"The authorities consider me as the most dangerous competitor"

On March 29, the Ministry of Justice declared the “ino -agent” Boris Vishnevsky - the most noticeable opposition policy of St. Petersburg. In the Legislative Assembly of the city of Vishnevsky, it is represented by the Yabloko faction.

The “paper” asked the newly -tied “Ino -Agent” how his work as a deputy of the Zaks will change and whether he plans to run for the governors of St. Petersburg.

- Are you going to comply with all the requirements of the legislation on “foreign agents”?

- I have to do this, since I am a Russian politician living and working in Russia, and no matter how monstrous laws are, I must act within their framework.

- How do you intend to act right now?

- I am going to appeal this decision in court, because I consider it not just illegal, but I consider it a mockery of my voter whom I represent. And we are already discussing this issue with lawyers.

For the past three days, citizens from all over the city call me and write to me, they say that they support me, approve of what I am doing, and are completely outraged by the decision of the Ministry of Justice. I understand that I am doing everything right.

You read that in the register of the Ministry of Justice they write about why I am included there: "I performed on the venues of the media - foreign agents." So what? This is not the basis for a person to call a foreign agent himself. “He opposed a special military operation,” is a second, where it is written that citizens are obliged to support it, there is no such reason in the list. “He criticized the activities of the authorities,” and there is no such basis in the law either.

As for me, I am a Russian deputy and represent the interests of my voters, and my relatives, my friends, my voters and the Constitution of the Russian Federation influence me. I am not under any influence of any external forces.

- How will you prove that there was no foreign influence?

- I should not prove anything, the Ministry of Justice should prove. I am sure that I am under any influence and let the Ministry of Justice try to prove the opposite.

The fact that I give an interview to a foreign media is not evidence of foreign influence on me. In our country, Vladimir Putin gave an interview to Takera Carlson. What is he also under foreign influence?

- What will change in your work in Sachs? Speaker of ZakSA Alexander Belsky said today that you will be excluded from commissions with state authorities. How much will this interfere with your work?

- Yes, the law forbids me to participate in the work of joint commissions with other authorities. I am only in one such body - this is the supervisory board of the capital repairs fund. Apparently, they will exclude me from there, but I will survive it. Moreover, this observation council has not been going to for a year.

My work in the bodies of the Legislative Assembly itself does not interfere. Of course, it will be more difficult to work. Of course, I should, on all my appeals to the authorities, answers to voters, bills and amendments to put this absurd dick. And during the speeches in the Legislative Assembly about the "Inoagncy" I will be mentioned by me or the speaker.

-Belsky today also said that it is unlikely that now one of the deputies will participate with you in legislative initiatives. Do you think someone from your colleagues will decide to support you in such initiatives, given the “ foreign” status?

-If something important will need to be made jointly, then either the apple fraction or my colleague Alexander Shishlov will act as the entry of the introduction. In this case, I am completely not conceited.

Yes, I understand that not all deputies will risk signing legislative initiatives with me now. But there were not too many of them before.

-Some of the parliament colleagues, except for Alexander Shishlov,, after recognizing you, “ino-agent” expressed your support to you?

- Today I saw quite a few deputies in the Legislative Assembly from different fractions. I can tell you that no one was gloating. Many expressed their support and their surprise by this decision. Because they know me, see how I work and what I am doing.

- Do you think the decision of the Ministry of Justice is connected with the upcoming governor's elections? After all, by law it will not be possible to speak about candidates.

- It seems to me that this is the main reason why they decided to enter this to this register so that I could not say anything during the governor or municipal campaign.

These prohibitions enter into force only when the elections are already scheduled. Until they are appointed, the law does not prohibit me to discuss anything connected with them.

But even when they enter into force, there are other ways to convey to citizens my point of view. We have a party that has the right to say everything that is considered necessary.

Again, the law does not prevent me from participating in the elections myself.

- Are you going to participate?

- The party will soon discuss the possibility of my participation in the governor's election. But the decision will be made later and what it will be, I cannot predict.

Judging by how they tried to include me in this register, the authorities themselves consider me as a candidate and the most dangerous competitor.

What else to read:

• "Smolny wants to make ZAS with a department for stamping their proposals." Boris Vishnevsky - about an attempt to prevent him from polls , the conflict of the CEC with Beglov and the future of the legislative assembly.
• How many opposition deputies remain in the municipalities of St. Petersburg - and how this can affect the governor's elections of 2024.

Photo: "Paper"