Vologda: residents demand the resignation of Governor Filimonov

Residents of Vologda are collecting signatures on a petition demanding that Governor Georgy Filimonov be removed from office because of the laws he adopted as part of the anti-alcohol campaign. Residents of the region called them “anti-people.”

We are talking, among other things, about a ban on the sale of alcohol in apartment buildings, which locals consider “a threat to small businesses.”

"Many liquor and grocery stores within walking distance now face threat to their existence. This is causing inconvenience to citizens and contributing to the economic downturn," the petition states.

In five days, more than 1.6 thousand people signed it.

In addition, the governor introduced temporary restrictions on the sale of alcohol in the region: starting March 1, sellers will only be able to sell it at retail from 12:00 to 14:00 on weekdays and from 8:00 to 23:00 on weekends and non-working holidays. The authorities also plan to remove chain alcohol stores.

Restaurants and catering in theaters and hotels will be able to sell alcohol without restrictions. Bars and cafes will need to meet a number of conditions: availability of a license and waiters, at least 40 seats, full compliance with GOST.

According to Filimonov, these initiatives will reduce mortality in the region and will also have a positive effect on the birth rate. “If the population dies out, as in a war , then who will come to take the place of those who left?” he said.

• The day before, deputies of the Vologda Legislative Assembly also began to discuss the possibility of banning children's champagne, which "may be perceived as normalizing alcohol in the minds of children."
• First regional and then federal authorities spoke about the need for restrictions on the sale of alcohol against the backdrop of record demand for it. In recent months, in addition to the Vologda region, at least nine constituent entities of the Russian Federation have announced such measures or their intentions to introduce them - Leningrad , Sverdlovsk , Yaroslavl , Irkutsk and Kurgan regions, Chuvashia , Udmurtia and others.