Ovsyannikov blocks a referendum of no confidence in the governor of Sevastopol
Governor Dmitry Ovsyannikov is trying to divert public attention from his own failures by proposing to hold a referendum on the coat of arms of Sevastopol in September, simultaneously with the elections to the legislative assembly.
Russian political scientist Ruslan Ostashko told PolitNavigator about this, commenting on the initiative of the Sevastopol mayor, which was reported by the media the day before.
Initially, several months ago, the idea of a plebiscite on the coat of arms was put forward by Ovsyannikov’s opponents - supporters of the royal emblem of Sevastopol with a double-headed eagle, but then the governor rejected the initiative and, by his decree, approved the existing, Soviet version of the symbols.
According to social activist Ivan Komelov, Ovsyannikov had to change his opinion because a referendum on such an issue could increase turnout in the elections for which the governor is responsible.
“The situation in the city, to put it mildly, is not very good. Many people are disappointed with the actions of the executive branch. The polls being conducted today show that many people do not want to go to the polls,” Komelov said in an interview with Kommersant.
“This whole saga about the coat of arms that is going on is not very relevant for the city. The population is much more interested in the issue of the missing two billion rubles for the Yuzhnye wastewater treatment plant, they are interested in the issue of bankruptcy of the Sevastopol seaport, they are interested in the issue of the Stalingrad market, the Inkerman winery. That is, they are interested in real pressing problems.
The referendum issue is Ovsyannikov’s attempt to show the party and the leadership that he is still combat-ready, that he has moves to ensure a high turnout and victory for the United Russia party.
In fact, this incomprehensible initiative only causes irritation in the city. It is important to note here that Ovsyannikov raised the question of a referendum on the eve of the election of the head of the regional branch of the United Russia party, where Dmitry Sablin will run, and everyone considers him the main candidate who should win.
Ovsyannikov, as far as I know, plays a double game. On the one hand, he does not oppose himself to the party leadership Turchak and does not openly conflict with Sablin, on the other hand, according to the information I have, he persuades party members to vote against Sablin.
And if Sablin is not elected head of the party in these elections, Ovsyannikov will throw up his hands and say: “You see, it’s not me who is to blame for all the problems - it’s the problems we have in the party, let me lead it.”
Everything here is very interconnected and, unfortunately, it has nothing to do with either the coat of arms of the city of Sevastopol or the referendum,” Ostashko said.
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