Translated material
"No husbands - take lovers"
The Sverdlovsk political elite convinced the people to vote for Putin
Yekaterinburg has joined numerous Russian regions where mass rallies organized by the authorities are taking place in support of President Vladimir Putin. At the local Youth Palace, two political actions took place at once - first in the small and then in the large hall.The first time supporters of the current head of state gathered was on Friday, November 2, in a small hall designed for two hundred people. Then the overwhelming majority of supporters were students who admitted that they came “of their own free will.” The meeting was opened by the commissioner of the Sverdlovsk regional student detachment, Neila Rasulova, who, “politically competent”, in full accordance with the current official ideological fashion, compared the state of affairs in Russia in the 90s of the last century with the 2000s and called the course of the current president “wise and strong” . Then literature and Russian language teacher Svetlana Sidorchuk recalled the words of Fyodor Dostoevsky, who considered money “minted freedom,” and assured that before Vladimir Putin, teachers were not free. The entire event lasted 40 minutes, generated a lot of media interest, and did not attract the attention of local politicians.
The whole flower of the Sverdlovsk region gathered after the holidays in the same Youth Palace, but in a large hall for one and a half thousand people, on Tuesday, November 6, for a forum of Vladimir Putin’s supporters. The event was held in a traditional format for the region - speeches by politicians alternated with amateur performances. Unlike the first meeting, the regional governor Eduard Rossel appeared at this meeting. On Tuesday, he just went on pre-election leave, since he heads the Sverdlovsk electoral list of United Russia. Having already held more than one meeting with voters, Mr. Rossel understood: the electorate did not see intrigue in the elections, so he decided to create it himself.
“At the congress (of United Russia in Moscow - Ed. ) on October 1, Vladimir Vladimirovich said that if the Russians vote,” here the governor took a long pause, “with dignity, then he will think about his future employment.” Since all regional authorities are faced with the task of ensuring not only the maximum percentage of United Russia, but also a high turnout, Eduard Rossel decided to appeal to the students and rectors of the largest universities who were among the invitees. “We have 200 thousand students, and if they just come, that’s it, there will be no questions. I am addressing you all. Women, take your husbands on December 2nd. If they are not there - lovers, and vice versa, and go vote. So that everyone votes before 12 o’clock, and then I will look at the results,” the governor called on the Sverdlovsk residents and, to the applause of the Young Guard activists, he returned to his place in the hall.
His place on stage was taken by the folk group, which performed well at the recent celebration of the 70th birthday of Eduard Rossel. Just like a few weeks ago, the Sverdlovsk residents delighted the audience with ditties, only not about the hero of the day, but about the party in power. “United Russia has firm guarantees. President Vladimir Putin topped the party list,” echoed throughout the entire hall.
The folk group was replaced on stage by the mayor of Yekaterinburg Arkady Chernetsky, who turned out to be number two on the regional list of United Russia. “Several years ago I met with the mayor of Chicago, and it was unpleasant when in a city with only twice as many residents as Yekaterinburg, the budget is several times larger than ours. Over the past five years, Yekaterinburg’s budget has quadrupled, and now it would be easier for me to talk to a colleague. Of course, in Chicago the budget also increased, but only by 40%. By the way, that mayor still works there,” noted Arkady Chernetsky, who is facing another election in the spring.
After this, the status performances ended: they sang from the stage about the armed forces, the multinational Urals, and the correct course of Vladimir Putin. According to the plan, on November 15 in Tver, four Sverdlovsk residents from the first, non-partisan group will gather together with colleagues from other regions for an all-Russian forum in support of the Russian President. And United Russia is planning a meeting on November 21 at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium. Vladimir Putin is also promised to appear there with a response to all his supporters. Perhaps it is at Luzhniki that the country will learn something more concrete about the employment plan of the second president of Russia.