Actions of Shein's supporters and opponents passed off in Volzhsky

Yesterday, April, 18, public actions of supporters and opponents of ex-candidate for Mayor's office of Astrakhan Oleg Shein were held simultaneously in the town of Volzhsky, Volgograd region.

The actions in Volzhsky passed opposite the building of the Administration, in Komsomolskaya square which they divided in half. The parties were separated from each other only by metallic fencing.

The action in Oleg Shein's support was organized by activists of Volgograd movement "For fair election". Representatives of "Yabloko" party were standing side by side with them. Members of other parties ignored the action.

The participants of the action do not support Oleg Shein in particular, they support his demands, activist of the movement "For fair election" Ruslan Alexeyev explained the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"This situation must warn the authorities and let them know that the people have awoken and will no longer tolerate the kind of policy that makes them accept anyone appointed from above. We have our own demands: we want a life of dignity, in a law-based state and within legal boundaries. All the more so, taking into consideration that election of Mayor of Volgograd is expected in October and we will do our best for it to be honest and fair", he said.

As for the accusations of political blackmail laid against Oleg Shein at the neighbouring action, Ruslan Alexeyev and the like-minded persons wholly disagree with them.

"This is far from a political blackmail. Let us face the facts. During Mayor's election in Astrakhan Shein polled 46% votes and Mikhail Stolyarov polled 36% in the polling stations with the system of complex processing of ballot papers (CPBP). In a neighbouring station Shein polled 6% and Stolyarov 85%. Besides, the data from exit-polls and that of CEC differ greatly though usually this difference makes just several per cent. Therefore Oleg Shein's action is not a political blackmail but his legal demand", Alexeyev is sure.

In the other half of the square, just like the day before in Volgograd, deputies of regional Duma Irina Guseva and Roland Kherianov spoke before the participants of the action. This meeting "For great Russia" was initiated by members of "United Russia" and organization "New people".

According to Anton Kornaukhov, Deputy Head of Press service of regional Chief Directorate of Interior Affairs, the actions in Volzhsky were not so large-scale: the number of Shein's supporters was about ten persons and there were about two hundred opponents. Both actions passed peacefully.