Posts
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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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