Memoir Excerpts. Table of Contents: see top item in Blog Archive.
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Tuesday, May 29, 2001
Monday, May 28, 2001
Sunday, May 27, 2001
Saturday, May 26, 2001
Friday, May 25, 2001
Thursday, May 24, 2001
Wednesday, May 23, 2001
Tuesday, May 22, 2001
Monday, May 21, 2001
Friday, May 18, 2001
Wednesday, May 16, 2001
Tuesday, May 15, 2001
Monday, May 14, 2001
Friday, May 11, 2001
No. 016 Primorye Election Campaign Songs: May 10, 2001
No. 16
U.S.
Consulate General, Vladivostok
May 10, 2001
Primorye Election Campaign Songs: May 10, 2001
1. Kirilichev: Ahead in the Race for Catchy Slogans, But That’s About All
 |
| Sasha Kirilichev: A Song in His Heart |
PRISCO Chairman Aleksandr Kirilichev may be trailing in the polls, but that has not stopped him from churning out endless campaign slogans at the rate of about one a day. While Sergey Darkin is content with the rather obvious slogan “Zdes Nam Zhit” (Here We Live), Apanasenko with “Order and Heat for Primorye,” and Dubinin with “Znayet, Umeyet, Rabotayet” (He Knows, He Knows How, He Works), Kirilichev is not content with just one catchphrase. This week, he came up with two new ones: “Khozyaystvovat a ne khozyanichat” (loosely – “work for the people and not oneself), and “Zhit a ne prozyabat” (loosely – why just survive when you can live well?). Perhaps in recognition of Victory Day, May 9, Kirilichev has even come out with a campaign song, to the tune of the theme of the very popular war movie “Belorusskiy Vokzal.” The song goes like this:
Здесь окна не горят и трубы холодны
А нам все время говорят:
" Вы - дальний край
страны"...
Но, мы устали ждать ответа,
Сними невзгод с нас тяжкий груз
Нам так нужна одна твоя
победа!
Кириличев, Приморью- новый
курс,
Кириличев, Приморью- новый
курс.
Нас ждут борьба и споры,
Мы верим в силу чувств.
Сомненья прочь, мы повторяем
снова:
Кириличев, Приморью- новый
курс,
Кириличев, Приморью- новый
курс.
Very
loosely translated:
No light shines through the windows,
And all the pipes are cold.
You’re at the end of this fine earth
Is all we’re ever told.
We’re tired of no good answer,
And this burden on our backs,
We need your victory so much-
For that we’ll give our thanks
Kirilichev, Primorye, a new course!
Kirilichev, Primorye, a new course!
Strife and struggle await us,
But we know what we believe,
There is no doubt among us
Of the one we want to lead:
Kirilichev - Primorye!
Kirilichev - Primorye!
2. Darkin Releases Stealth Campaign Song
 |
| He’s in the Top Ten – Songwriters, that is |
In keeping with the ancient Primoryan custom of campaigning while appearing not to campaign, a new pop tune has hit the top of the charts in Primorye. The song is called “Nam Zdes Zhit” (We Are Meant to Live Here. It’s a pretty catchy tune, and not everyone knows that the song was commissioned by “Roliz” Director Sergey Darkin as a way of injecting his main campaign slogan into the popular consciousness. The song, which is a sort of feel-good paean to Primorye, goes like this:
Вдаль уходят города,
Чайки мчатся над волнами,
И горит вечерняя звезда
Над моими парусами!
А земля, земля она всегда
Остается с нами.
Спят на сопках облака,
Листья склоны укрывают
Слышно как бежит, бежит река,
Птицы улетают.
И в моей руке твоя рука,
Осень золотая
Нам здесь жить, сеять хлеб, детей растить,
Строить общий дом,
Дом, в котором
мы живем
Край родной , мы останемся с тобой,
Потому что нам здесь жить!
Утром солнечного дня
Нас с тобой зовет
дорога.
Для тебя, для нас и для меня
Это значит очень много.
Впереди свободная земля,
Это очень много.
Нам здесь жить, сеять хлеб, детей растить,
Строить общий дом,
Дом, в котором мы живем.
Край родной, мы останемся с тобой
Потому что нам здесь жить!
The towns recede, they’re
far away;
As sea-gulls race over
waves;
The Evening Star is shining
bright
Above my sails it blazes!
But the Land is always
here;
It stays with us forever.
The clouds sleep on its
highland peaks;
The green will leave them
never;
You can hear a river
running;
And birds are flying by.
And your hand is in my
hand,
This golden autumn will
never die.
We are meant to live here,
To plow our crops and raise
our kids.
To build our home and
never-
Ever leave but stay
forever.
Our home, our Kray,
Because we are meant to
live here!
It’s a morning full of sun,
The road ahead awaits us -
For you, for me, for all,
for one
This means so much to us.
A free land lies ahead
This means so much to us!
We are meant to live here,
To plow our crops and raise
our kids.
To build our home and
never-
Ever leave but stay
forever.
Our home, our Kray,
Because we are meant to
live here!
Kind of makes you all misty-eyed, doesn’t it?
Thursday, May 10, 2001
No. 015 Primorye Election Update: May 10, 2001 Duma Deputy Alleges Belchuk Coerced into Resigning
No. 15
U.S.
Consulate General, Vladivostok
May 10, 2001
Primorye Election Update: May 10, 2001
1. Duma Deputy Alleges Belchuk Coerced into Resigning
 |
Solovyev: Belchuk was Threatened
|
During a Victory Day
interview program on Radio Lemma, opposition Primorye Duma Deputy Sergey Solovyev related some of the
circumstances surrounding Igor Belchuk’s resignation in favor of Konstantin Tolstoshein. According to Solovyev, Belchuk reported that
in the days before his resignation he had received numerous threats against his
family and himself personally, and in the end, he felt compelled to
resign. Belchuk would not say who made
the threats, but the modus operandi suggests Tolstoshein or his supporters as
the primary suspects. According to the
1997 Kondratov report, Tolstoshein maintained close ties throughout the 1990s
with several organized crime families in Primorye and relied upon two such families
to provide guard services for his many enterprises (all registered in the names
of close relatives).
2. Election Irregularities and Dueling Polls Proliferate as Candidates Trade Accusations
Perhaps quite predictably, in one of his first measures as Acting Governor Konstantin Tolstoshein sent a complaint to the Primorye Election Commission about “violations” of the electoral law committed by Valentin Dubinin. These included starving the Election Commission of money during his tenure as Acting Governor, engaging in election campaigning before being registered as a candidate, and using the Vladivostok White House as his personal election headquarters. Tolstoshein has also been peppering the airwaves with his protestations of support for Pulikovskiy deputy Gennadiy Apanasenko as the next Governor of Primorye. For his part, Dubinin has appeared on local TV and in an interview in “Utro Rossii” accusing Apanasenko and Pulikovskiy in all but name of orchestrating Tolstoshein’s return, while noting pointedly that President Putin had nothing to do with these most recent political maneuvers. Dubinin also said that Mayor Kopylov, a Nazdratenko man, had also sided with Apanasenko after an audit of city finances was called off.
Meanwhile, not to be outdone, Aleksandr Kirilichev filed complaints against all the major candidates, asking them to be taken off the ballot due to various violations of the election law. However, none of the complaints were upheld by the Election Commission. In the battle of the pollsters, one polling organization reported that the race was now down to three persons: ex-Mayor Cherepkov with 24 percent, Gennadiy Apanasenko with 19 percent, and Aleksandr Kirilichev with 15 percent. Unfortunately, it turns out that the poll was commissioned by Apanasenko’s campaign organization, so its results are, shall we say, suspect. Similarly, another poll shows that Dubinin is leading with 19 percent followed by Kirilichev, Cherepkov, and Grishukov. Fifth place goes to Sergey Darkin at six percent; however, according to this poll support for Darkin is growing faster than that for any other candidate. One guess as to whose organization commissioned this poll.
The one constant in all the inter-candidate bickering is that the one candidate who has done scarcely any campaigning at all – Viktor Cherepkov – is either leading or in the top two contenders. Dark Horse Darkin is also coming up on the outside – enough so that a few dirty tricks are being played on him. For example, at a meeting of voters yesterday in the town of Yaroslavsk, at which Darkin was due to speak to War Veterans, the microphone was cut off and local officials began shooing war veterans and factory workers out of the auditorium despite Darkin’s protests.
3. The Official Gazette Puts in an Appearance
Apanasenko’s supporters are also making their own contribution to violations of the election law. Just after Apanasenko was registered, an ”independent” newspaper called “Official Gazette” made its appearance on the streets of Vladivostok. Its circulation is a phenomenal 650,000 and it is being circulated for free. Strangely, for an “independent” newspaper, its stories all seem to have the same slant – they are almost all about Apanasenko and what a great guy he is. Like much of the sub-rosa campaigning done by local political organizations, there is no indication, other than the editorial content, that the paper is actually a campaign broadsheet for the Center’s choice.
Tuesday, May 8, 2001
No. 014 Primorye Election Update: May 8, 2001 Primorye Duma Deputies Upset over Tolstoshein Return
No. 14
U.S.
Consulate General, Vladivostok
May 8, 2001
Primorye Election Update: May 8, 2001
1. Primorye Duma Deputies Upset over Tolstoshein Return
The Primorye Duma leadership is considering possible moves against Konstantin Tolstoshein to prevent him from remaining as Acting Governor – or even First Deputy. This move is somewhat unexpected since in Nazdratenko’s time a solid majority of the 39-member Duma were considered to be strong supporters of the ex-Governor (26 are members of Nazdratenko’s fraction “Vozrozhdeniye Primorya”). However, this support has not translated into loyalty – or even kind feelings – toward Nazdratenko’s First Deputy.
 |
| Umanets: No to Leapfrogging Deputies |
2. Duma Also Miffed at Kremlin Meddling
At the same May 11 meeting, the Primorye Duma Deputies are also likely to send an appeal to President Putin to stop trying to pressure the Duma into supporting the Center’s chosen candidate, Gennadiy Apanasenko. Deputies described the activities of Polpred Pulikovskiy and Deputy Presidential Administration Head Vladislav Surkov at this weekend’s meeting at Spassk Dalniy as “a direct violation of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.” Duma Deputies and many other observers also believe that Pulikovskiy is not entirely innocent in the fracas leading up to the return of Konstantin Tolstoshein. In the view of these observers, Pulikovskiy actually aided Tolstoshein’s effort, with the ultimate objective of weakening the early favorite, Valentin Dubinin by denying the latter the use of the Kray apparat as a campaign staff. This, in the minds of many observers, means that yet another unholy alliance has been formed, this time between Pulikovskiy and Tolstoshein, to better the chances of the Center’s failing candidate, Apanasenko. In another ominous sign, Primorye Election Commission Chairman Sergey Knyazev reported today that government funding for the Commission’s activities had inexplicably ceased -- this despite the fact that the Duma had allocated 16 million rubles for that purpose. Knyazev fears that if funds are withheld much longer, it could affect the ability of the Commission to hold the May 27 gubernatorial elections.
3. Zyuganov’s Coming to Town
 |
Circus, Anyone? |
Meanwhile, Russian Communist Party Chief
Gennadiy Zyuganov has made his
definitive pronunciamento on the elections in Primorye, noting that “serious
people cannot take part in such a circus.”
Following this, in a breathtaking leap of illogic, Zyuganov then
announced his intention to travel to Vladivostok on May 12 to campaign for his
favorite candidate, Primorye Communist Party leader Vladimir Grishukov. This has led some wags to note that Zyuganov
is coming to Primorye because he heard the circus needed another clown.
Happy Victory Day, Everyone
Monday, May 7, 2001
No. 013 Primorye Election Update: May 7, 2001 Moscow Delivers Round Table Ultimatum
No. 013
U.S. Consulate General Vladivostok
May 7, 2001
Primorye Election Update: May 7, 2001
1. Moscow Delivers Round Table
Ultimatum
The Moscow-sponsored Round Table met in Primorye on Saturday afternoon. The meeting, which took place in the agricultural town of Spassk Dalniy to the north of Vladivostok, was ostensibly billed as a discussion of agricultural policy. However, this premise was somewhat undermined by the original guest list, which included all 14 gubernatorial candidates, as well as newly-crowned vice Governor Tolstoshein, ex-Governor Nazdratenko and Moscow emissaries Vladislav Surkov (Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration), Nikolay Patrushev (FSB Chief) and Boris Gryzlov (Minister of Internal Affairs). As it turned out, Patrushev and Gryzlov did not make the trip. Nazdratenko also stayed behind in Moscow, and neither Tolstoshein nor most of the gubernatorial candidates showed up, leaving the field pretty much to Pulikovskiy, Apanasenko, and Surkov.
The press was not admitted to the meeting, but according to Primorye Duma Deputy Tatyana Sirotenko, who was there, Surkov was quite direct in explaining that Moscow saw only Apanasenko as an acceptable candidate for Governor. If anyone else was elected, all the regional chiefs of the power ministries (FSB, MVD, Procuracy) in Primorye would be sacked and Moscow would introduce direct Presidential rule, with Pulikovskiy assuming the powers of Governor. Surkov was quoted as saying that Primorye is a “politicheskaya luzha" (loosely – political tarbaby), and that “only Apanasenko can save Primorye.”
Following the meeting, and keeping with the ostensible agricultural theme, Pulikovskiy commented that while Primorye lacked thirty agricultural enterprise directors, Tolstoshein and 14 others were trying to become Governor of Primorye. Perhaps, he noted caustically, a few of them should try heading up a Kolkhoz instead.
2. Tolstoshein Becomes Acting Governor
 |
Bel’chuk and Tolstoshein – Passing the Torch |
Meanwhile, the Vladivostok White House appeared to be thumbing its collective nose at Moscow. This morning, Igor’ Bel’chuk resigned as Acting Governor (Decree 337, signed by Bel’chuk) and Konstantin Tolstoshein assumed full power as Acting Governor (Decree 338, signed by Tolstoshein). Informed sources in the Vladivostok White House tell us that they expect Tolstoshein to start “cleaning house” vigorously, and to bring back many Nazdratenko supporters. Over the weekend, Tolstoshein gave an interview to the press in which he described the current Kray Administration as the “election headquarters of one candidate (Dubinin), and that he intended to heed the orders of only two people – Pulikovskiy and Putin. Pulikovskiy has publicly expressed his dismay at Tolstoshein’s return to power but apparently is not ready or able to do much about it. Following a meeting over the weekend with Tolstoshein, Pulikovskiy attempted to put the best face on things by noting that Tolstoshein’s return was a result of a court order, and therefore legal. Pulikovskiy said that he was prepared to meet with Tolstoshein again, and said that Tolstoshein told him that he only wanted to resume power to “clear his name” (evidently he plans to be Governor for life). Some press reports indicate that Moscow now holds Pulikovskiy fully accountable for the current disreputable state of affairs in Primorye, thus further undermining his position.
3. Kirilichev Not an Alternative
 |
| Kirilichev in May – Not Likely |
Given Apanasenko’s poor poll numbers, some have speculated that
perhaps PRISCO chief Kirilichev
might be acceptable to Moscow as an alternative candidate for Governor. However, local analysts believe this will be
impossible, now that the SPS (Union of Right Forces) has endorsed Kirilichev,
and moved him away from the political center.
In addition, Kirilichev has come under serious criticism from previous
supporters. In an article in Saturday’s
“Krasnaya Znamya, former political ally and Primorye Duma Deputy Sergey Grats accused Kirilichev of failing to
pay his debts for previous campaigns, and refusing to support the political
campaigns of those, like Grats and ex-Mayor Cherepkov, who once supported him.
Friday, May 4, 2001
No. 012 Primorye Election Update: Friday, May 4, 2001 New Poll Puts Cherepkov in the Lead – Barely
No. 012
U.S.
Consulate General, Vladivostok
May 4, 2001
Primorye Election Update: Friday, May 4, 2001
New Poll Puts Cherepkov in the Lead – Barely
A new public opinion poll taken by “Status,” a sociological research center, shows Ex-Mayor Viktor Cherepkov with a slight lead of 13.8 percent over Valentin Dubinin with 13.5 percent. PRISCO Director Aleksandr Kirilichev got 10 percent, Communist Vladimir Grishukov 7.6 percent, and Gennadiy Apanasenko only 3.7 percent. About 20 percent expressed opposition to all candidates, and about 25 percent said they had not yet made up their minds. The remaining percentages were divided among the other nine candidates. The poll also asked voters how they evaluated PolPred Pulikovskiy’s job performance. About 24 percent said he was doing a good job, while over 47 percent said he was doing a bad or very bad job. Vladivostok State University professor Shinkovskiy told us this morning that a new poll he was conducting would show slightly different numbers, with Dubinin at around 20 percent, Cherepkov at about 17 percent, and Apanasenko at around 10 percent, with the rest trailing. About 22 percent would be against all candidates, and, operating on the assumption that those against all would most likely not vote, Shinkovskiy expected that Dubinin and Cherepkov will make it into the second round, each with about 25-30 percent of the vote. Cherepkov would do well in Vladivostok, but badly in the countryside and Nakhodka. Dubinin would do the reverse. Kirilichev would do well in Nakhodka, but badly elsewhere. Grishukov would carry the “Red Cities” of Bol’shoy Kamen’ and Arsen’yev but do very poorly elsewhere. Apanasenko would do well in no region, and the remaining candidates would not be serious factors.
Tolstoshein Verdict Expected Today or Saturday
The Tolstoshein lawsuit was the number one story on the Primorye nightly news programs on Thursday night, and the conviction is growing among political analysts here that Tolstoshein might be re-instated as Acting Governor. According to Shinkovskiy and others, Tolstoshein’s recent actions are a “play directed from the Ministry of Fisheries” in Moscow, whose objective is to bolster the position of Nazdratenko and his supporters for whatever strategy they may eventually adopt to regain power in Primorye.
Dar’kin and Zhekov Eyeing Primorye Duma Speakership
Shinkovskiy noted that he thought candidates Dar’kin and Zhekov were in the gubernatorial race not because they hoped to win, but just to raise their profiles for the December Duma elections. Zhekov wanted to retain the Speakership, and Dar’kin had his eye on the job as well. Shinkovskiy also noted that Dar’kin, who is a relatively young and quite personable politician, had considerable financial resources, which were not based solely on his business acumen as Chairman of the “Roliz” corporation. Dar’kin got his start in the business world as the son-in-law of Kray Communist Party First Secretary Golovizin in the early 1990s. Golovizin, using his party connections, amassed great wealth in the 1980s, and managed to pass a good bit of it on to his daughter, whose dowry included a very lucrative mink farm, among other things.
Pulikovskiy Sponsors a Political Round Table, While
Nazdratenko Hovers Ominously
With his chosen candidate Apanasenko trailing the polls, PolPred Pulikovskiy has proposed that a “Round Table” of candidates be held on Saturday to come to an agreement on a basic platform that all can support. Dubinin has already said he will not attend, but Apanasenko, Cherepkov, Kirilichev, and a few others have said they will. The exact political advantage conferred by the Round Table process is a bit obscure. The idea apparently was hatched by Apanasenko’s beleaguered campaign staff, which is headed by Yuriy Koshmarov.
The most curious thing about the Round Table, however, is that ex-Governor Yevgeniy Nazdratenko reportedly will also attend. Nazdratenko has recently been featured in TV spots for Apanasenko. In these campaign ads, Nazdratenko says that the next Governor of Primorye should be someone who comes from Primorye but who is not associated with the previous (his) Administration. Then, he goes on to note that Apanasenko is just such a person. That said, however, the prevailing wisdom is that Nazdratenko is actually rooting for Cherepkov. The theory goes that if Cherepkov wins the Governorship, he will be so weighed down with the problems inherited from the 1990s that he will be turned out of office in the 2005 elections – elections in which Nazdratenko himself plans to run.
No. 12a Primorye Election Update: May 4, 2001 Tolstoshein Reinstated as Primorye’s First Vice Governor
No. 12a
U.S.
Consulate General, Vladivostok
May 4, 2001
Primorye Election Update: May 4, 2001
Tolstoshein Reinstated as Primorye’s First Vice Governor
·
¯¯Back
in the Saddle Again ¯¯
On
the afternoon of Friday, May 4, the Frunzenskiy District Court restored
Konstantin Tolstoshein to the
position of First Deputy Governor of Primorye, instructing the Regional
Administration to turn over to him 39,900 rubles in back pay. The Primorye Administration has 10 days in
which to appeal the decision to a higher court.
In the meantime, Tolstoshein is already trying to move back into his
office in order to “begin work.” However, there is a problem because Deputy
PolPred and current gubernatorial candidate Gennadiy Apanasenko currently occupies Tolstoshein’s old office. I am not
making this up. It is unclear who now has the best claim to the title “Acting
Governor” of Primorye. Valentin Dubinin, the former Acting Governor, is
on leave for the gubernatorial campaign.
The current Acting Governor, Igor’ Bel'chuk,
would normally be outranked by Tolstoshein. Bel’chuk’s staffers tell us that
they consider their boss to be the Acting Governor at least until the appeal
process has been exhausted. Quite
sensibly, the Press Spokesman for the Primorye Administration has refrained
from comment.
It is anticipated that other Vice Governors who resigned in the wake of ex-Governor Nazdratenko’s resignation will now also bring suit to restore them to their former positions. One former Vice Governor, Nikolay Kretso, has already filed suit. Local analysts continue to believe that Nazdratenko is behind Tolstoshein’s recent legal moves and that Tolstoshein’s effort is part of an overall strategy by Nazdratenko to restore himself to power in Primorye. Meanwhile, Tolstoshein has declared his intention to participate in the Pulikovskiy-hosted Round Table on Saturday.
Thursday, May 3, 2001
No. 011 Primorye Election Update: May 3, 2001 And….They’re Off!
No. 11
U.S.
Consulate General, Vladivostok
May 3, 2001
Primorye Election Update: May 3, 2001
And….They’re Off!
The election campaign began in earnest over the May Day holiday, with campaigns buying substantial time on the major TV channels and advertising space in most newspapers. Candidate Apanasenko’s campaign staff is providing daily “newsbriefs” on VTV which, predictably, diss Dubinin. Apanasenko also has posters everywhere, and a banner across the main street in Vladivostok proclaiming “Heat and Order for Primorye! Apanasenko,” which, considering that Summer is approaching, seems to be a slogan whose time has passed.
 |
| Dubinin’s Poster: A Photo Op, a Photo Op … My Kingdom for a Photo Op |
Meanwhile, Acting Governor Dubinin has peppered the town with his own posters proclaiming “Za Dubinin,” and his staff arranges at least two good photo ops per day for the benefit of local TV.
Primorye Duma Speaker Sergey Zhekov is blanketing the airwaves with his campaign picture and the slogan: “Zhekov -- He Knows His Business.” Unfortunately, Zhekov’s campaign photo makes him look like he has just swallowed a very large frog and is desperately trying not to bring it back up.
 |
| Dar’kin’s Poster: Not Many of These Left in Vladivostok |
Candidate Dar’kin has peppered the walls of Vladivostok with thousands of posters proclaiming “Why Dar’kin?” This has led some wags to speculate that his opponents actually put up the posters since no one can think of a good reason to vote for Dar’kin. Many posters were mysteriously altered to read not “Pochemu” (Why) Dar’kin, but “Pochem” (How Much For) Dar’kin. This may explain the sudden appearance and just as sudden disappearance of thousands of Dar’kin posters.
Candidates Kirilichev and Kasatonov have also plastered posters all over town. Curiously, however, neither the Communist candidate Grishukov nor ex-Mayor Cherepkov are engaging in much campaign activity. Grishukov probably figures that his votes are locked up anyway. Cherepkov’s behavior is, as usual, something of a mystery.
The raft of posters has gotten so noticeable that Dubinin and other candidates have appealed for no more to be put up, so that the streets will not be “marred” by their presence on Victory Day, May 9. Also, heeding PolPred Pulikovskiy’s call, Dubinin, and Apanasenko have taken official leave from their positions to engage in full-time campaigning. This has left Deputy Governor Belchuk (in charge of construction, transport, and communication) as the Acting Governor.
Kuznetsov Endorses Dubinin
Ex-Governor Vladimir Kuznetsov held a press conference at Dom Zhurnalistov on May 3 in which he announced that Valentin Dubinin was his choice as Governor. Kuznetsov continues to circulate around Vladivostok renewing old acquaintances and no doubt campaigning for a position in the next administration (he is interested in either foreign relations adviser or Federation Council representative). On Friday evening, A/CG was a guest at one of Kuznetsov’s dinners, hosted at the Sem’ Futov restaurant – Vladivostok’s newest and undoubtedly most expensive eating establishment. Sem’ Futov, which is frequented by what passes for the Glitterati in Vladivostok, is named after the “Seven Feet” of water that all mariners hope will be forever beneath their keel. Several Vladivostok heavyweights were present at the Friday event as guests and old friends of Kuznetsov, including current Vice Governor Stegny, Vladivostok Port President Robkanov, and former Deputy Governor and current Duma Deputy Serebryakov.
Tolstoshein Reborn?
The latest hot rumor in journalistic circles is that ex-First Deputy Governor Tolstoshein will win his lawsuit in the Frunzenskiy District Court and will be re-instated as Acting Governor. Knowledgeable rumormongers point to the fact that Tolstoshein’s lawyer – one of the best in Vladivostok – is also on retainer to ex-Mayor Cherepkov, formerly one of Tolstoshein’s bitterest enemies. This cements in some minds the idea that there is an unholy political alliance between Nazdratenko and Cherepkov.
The second-hottest rumor is that Moscow, seeing Apanasenko’s chances going up in smoke, and bracing for the prospect of the return to the Governorship of a Nazdratenko clone, is now maneuvering to somehow delay the elections until the Fall.