A very good interview by m_gaidar with Izvestia. It’s refreshing that Gaidar didn’t switch on the usual cowardly bureaucratic caution: “Of course I’m a democrat at heart, but what if something goes wrong.” Izvestia: How do you feel now about street politics? Gaidar: I respect it. I think it’s probably the most difficult kind of politics. It’s generally принято to think that opposition activists are just loafers who can’t do anything. Believe me, many officials wouldn’t even be able to organize a one-person picket. .... Izvestia: And what slogan would you go out with now? Gaidar: “Give elections back to the people!” (It was under this very slogan that Maria Gaidar was detained during protest actions in 2006. — Izvestia.) Many governors prefer the following position: heads of municipal districts should not be elected, they should be appointed, because you never know whom people might choose. But I am absolutely convinced: this is exactly where direct elections are needed. I’ve seen it with my own eyes—at this level, people know their local leaders and hold them accountable. Any administrator there lives under a magnifying glass. If people say some important official has a villa in Nice, ordinary people don’t go to Nice—they’ll never see those villas. But if the wife of a district administration head buys herself a fur coat, the whole district will know. Even if that coat costs only a couple hundred dollars. They have no real powers now, but people still hold them responsible. So why not give them authority, give them resources so they can actually answer for things? And the part about elections is excellent too. Because it’s disgusting to watch when supposedly decent governors (like Perm Governor Oleg Chirkunov, for example) start pushing this vile, nasty line—abolishing municipal elections and appointing district heads/mayors. Like, what is that rural cattle going to elect anyway? Some windbag. But we—oh, we know better. We’ll appoint a “competent manager.” In short, well done, Moria. Sending support your way. And also, in the basement of the Kirov Regional Hospital, we’re stockpiling weapons for the future revolution.