov himself will not agree to this, because he shies away from the “Other Russia” like the devil from incense. He always speaks out against some strange Orangemen,” said Mr. Limonov. - The people would like changes in the fate of the country, and Zyuganov is not a symbol of change, he is precisely a symbol of constant defeat. Therefore, I probably would not even work for him on the presidential campaign. I believe that “The Other Russia” - those who compiled this appeal, wanted to show the full breadth of our characters, that we are ready for this too.”

Ksenia VERETENNIKOVA