Translated material
Finally talked with Vasily Popov
Finally, he talked with Vasily Popov, whom he had not seen for several years. An interesting person. The former head of the Petrosovet, created in Karelia a powerful opposition to United Russia, as a result of which the republic received a large democratic faction and independent mayor Galina Shirshin.
All this, however, ended traditionally: Shirshin chosen by the people was removed from the post of Usrosa, and Vasily received two criminal cases sewn with white threads, and his sister as a hostage behind bars. The result is an absentee arrest and forced emigration to Finland, where Popov has been living for more than a year.
Vasily and I have known each other for many years. Today he recalled how I came to Petrozavodsk for an opposition rally back in 2006. Remember, he says, we still had a seminar, which a pretty girl was modified? This was the future mayor of Shirshin.
Popov is one of the really decent apple trees, who was never in the retinue of Yavlinsky fans and always had his own opinion. In 2008, he even nominated for the post of chairman of Yabloko, but Yavlinsky then sold the candidacy of Mitrokhin at the congress.
Popov is an excellent businessman and a strong independent politician. Therefore, Russian special services hunt for him. I hope he will soon receive a political shelter and will not be behind bars.
