No. 006 Primorye Election Update: April 23, 2001

  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 No. 6

 

                                                  

U.S. Consulate General, Vladivostok

       April 23, 2001

 

 

 

Primorye Election Update: April 23, 2001

 

Will the Real Gennadiy Apanasenko Please Stand Up?

 The April 21 deadline has passed for submitting signatures to the Election Commission, but not without the first of what we predict will be many dirty tricks in the runup to the May 27 election.  Just before the deadline, three new candidates filed with the election commission.  All were from St. Petersburg, and all were named Gennadiy Apanasenko!  The first Gennadiy is a pensioner, the second is unemployed, and the third is a truck driver (presumably highballing it to Vladivostok even as we speak).  The real Gennadiy Apanasenko ( PolPred Pulikovskiy's Deputy) appeared on various talk shows over the weekend trying to ignore questions about his namesakes, but it's pretty evident he's steamed.  In classic understatement, Commission Chairman Yevgeniy Khrustalyev noted that "the law gives anyone the right to advance their candidacy."  This brings the number of declared candidates to 34.

 

Registration to be Completed April 26 -- It Will be a Crowded Field.

 Meanwhile, the registration process continues, with most major candidates assured of a place on the ballot.  According to information as of April 23, six candidates have thus far successfully registered:  Communist Party Leader Grishukov, former Mayor Cherepkov, former Arbitration Court Head Loktionova, "Roliz" General Director Dar'kin, Primorye Shipping Company Director Kirilichev, and (drum roll) -- the real Gennadiy Apanasenko.  Apanasenko's registration was challenged, however, by Grishukov, which might lead one to mark him down as the prime suspect in the multiple Apanasenko caper -- were it not for the fact that nearly everyone else in the race is deemed capable of such a dirty trick as well.  Ten other candidates have submitted sufficient signatures for consideration by the Election Commission, which has until April 26 to determine whether to place them on the ballot.  These include Acting Governor Dubinin, former Black Sea Fleet Commander Kasatonov, Kray Duma Speaker Zhekov, Duma Deputies Rybalkin and Gil'zenberg, and "Dal'nevostochnaya Respublika" editor Cherevkov.  It is not known whether any of the false Apanasenkos are in this group.  Thus far, only one major candidate has been disqualified for insufficient valid signatures:  "Stroylyuks" Director Yuriy Dimidenko.

 

Tolstoshein Files Suit.

 Not being one to allow grass to grow under his feet, ex-First Deputy Governor Konstantin Tolstoshein, probably sensing (accurately) that he hasn't got a prayer as a legitimate gubernatorial candidate, has declared that on April 25, he will file suit in the Frunze District Court of Vladivostok to get his old job back.  Tolstoshein's contention is that PolPred Pulikovskiy and current Acting Governor Dubinin forced him to resign illegally. And, oh yes, he's asking for 300,000 rubles in punitive damages.  This is a lot in terms of recent court settlements but not in real money (R28 = $1.00).

 

But Life Goes On.

 However, for the average inhabitant of Vladivostok, the tempo of everyday life takes precedence over the smarmy -- if nonetheless amusing -- pre-election gyrations of the various gubernatorial hopefuls.  Last Saturday, over 60,000 people turned out for the "Aprel'skiy Subbotnik,"  raking leaves, cleaning up trash, and doing other civic chores that were once de rigeur in the Soviet state and which President Putin appears to be bringing back into fashion once again.  "Roliz" General Director Dar'kin did not miss the chance for a little politically-correct campaigning by turning out with his entire workforce, rake in hand, to do his bit for Putin and country.  On Sunday, the traditional "Roditel'skiy Den'" the week following Easter, thousands of ordinary citizens took advantage of the excellent Spring weather to make the annual pilgrimage to Vladivostok's two main cemeteries -- "Lesnoy" and "Morskoy," to tidy up the graves of their loved ones, to lay flowers, and -- admittedly -- to drink an extraordinary amount of vodka.  Life goes on.