Zyuganov’s grandson may run for mayor of Moscow from the Communist Party

The 34-year-old grandson of the permanent party leader Leonid Zyuganov could become a candidate for mayor of Moscow from the Communist Party, two sources close to the party leadership told Vedomosti. This decision was made by the personnel commission under the presidium of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation – it is headed by the first deputy of Gennady Zyuganov in the Central Committee of the party, Yuri Afonin. The corresponding proposal of the commission, as expected, was submitted to the presidium of the Central Committee of the party. It was Leonid Zyuganov who allegedly advocated for the nomination for mayor, including the chairman of the Central Committee himself.

The candidate for mayor of Moscow proposed by the personnel commission of the Central Committee is rather unexpected. As Vedomosti wrote on January 24, there were other names on the shortlist. Among them are Afonin (elected to the State Duma on the federal part of the party list), Vadim Kumin and Denis Parfenov (they were elected on the Moscow part of the party list). The favorites were called Afonin and, first of all, Kumin. Afonin, according to one of the interlocutors of Vedomosti, in any case, will continue to oversee the campaign in the capital on the part of the leadership of the Communist Party, which will emphasize its status.

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation “took very seriously the discussion of candidates for mayor of Moscow,” Afonin told Vedomosti. It took place both in local branches and in the course of other consultations, including in the Central Committee, he said: “Up to 10 candidates were named.” But at a meeting of the personnel commission, “a unanimous decision was made to nominate Leonid Andreevich Zyuganov,” Afonin told Vedomosti: “He was twice elected to the Moscow City Duma in a single-mandate district, is chairman of the industrial policy commission, and a member of the city committee bureau.”

For the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, along with Moscow and the Moscow region, the key campaigns are the elections in Khakassia, Oryol and Ulyanovsk regions – regions headed by the communists, Afonin said. The entire team of potential candidates, which was discussed before, will take part in the work of the headquarters for the election of the mayor of the capital, the first deputy chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation noted.

According to a Vedomosti source close to the presidential administration, the decision of the personnel commission under the Central Committee Presidium cannot be considered final. Including the agreements with all interested structures have not yet been completed.