Kommersant
Yulia Maslakova: From driver’s wife to mayor
The reelection plan of a mayor Russian came out for the Culatro when his “fictitious” opponent, his personal driver’s wife, won.
Hoping to guarantee a fourth mandate without opposition, Yevgeny PistSovwho had led the city of Yekaterinburg since 2011, will have managed to appear only in the voting report, besides his name, that of Yulia Maslakova – A municipal employee and wife of your personal driver.
The expectation was, of course, that Maslakova did not represent a threat, but the fictional candidate, chosen to finger… it won.
It all happened after the municipal council, unhappy with Pistsov, seek to block his return. Last January 30, in a symbolic protest vote, the council elected Maslakova for overwhelming majorityattributing to him 17 votes against six from Pistsov.
Maslakova, Speesperada, tried to withdraw your application Before the vote, but it was told that I could not leave the race after the final list was finalized by the selection committee, in which elections in which the Non -direct voting systemimplemented in 2015, replaced the popular elections with a process in which the Municipal Council selects a mayor from a restricted list approved by a selection committee, the.
The commission, consisting of representatives of the regional governor and the local council, only approved two candidates: Pistsov and Maslakova.
Maslakova, clearly caught by surprise for his victory, refused to accept the position quoting the tense political atmosphere of the city. He refused to participate in his inauguration in mid -February and filed a lawsuit against the municipal council. His legal team argued that the forced appointment imposed on him an undue stress and responsibilities. And never attended in court.
On March 19, the Berezovsky City Court gave Maslakova right, nullifying the results of the elections. Pistsov, defeated in the vote, but will remain mayor in office until new elections.
However, Maslakova continues to perform his governmental functions, and her husband continues to work as a Pistsov driver. A surreal case and unprecedented in Russia.
