Conversation with an interesting person (Barnaul)

The authorities of the Altai Territory, like many other edges and regions of Russia, intend to take another step to establish totalitarian rule and cancel the elections of the mayor of Barnaul. The governor dismissed the head of the city of Vladimir Kolganov, and then officials pressed the deputies of the City Duma, and they decided to hold public hearings on the cancellation of the elections. Despite this, civil activists urge the townspeople to actively protest, participate in pickets and rallies. However, very few people are involved in these promotions. Why do residents of Barnaul so easily abandon their rights and freedoms? The head of the "Civil Assembly of the Altai Territory" Konstantin Emeshin reflects on this subject.

Konstantin Emeshin : We are most worried about not that these elections are even canceled, how much a state of civil society. Polls and communication with people shows that in society there has come such a peculiar state of complete unbelief in power and complete disbelief that they can influence. Therefore, when you communicate with people, so we decided that we must somehow stir up people, we must still believe in yourself. Therefore, we used this case against those amendments that they want to make to the charter, replacing the mayor’s elections with appointment, somehow work with people, with society, which does not need to despair. Not everything is lost yet. This topic, which most of all worries us, is such a state - the complete gap of society and the authorities.

And what, they say, Konstantin Nikolaevich, why should we do this? All the same, they will not decide - everything they want, they will be sold. The deputies will still vote and begin to tell me - this deputy, for example, is the owner of the bus park. The traffic police came to take off the numbers from the buses, and where should he go? Nowhere. There are three criminal cases in this deputy in markets, etc. He also has nowhere to go. And when people begin to analyze - yes. Of the 35 deputies, about 28 are completely controlled, maybe 30, which are in such a way, so purely administrative, absolutely non-common, non-public methods simply press and say-you must vote.

These so -called public hearings, public deputy hearings are being prepared. There, already in the regional administration, lists are drawn up, whom they will let there. Then everyone else will say there is no place. Already speaking are prepared, etc.

Oleg Kupchinsky : Konstantin Nikolaevich, however, you do not give up, organize alternative public hearings. What will they give? After all, these events are only advisory.

Konstantin Emeshin : In the end, no one also interferes with the civil society and self -organize. Therefore, we took and said - let's start the wave. Now we have formed an organizing committee for the preparation of the hearings. Now by the organization. The collection of signatures in support of citizens began in the districts of Barnaul. In addition, individual appeal, sentence. We made a sample, put on the Internet. Let people write. Personally come to the office, hand over. Polls show that the vast majority of citizens for the elections. But only they have little believe that you can do something. This is the whole problem today. We want civil society to convince what we can influence and need to influence. And there is no other way. But even if, in the end, this time these 30 deputies, who were pressed by criminal cases and other administrative measures, let them vote for these amendments and the charter. All the same, sooner or later society will come to the fact that any authoritarian regimes are still crumbling.

Oleg Kupchinsky : Konstantin Nikolaevich, what political parties support you?

Konstantin Emeshin : We are faced with the fact that, unfortunately, there are also some just political games around this business. We can’t, let's say that the Communists gather along with the "fair Russians". In the end, they began to gather in my office and then only because Konstantin Nikolaevich is independent of any party, we seemed to trust him. Well, let's do it, do not need these internal strife. Because the “fair Russians” publicly stated that the Communists stated and the LDPR, and the LDPR was very peculiarly stated by our regional, that they were also popular for the elections. Oddly enough, among the "United Russia" also for the elections, but they shrug all their hands - you understand that our opinion does not matter, no one asks us. Therefore, when they tell us that there is a “United Russia” plays a role, I can say that it does not play any role. They simply gathered respected people, bent them as if and like an eye machine. Then a very great good is that in our modern Russia there is a competition of corrupt clans. On the one hand, we are against corruption, but it has a certain plus, when one financial clan competes with another financial clan, one there controls some structure in the city government, the other in the regional authorities, they are fighting among themselves, and for us this is a favorable situation. Because both the same party is still forced to operate on civil society. And they are looking for some specific support.

Oleg Kupchinsky : Indeed, it is very easy to put pressure on politicians and deputies. They are threatened with business loss - they refuse their beliefs and vote as they should. It turns out that you can go against the authorities, just having no business and no property?

Konstantin Emeshin : The man is weak. But I understand that if a person has a business, a family, a house, etc., in the end he can say - I will not go to fight to the end, because to engage in politics, public policy - this cannot be combined with others. I also once had a business. Then I realized that this is not necessary, it is impossible, because the business will be crushed. Then you will be forced to dismiss employees. They will just move at you. Therefore, purely social activity, you are an independent person, you can say. I publish my newspaper. But the most important thing-we want to still keep grain in society and develop grain-you do not be afraid, they will not do anything with us! It all depends on us. In the end, if we rally, we will have to reckon with us.