The deputy through the court forced the mayor of Novosibirsk to discuss the return of elections

The Central District Court of Novosibirsk partially satisfied the administrative claim of an independent deputy of the City Council Anton Kartavin against Mayor Anatoly Lokt (KPRF) about the need to hold a personal reception to discuss the return of direct elections of the mayor of the city. “The mayor of Novosibirsk has the obligation to reconsider Kartavin’s appeal dated March 31, 2023 regarding the failure to consider the issue of personal reception – within one month from the date this court decision comes into force. The decision decided to report the execution of the decision to the court and Kartavin within one month from the date of execution of the court decision,” the press service of the court said.

The plaintiff told Vedomosti that Lokot was obliged to discuss a referendum on the return of direct mayoral elections in accordance with the city charter. Vedomosti sent a request to the mayor’s office of Novosibirsk.

It was the largest regional center where the head was elected in direct elections. They were canceled in February this year. Anton Kartavin is trying to organize a referendum on the return of direct voting. On June 5, the regional election commission accepted the application for holding a plebiscite for the third time, and on July 6, the issue of its compliance with the law will be considered by the regional legislative assembly. If successful, the initiative group will have to collect 21,710 voter signatures in support of the referendum.

Many regional elites in Novosibirsk would like to see the return of direct mayoral elections, said Ilya Grashchenkov, president of the Regional Policy Development Center. “Only the region, represented by the governor, would like to make this institution more manageable through appointment. The question is whether the side that wants to achieve the return of direct elections has any resources,” he notes.

Anatoly Lokot has been elected mayor of Novosibirsk twice since 2014. His second five-year term of office expires in April 2024, after which, in accordance with the amendments adopted this year, a competition for the post of mayor will be scheduled.

Novosibirsk is not the only city where the return of mayoral elections is being actively discussed. On June 6, the Duma of Tomsk, where United Russia does not have a majority, adopted an appeal to the regional parliament with a request to return the direct elections of the mayor, which were canceled in December 2022. The Legislative Duma of the Tomsk Region has not yet considered this issue.

Direct elections of mayors of the capitals of the constituent entities remained in five cities – Abakan, Anadyr, Ulan-Ude, Khabarovsk and Yakutsk.