"Putin began a real collapse of ratings"

300 deputies opposed the amendments to the Constitution and “Knights”. We talked with one of the initiators of the appeal - Julia Galyamina

About 300 (293) deputies of different levels - from regional to municipal - from different regions of Russia signed under the appeal to citizens who opposed amendments to the Constitution. The authors of the appeal and signatures emphasize that the main goal of changes in the main law of the country is to “zero” the terms of President Vladimir Putin (although formally amendments are submitted as a set of social and political measures, including a guarantee of indexation of pensions, protecting the Russian language, a ban on foreign citizenship for officials, etc.). Amendments “destroy the Russian state and pose a threat to its very existence in the near future,” the letter says. Medusa talked with one of the initiators of the appeal - the Moscow municipal deputy Julia Galyamina.

- How did you go to the signator, because among them there are not only Moscow and St. Petersburg deputies, but also politicians from Siberia, Ivanovo region, Yakutia?

- We have large ties in the regions thanks to the school of local self -government ( founded in 2012 as a project to prepare municipal politicians; Galyamin is one of the co -founders - approx. Medusa ). Many deputies, thanks to the school, went to [municipal] meetings [their regions]. We also went to other people who did not know before, looked who voted against amendments in regional leaf assemblies ( the conditions of approval of the amendments involve the support of at least two -thirds of regional parliaments - approx. Medusa ).

- This, for example, is a former deputy from Fair Russia from Yakutia Sulustaan ​​Myraan, who voted against amendments and resigned?

- Yes, she is also. We talked with her through Votsap, it was an impressive acquaintance.

- Myraan represents the reference, among the signatories there are nominees of the Liberal Democratic Party, many communists. These are systemic parliamentary parties, but in the State Duma only the Communist Party abstained from the support of the amendments, the rest of the factions were “for”. There were no complaints from deputies about pressure from the party leadership for signing the petition?

- There were no such messages. Basically, these deputies were only nominated for elections from parties, but they are not in the parties themselves. Therefore, it is almost impossible to press on them: they cannot be withdrawn, influence the party line.

- Were there representatives of United Russia, who wanted to sign under the appeal?

- The United Russia was associated with us, who said they supported the appeal, but they cannot sign. But I can’t even call their regions, it is unsafe for people. Appeal is an expression of the position of deputies, not all of them can support our campaign “no” in full.

-Will there be any continuation of this campaign?

- We plan a lot of different steps. The nearest one is a petition for people who can oppose “zeroing” .

-The deputies who put signatures will somehow help you in the campaign?

- We will send them links and materials, but everyone will help as they can - everyone has different opportunities and resources.

- You say you feel the support of most Russian citizens. Previously, the majority were often called "Putin." Now it has become protest? Why?

- This is rather a question for sociologists, what happened before - and how it was transformed. We now, as politicians, understand that most of our voters with whom we communicate are opposed to [these amendments]. But as a scientist, I can say that a change in mood has already happened; The attitude towards Putin compared to the beginning of the zero has changed dramatically. It began to change already in the 2010s, after the Crimea there was a sharp jump in its popularity, and after 2018 a decrease began, associated not only withpension reform , with the economic crisis, but also with the emancipation of citizens. In connection with Koronavirus, Putin began a real collapse of ratings.

- Obviously, your appeal will not help cancel the vote itself. Perhaps it will not affect its probable result - the formal approval of amendments to the population. Then what do you want to achieve? Maybe people see that deputies, whom many consider completely loyal authorities, are also against its representatives?

- Yes, this was meant. The second point is the moral support of people who are against, but they are afraid, give up their hands. Many have learned helplessness: "I am alone in the cocoon, I opposed amendments, but everyone likes it." People must understand that they are not alone. We can say that this is a creation of public opinion. Citizens, even having doubts, join a group that is not shy about expressing their opinion. The report to people that they are not alone, is very important. I don’t know how many people will read the appeal. But in different steps we will reach many, even bypassing the TV.

“In the appeal, you call“ all Russian citizens to a public disagreement with the usurpation of power. ” In what form, in your opinion, it should be shown-given that protest actions are virtually impossible because of coronavirus?

- [Political scientist] Kirill Rogov wrote a good text, where he suggests: say “no” 20 in different ways for more than 20 days before voting. These 20 ways people can come up with themselves, or they can join us. In the coming days, as I already said, we will launch a petition, we will make leaflets and posters so that people can print them and hang them in their entrance.

Street actions depend on the situation with coronavirus. We are not ready, unlike Vladimir Putin, to call people to go and become infected. We are not ready to substitute people under clubs, but many of them are ready to go out themselves, they understand that this is a fatal moment for Russia, that you need to show certain resistance and courage. If we cannot do this now, it will be even worse, the country will move away from the possibility of correcting the roll into which it fell due to the irremovability of power. It is not only about politics, but also about the economy - and this applies to everyone. The economy no longer withstands the political system, we are talking about medicine, education, and culture.

- What do you recommend doing people on voting days?

- We have an epidemic of coronavirus, and we cannot urge everyone to go to areas. But to say that the voting procedure is transparent and an honest calculation awaits us, it is impossible. We are leaving the idea that the light of the wedge came down to voting, a demonstration of disagreement with “reversing” can be different. If people can come to the plots, then it’s good - let them come and vote. If for various reasons they cannot-because of the virus, or if they consider the procedure to be humiliating and do not want to participate, then we propose to express a protest in a different way: write a post on social networks, record a video with our opinion, arrange a single picket with a social distance. We work on a list of options, but welcome any creative. This is not a controlled action - Muscovites are sitting and invent for everyone - this is a manifestation of folk will.

- And how do you feel about those who call for a boycott of voting?

- People can boycott the vote, but not silently. The silent boycott is consent. Call friends, make a leaflet, hang in the window the inscription "No!" You can make a lot of things without leaving home.

Andrey Pertsev