Anatoly Kondratenko, ex-Mayor of Novocherkassk, claims having written letter of resignation under threats

Yesterday, on September 30, Anatoly Kondratenko, ex-Mayor of the city of Novocherkassk of the Rostov Region, released the statement that his resignation was connected with threats, received by him. The City Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) believes that the ex-Mayor has a chance to be nominated as a candidate in the upcoming mayoral election.

The "Caucasian Knot" reported that on September 26, it was reported that Anatoly Kondratenko, Mayor of Novocherkassk, a member of the CPRF, wrote a letter of resignation. On that very day, the deputies of the Novocherkassk Duma granted his statement.

According to the statement of Anatoly Kondratenko, on September 25, he, being a lawfully elected Mayor of Novocherkassk, "prematurely terminated his powers in connection with the threat to life and health, the real threat of reprisals against residents of the city by cutting off from vital public resources in the event of failure to resign." Anatoly Kondratenko did not clarified, from whom he received the threats.

According to the ex-Mayor, he is not ashamed to look into eyes of his voters, "since during the expired period all indicators of the social and economic development of the city, without exception, were positive." And, according to Anatoly Kondratenko, on a number of positions, the city became a leader in comparison with other cities of the Rostov Region.

"In the nearest future, I plan to make every effort to ensure that the upcoming early mayoral election will provide Novocherkassk residents with a possibility of free choice and the results of that choice will be secured from falsifications. I expect to receive your every assistance," Anatoly Kondratenko concludes his statement.

The City Branch of the Novocherkassk CPRF has released its statement, which also claimed that the ex-Mayor resigned because of threats.

"One of the last acts of lies against Anatoly Kondratenko was a statement, which was released at the session of the City Duma and the media and which reported that the ex-Mayor resigned from the position 'for health reasons', although he stated in his letter of resignation 'because of the threat to life and health'," the statement emphasizes.

Local members of the CPRF indicate that, on the eve of the World Congress of Cossacks, to be held in Novocherkassk on September 28-30, when the city expected arrival of the leaders of the state, the pressure on Anatoly Kondratenko was replaced by threats to his life and health and threats cut off gas supply for all city residents during the heating season.

The members of the CPRF called on the city residents to come to the next early mayoral election, where, according to them, Anatoly Kondratenko would also be able to be nominated as a candidate.

The Election Commission of the Rostov Region has explained that the legislation of the Russian Federation and the Rostov Region provides a possibility to hold elections with reduction of electoral procedures, but no more than by one-third, and in that case, the election may be held in Novocherkassk in December 2012, the "Don-Region.RU" reports.

The agency notes that the City Duma is to make the decision on the new mayoral election at its extraordinary meeting to be held on October 2.