Is Putin his own enemy?

V. Putin said that as a presidential candidate he is ready to involve representatives from the Yabloko party as observers for the presidential elections.

Of course, our observers are not serfs and have the right to decide for themselves which candidate they are ready to vote for. Probably, many of them would consider this offer tempting, because Putin’s name would confuse the commission chairmen and provide maximum opportunities to combat falsifications (in favor of Putin himself).

Alas, Putin’s statements are just PR. But we have a political answer to this PR.

There are conditions common to all presidential candidates.

First, guarantees must be given that observers will be completely independent

Secondly, they should be sent to those areas that Yabloko proposes, that is, areas convenient for observers. They don't have to go to the other end of the city.

Third, candidates must resist all attempts to remove observers.

The list of conditions for Putin is of course wider. He must confirm to the public that he is serious about ensuring fair elections. To do this, he must fulfill at least part of Bolotnaya’s demands: dismiss Churov and seriously begin investigating all cases of fraud in the Duma elections.

If these conditions are met, I am ready to sign an agreement with Putin on the dispatch of observers.

Of course, I understand that Putin’s initiative will not go further than PR, since he is hardly his own enemy.

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