Yesterday we launched a major new campaign.
Its goal is to strip United Russia of its monopoly on power—more precisely, its monopoly in the legislative branch.
Taking part in elections is one form of our struggle, alongside protest actions, investigations, the creation of new media, and so on.
And right now is an excellent moment for elections, surprising as that may sound.
Putin’s ratings are falling. United Russia’s rating is already rock bottom. Across the country, in regional by-elections, candidates from the ruling party are failing in most cases. And that is without any organized strategy—even with falsification and the use of administrative resources.
It is simply a spontaneous movement of voters casting protest votes.
Our plan, which I spoke about in great detail yesterday, is to add “Smart Voting” to this spontaneous wave, so that even a relatively small number of voters can seriously affect the outcome and knock out United Russia candidates.
The first serious battle we will give United Russia will take place on September 8 this year. Elections will be held in 22 regions. The main campaigns are the municipal elections in St. Petersburg and, of course, Moscow.
Moscow will hold major elections for an important body that allocates the colossal budget of the country’s largest and richest city. That budget is being looted right now, because 38 of the 45 seats belong to United Russia.
And yesterday, a remarkable group of five candidates stepped onto the stage—people who want to lead not only Moscow voters, but inspire the whole country.
Ivan Zhdanov — izhdanov.ru Lyubov Sobol — soboll.ru Vladimir Milov — milov2019.ru Ilya Yashin — yashin2019.org Konstantin Jankauskas — facebook.com/konstantin.jankauskas
Many others will join them, and we will identify a Smart Voting candidate for each of Moscow’s 45 districts (and we will do the same in every federal subject of Russia).
And if we do not let Sobyanin fool us, manipulate us, and drag us into a pointless discussion, and if we vote exactly according to this list, then United Russia’s majority in the Moscow City Duma will be in doubt.
We understand what the mayor’s office and the Kremlin will do. Here is the list—you can check it against events later:
They will make all the “systemic parties” (parties officially allowed within the Kremlin-controlled political system) nominate candidates in all 45 districts in order to split the protest vote. And once again I appeal to the YABLOKO party (there is no point appealing to the others) not to take part in this disgrace, even if they are pressured hard and promised a great deal.
The organization of electronic voting as the main method of falsification.
Disguising United Russia candidates as “independents.”
Having United Russia nominate various supposedly respectable people whose reputations will be used to launder the image of the “party of crooks and thieves.”
Keeping the strongest opposition candidates off the ballot.
And we will have to deal with every one of these things. That is why we need “smart voting.” It used to be simple: vote for anyone against United Russia. Now we will have to think.
We have every chance of succeeding. Yesterday’s event leaves a very positive impression. Everyone agreed that this was not just about getting together and shouting. It is the headquarters of a new strategy.
We can beat them. And we will. Let’s act smart.