Sad news, my friends. The long-awaited DaDebates scheduled for today will not take place.
The debating pair was supposed to be Sergei Shargunov (shargunov), who is in A Just Russia’s top three candidates, and United Russia member Konstantin Rykov (real_rykov) — the chief internet overseer for the “bloody regime” (TM). All arrangements had been firmly confirmed as early as last week. We had rented the Ikra club (it’s a shame about the money we’ve now lost, by the way). But alas: yesterday in the second half of the day, real_rykov withdrew from the debate “due to an urgent business trip.”
In response, shargunov did not grandstand and agreed to debate any representative of United Russia. However, frantic attempts (up until 11 p.m.) to persuade some representative of United Russia, the Young Guard, Nashi (a pro-Kremlin youth movement), and others to come out and debate Shargunov ended in failure. No one was given permission. No one wanted to. In fairness, I should note that some comrades said they would have gone, but couldn’t — they were leaving town, busy, and so on. Maybe they really couldn’t. That possibility cannot be ruled out. What especially stunned us was that some characters who show absolutely mega-bravado on LiveJournal and at all sorts of rallies refused to take part in the DaDebates. These people adore every kind of PR, and their snubbing of our debates — which are, I say without false modesty, an event for Russia’s political internet — looks very, very strange. Thus: 1. Sergei Shargunov and A Just Russia are awarded the win in the debate against United Russia — on the grounds that they kept their agreements and were willing to debate any opponent. 2. Konstantin Rykov and United Russia are awarded a disgraceful defeat. Personally, and on behalf of the entire team working on the DaDebates, I send Kostya (diminutive of Konstantin) a ray of bewilderment and wishes for declining sales of the books with which he has flooded every bookstore in Moscow. 3. We openly address the political party United Russia and all youth movements affiliated with it: Guys, don’t disgrace our country! You’re the party of power, you’re aiming for 71 percent (or however much you need) in the election — and you’re afraid of Shargunov? Come on, hold a meeting, find at least one fearless guy/girl/man/lady in your ranks, and send them to the debate. Show that you are capable of defending your position not only in the hothouse conditions of a TV recording with a friendly host, but also without any censorship, in the presence of the Runet public (however unpleasant that may be for you). For our part, we are ready to organize everything in the best possible way and as objectively and impartially as possible (we have never had complaints on that score). That’s how it is.