In the opposition

The split in the Party of the RPR-Parnas-the expected surprise

February 10, 2014 Alexander Ryklin

The decision of one of the oldest leaders of the domestic democratic movement of Vladimir Ryzhkov to leave the party, which he also created with Nemtsov, Kasyanov and Milov (at one time there was such a young politician who gave hopes to me), was a complete surprise to me. The fact is that on the eve of the fatal political council, on which Vladimir Alexandrovich published his decision, a number of meetings and negotiations between all the defendants in the scandal, the details of which have already been discussed repeatedly. Including your humble servant on the pages of the Hedgehog . So, according to the results of these meetings, their participants showed restrained optimism: they say, of course, everything is very difficult, but it seems that the acute phase has been passed. (However, I repent, I did not speak with Ryzhkov in recent days.) And suddenly - a statement about the exit ...

It is difficult to name the explanations of their act, which followed Vladimir Ryzhkov and his ally, the famous economist Sergei Aleksashenko, who also left the party ranks, intelligible and convincing. Well, in fact, what kind of "raider seizure"? Who was he carried out? What goals? Why should Kasyanov and Nemtsov capture the party, which they founded? Why squeeze Ryzhkov out of her? To whom did he interfere? The story with the removal of Ryzhkov from the post of the party’s responsible secretary must be clarified separately. The fact is that, according to the charter of the organization, this position gives its owner very broad powers (Nemtsov called them a “nuclear button”). For example, to submit a party in negotiations at various levels, to sign the most important documents on behalf of the party, etc. It is clear that in the context of a smoldering conflict between the co -chairs, the presence of these powers in one of them caused anxious anxiety among the rest. Therefore, within the “framework of the restoration of trust” they decided to make the position of rotational, and on the condition that none of the party leaders will continue to occupy it. And one more important moment - this position, as some negotiation participants assured me, was discussed with Ryzhkov in advance. That is, making the question of changing the statute of the position of responsible secretary in the agenda of the above political council there was no surprise for Vladimir Alexandrovich.

Today it is already obvious that the decision of Vladimir Ryzhkov to create a single party with Nemtsov and Kasyanov was a serious political mistake, and I, to be honest, is surprised that he decided on this union. Vladimir Alexandrovich Ryzhkov is a very neat and cautious person. I have some experience of attempts to create uniform organizations with him.

About eight to nine ago, OGF Harry Kasparova stood one step from the Alliance with the Republicans of Ryzhkov ... I now remember the last meeting, where on the one hand, Ryzhkov with Lysenko sat, and on the other-Kasparov and I were. All details and nuances were discussed, the composition of the future political council was discussed, the first statements were agreed. The press conference decided to spend the next day and set time ... and that’s all. By the evening of that day, Vladimir Alexandrovich was not available for communication - he just stopped approaching the phone. He disappeared, in general ... His closest associates assured us that nothing was known about his fate and his plans. But he disappeared only for us. Honestly, I no longer remember how Ryzhkov later explained his sudden disappearance. It seems by malaise. Years passed, and this whole story somehow erased from memory, we continued to communicate ...

So, Vladimir Alexandrovich was one of the first with whom I was discussing the format of the future movement "Solidarity"! And I dare to assure you, he was then an ardent supporter of this unification initiative. Moreover, Ryzhkov, together with Harry Kasparov, Boris Nemtsov and I participated in negotiations with the then leader of the ATP Nikita Belykh about the entry of his party into the “solidarity” (and these negotiations were successful), agitated the regional “Yablonnikov” - in a word, took an active part in great preparatory work. All first meetings on the most important issues of "solidarity" were held in his office at Novokuznetsk. Tell what happened later? That's right: at the last moment, just on the eve of the publication, Vladimir Alexandrovich disappeared. Gone, in general ...

Of course, it is difficult for me to say for sure what kind of considerations was guided by Vladimir Ryzhkov today, to whom I continue to have respect, initiating such a destructive scandal in the Party Parnas party. However, he himself does not hide them: the radical opposition of colleagues does not allow them to function in a legal political field, to effectively participate in the elections without rigid counteraction of the executive branch, and finally, to be elected to the Duma in a single -mandate district (it is clear that the corresponding changes will be made to the legislation). And the years go ...

Now a lot depends on what additional circumstances will accompany Ryzhkov’s departure from the party. If they do not entail the review of the party license, which they still value there if he can complete this story in a civilized manner, without destroying his own reputation, then in good way and fair wind ... But if the project for a split is more difficult and multifaceted, then this will be a completely different conversation.

In any case, the story is bad. However, it is far from as tragic as many try to imagine. In recent years, the RPR-Parnas party has done a lot in our socio-political space. It is enough to recall her huge contribution to the investigation of the “Swamp business”, to the projects to provide real assistance to the prisoners of Bolotnaya. In a word, I hope that Ryzhkov’s exit will not break the batch. Even if everything goes through the worst scenario. It existed before and without Vladimir Alexandrovich, and without the Kremlin mandate ...


Photo by ITAR-TASS/ Pavel Smertin