|
Tula's dilemma: less-than-ideal candidates for parliament
Almost none are from the town
February 8, 1997
Web posted at: 2:45 p.m. EST (1945 GMT)From Moscow Bureau Chief Eileen O'Connor
TULA, Russia (CNN) -- On Sunday, the people of Tula, a town near Moscow, will go to the polls to elect a new representative to the Russian parliament, filling the seat vacated last year by retired Gen. Alexander Lebed.
Few of the candidates are actually from Tula, and they represent a wide range of occupations -- a former Boris Yeltsin bodyguard, a fashion model, a chess player.
There's even a candidate for Tula's spot in the 450-seat Duma that the police prevent anyone from seeing. The unseen man is accused of various crimes, and is running to gain immunity from prosecution. His campaign manager has said his candidate knows the dirt on all the militia.
Former Yeltsin employee Alexander Korshakov, leading in the polls and endorsed by Lebed, has been dogged more by the media than the electorate. He promised to spill the dirt on his former boss, but has not yet done so.
Some Tula residents reportedly received vodka, tea and chocolate from a veterans group working for Korshakov.
The fashion model -- 27-year-old Yelena Mavrodi, is also the wife of investment fund operator Sergei Mavrodi. Her husband was behind a pyramid scheme that collapsed in 1994, wiping out the savings of thousands of Russians.
Former world chess champion Anatoly Karpov, who actually grew up in Tula but has rarely visited since, has received the endorsement of Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov. A pro-Communist newspaper also endorsed Karpov, saying he "promised to quit chess and dedicate himself to the people of Tula."
Tula is a military town, a town where guns are made. It is conservative in nature, and now poor by any standard, but no one can figure out why Tula has been given such a poor electoral choice.
"There's too many slogans," said one resident, "too much desire to stay in power at any cost."
"They all need to be replaced by honest, bright people" said another.
Residents have begun questioning their own embryonic democratic system. Already it seems only the richest or most connected can afford to run for a seat that can, through influence peddling, make them even richer.
The residents are dismayed that so few Tula residents are seeking to represent the town, and those who are appear less than desirable.
"What can those visitors change?" asked one woman. "People are starving here, and we are surrounded by crooks."
Many in Tula feel this is about more than just electing their representative. It is about telling the world the Russian electorate isn't stupid -- just sometimes unlucky.
Tell us what you think!
You said it...
© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.