Maybe it seems like a small thing, but it really makes my blood boil. This particular deputy is something else. I genuinely want everyone to read this post and share it.
This was actually a case uncovered by Lyubov Sobol, but I took it over—I said I’d write it up myself so more people would read it.
You probably know deputy Sidyakin. He’s one of the main public spokesmen for United Russia, constantly appearing on TV talk shows to praise the authorities and attack the opposition.
The deputy had a particularly memorable moment in the spotlight when he went on a recreational trip to Antarctica during working hours. The trip cost tens of thousands of dollars, but apparently he could afford it.
But Sidyakin became truly notorious when he became the author and chief lobbyist of one of the most disgusting laws passed by the current State Duma—the law imposing criminal penalties for violations at pickets and rallies. A person goes out three times with a placard, the police decide those were violations, and off to prison he goes. Real prison, not just administrative detention.
That is exactly the charge used against political prisoner Ildar Dadin. Judge Dudar of Moscow’s Basmanny Court gave him a real three-year prison sentence, even though the prosecution had asked for only two. The judge may be unhinged, but without Sidyakin’s law this would not have been possible.
Now let’s take a look at what exactly this little creep Sidyakin is so desperate to protect—what it is the opposition might take from him that makes it necessary to jail everyone.
On March 9, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tatarstan posted a rather unusual state contract. It names our Sidyakin directly: "Rental of a motor vehicle in connection with supporting off-site events of State Duma deputy of the sixth convocation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation A.G. Sidyakin."
Formally, he is a deputy representing Tatarstan, although local officials have repeatedly complained that he was imposed on them, so a couple of times a year he is supposed to come "to the region" and carry out some sort of activity. And for this, you see, Sidyakin needs a car.
Sidyakin refuses to travel around Tatarstan in anything other than a Mercedes SUV.
So they are renting him a specific vehicle for a full year.
The lease will cost 1,247,400 rubles per year, paid for out of the federal budget.
In other words, just renting an SUV for this clown will cost 100,000 rubles a month.
The average salary in Tatarstan is 28,000 rubles a month. So that’s three average monthly salaries just to rent his car.
People online are raising money for sick children’s operations, but this mug can’t just use a regular backup official car from the Tatarstan administration—no, rent him a Mercedes.
And that’s despite the fact that 1) the deputy spends 80% of his time in Moscow anyway, and 2) the Duma’s term actually expires in September, while the car is being rented through the end of 2016.
Since the contract even lists the car’s registration number, it was easy to find online. Here it is:
On top of his 500,000-ruble monthly salary, travel allowances, free tickets, housing, and access to the special cafeteria, we are apparently also supposed to pay for this exact “cool ride” for Sidyakin. Otherwise, he just can’t manage.
Do you understand now why he needs to jail everyone with an independent opinion? So that no one dares mention his Mercedes.
If you know anyone in Tatarstan, send them this post. Sidyakin will soon be up for election, and he’ll be driving around in this Mercedes telling pensioners about how he serves Russia. So let them at least ask him: son, couldn’t you have rented yourself a cheaper car?
Came to “talk about housing and utilities”? Then let’s talk about how, on top of that, we’re also paying for your SUV.
P.S. We will, of course, demand that this procurement be canceled. There is also an obvious case here of misuse of funds—grounds for opening an investigation.