Before the election of the head of Khakassia, disloyal officials leave United Russia

“United Russia” (ER) in Khakassia, where elections of the head of the republic and deputies of the Supreme Council will be held on a single voting day on September 10, has already lost four members during the election campaign, including a permanent one since the 1990s. chairman of the regional parliament Vladimir Shtygashev (nominated by the Communist Party). On August 9, the head of Sorsk, Vladimir Naydenov, announced his withdrawal from the United Russia. This was reported by IA “Khakassia”. He supported the head of Khakassia, Valentin Konovalov (KPRF).

Naydenov’s departure from United Russia was preceded by a visit to Sorsk by United Russia’s candidate for the head of the republic, Sergei Sokol, who stated that “a lot of problems have accumulated” in the city. In particular, Sokol pointed to the debts to creditors of the Sorsky GOK and the ferromolybdenum plant and the delay by these enterprises in paying salaries to employees. In addition, he complained about “untimely garbage collection, lack of doctors and teachers.” Also, the head of the Tashtypsky district, Nikolai Chebodaev, left the United Russia, where Sokol (single-mandate from the republic) has been registered since 2021.

And on August 31, the head of the Solnechny Village Council (Ust-Abakansky district) Nikolai Sergeev, who had been in the party ranks since 2006, announced his withdrawal from the ER. “. Sergeev did not name specific names.

Political scientist Yevgeny Minchenko considers the “parade of exits” from United Russia in Khakassia a “technological preparation”. “I think that in fact all these figures have long been recruited [противниками Сокола]it’s just that they quite intentionally made it happen in stages precisely in order to create an event course,” he told Vedomosti.

Political analyst Rostislav Turovsky does not consider the exit of functionaries from United Russia in Khakassia to be massive. “The cases are isolated, but they receive great publicity in the situation of confrontation between Konovalov and Sokol. Indeed, those who do not accept Sokol’s coming to power are leaving the party. But many are just waiting,” the expert believes.

Most municipalities in Khakassia are now on the side of Sokol, says PR consultant Vasily Damov. “From the cities of Konovalov, only Sorsk openly supports, from the districts – Tashtypsky and Bogradsky (head Sergey Klimenko is non-partisan, nominated for elections in 2019 from the Communist Party. – Vedomosti). But the intrigue is that “official” support within the framework of a single voting day may not turn into actual support if the leaders doubt not only Konovalov’s victory, but at least in the second round, ”he notes.

According to Damov, “heads who are now moving from one side to the other are most likely not in a very good account with Sokol, so if he wins, they will still be forced to leave, otherwise they still have a chance.”

United Russia itself does not see any problems in the mass surrender of party cards in Khakassia. Sergei Perminov, deputy secretary of the United Russia General Council, believes that this is “politicization leading to a natural process of political determination.” “The asset goes through a “military political baptism”, and everyone shows what he is good for. Being faithful to the party brotherhood in difficult conditions is a task for the strong. The strong are with us. Weak – you yourself see everything, ”he told Vedomosti.

Speaking specifically about Nikolai Sergeev, Perminov said that he “left the party after the fact of the work of the specified citizen as an agitator of one “alternative” political party was recorded.” “He ran away, and we forgot. We are definitely not on the way, ”added United Russia.

Political analysts call the elections of the head of Khakassia the only competitive ones in Russia in 2023. The Central Election Commission (CEC), after the appeal of the senator from the republic Valery Usatyuk about allegedly “prepared massive falsifications”, will send a commission there with representatives of the prosecutor’s office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. A “troika” of representatives of the CEC and law enforcement agencies plans to work in Khakassia until September 12.