Already 18 people have joined the hunger strike of Oleg Shein, who won the Astrakhan mayoral election but was prevented from taking office by local thugs, according to reports.
Shein is a decent and honest man. He served for many years as a deputy in the State Duma (the lower house of Russia’s parliament), and no one ever accused him of shady dealings. He may not be wealthy, but he has now won the mayoral election for the second time—people in the city know him well. And now, for the second time, the local Party of Crooks and Thieves (a derogatory nickname for the ruling United Russia party), operating in what looks like an outright criminal manner, has brazenly stolen his victory from him. We’re sending Shein our support. If anyone from Astrakhan or the Astrakhan Region happens to be reading this blog, come and support Shein—even if only with a kind word. The hunger strikers are at: 8 Sovetskaya Street, Astrakhan.