Participants of "Strategy-31" action in Volgograd were at issue concerning the Mayor's resignation

The participants of the meeting which passed off on March, 31, in Volgograd represented different parties and movements. Their main slogans were: "Putin must be discharged!" and "Ban "United Russia!". As for the activists' opinions concerning resignation of Roman Grebennikov, Mayor of the city, there were both unacceptance of Governor Anatoly Brovko's decision of discharging Head of Municipality and approval of this action.

It should be reminded that the meeting in Volgograd passed off in the evening, in Lenin square. Over 100 people took part in it. They represented the whole spectrum of regional branches of oppositional parties and movements: Association for protection of depositors of "Sberbank", "Another Russia", "Solidarity", Confederation of Anarcho-syndicalists.

The All-Russian action "Strategy-31" in protection of clause 31 of the Constitution of Russia granting the citizens the right of free and peaceful assemblage to express their opinion is regularly held by representatives of the opposition in different cities and towns of Russia on the last day of every month the last day of which is the thirty first.

Vladimir Vasilchenko, organizer of the action, Chairman of the regional department of Association for protection of depositors of "Sberbank", told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the meeting had been already the eighth one in Volgograd. "The number of participants is slowly but surely increasing. About 80 people used to come before, today there were over one hundred. All the participants share our slogan "Ban "United Russia!" because this party does absolutely nothing for the sake of the people", Vladimir Vasilchenko said.

Boris Stikhin, activist of regional branch of the party "Another Russia", agrees with the opinion of the organizers of the meeting. He called the resignation of Grebennikov, Mayor of Volgograd elected by the residents an "unprecedented action of the Governor".

"That is why our action was not only devoted to protection of clause 31 of the Constitution but also its other clauses guaranteeing local self-government, Boris Stikhin said. - We demand discharge of Governor Anatoly Brovko and Vladimir Putin. We also stand for the ban of "United Russia" for this party is in fact destroying the foundation of the constitutional system. It has just been since the beginning of this party's rule that the governors, chairmen of the Chamber of Accounts and heads of higher courts started being appointed. As a result, legislative, executive and legal authority became concentrated in one and the same hands but that is already a dictatorship".

Dmitry Chech, another participant of the meeting, stands for Putin's discharge and ban of the ruling party but he sticks to the opposite point of view concerning resignation of Mayor of Volgograd Roman Grebennikov.

"After the discharge of Roman Georgievich Grebennikov oppositional actions started to be more and more frequently allowed, Dmitry Chech remarked. - I think the situation in the city is changing for the better. If the institution of City-manager is established we will get division of labor which will stimulate the development of the city. I approve of Brovko's decision. This should have been done long ago. If Grebennikov were a really honest person he would not be discharged".

Meanwhile, Vitaly Timinov, resident of Volgograd living not far form the scene of the action, declared that he supported the ruling party.

"I quite disagree with the slogans of these pseudo-democrats, Vitaly Timinov said to "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. - "United Russia is the only party in the country capable of real action and Putin is a person who has prevented disintegration of the country. "United Russia's" rule is the people's will. We entrust the leading positions to members of this party. And these guys (Timinov waved his hand towards the manifestants) are just ordinary shouters. There are too few of them. Nobody supports them".

The "Caucasian Knot" has already reported that Roman Grebennikov was dismissed from the position of Mayor of Volgograd by Governor of Volgograd region Anatoly Brovko on February, 22. The reason was explained as "repeated non-fulfillment of judgments". Grebennikov declared that he was not going to leave the Mayor's post and on February, 24, he filed an appeal against this administrative action. On March, 29, Central district court of Volgograd acknowledged the Governor's enactment lawful.

Sergey Sokolov, one of the Vice-Mayors, is presently appointed caretaker of Head of Volgograd by the decision of Volgograd municipal Duma.