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Russia’s opposition leader says will find common language with Moscow legislature

Navalny gave the assurances that the publication of all the official documents endorsed by the authorities in the Internet will become his first step as a mayor
Photo ITAR-TASS / Stanislav Krasil'nikov
Photo ITAR-TASS / Stanislav Krasil'nikov

MOSCOW, August 8 (Itar-Tass) - Alexei Navalny, a leader of Russia’s off-parliament opposition, said Thursday he believes he will be able to find common language with the Moscow City Duma if he wins the mayoral election September 8.

He said it Thursday night at a meeting with voters in Shchukino, a large bedroom community in the northwest of the city. About 150 people came to listen to him and ask questions.

Some of the incumbent legislators in the City of Moscow started out as members of the Democratic Choice of Russia Party and then shifted their political allegiances by moving to the Union of Right-Wing Forces, to the Fatherland All Russia bloc, and to the United Russia Party in the final run, Navalny said.

“That’s why they will accommodate to the changes somehow,” he said with a sarcastic undertone.

He was asked twice about how he is going to form a team in case of a victory but he did not specify any names. “When I get down to forming a team, I’ll use the correct organizational and legal principles - for instance, I employ everyone through a bidding board in our fund.”

Navalny also promised to go to office from the district of Maryino on the southeastern outskirts of the city at the wheel of his private car at 07:00 hours, that is, before traffic jams aggregate on the streets.

“To tell you frankly, though, I’d like to become the first mayor who will be commuting between home and office by public transport,” he said.

Navalny gave the assurances that the publication of all the official documents endorsed by the authorities in the Internet will become his first step as a mayor, should he be elected.

Also, he said he does not attend the court sessions of a trial over the oppositionists accused of instigating a mass riot on Moscow’s downtown Bolotnaya Square in May 2012, since he is to be questioned there as a witness.

Navalny failed to formulate a clear position on the construction of the so-called Northwest Chord - a toll road that is supposed to link various districts in the northwest of the city. This project arouses many controversies among Muscovites. Instead, he confined his answer to speculations about possible financial abuses in the process of construction.

Thursday’s meeting with voters in Shchukino was the 35th one. Navalny said his electoral staff did not reveal the information on its venue until the last moment because these meetings are held for the local residents, not for reporters.

Along with it, the candidate to the Mayor’s Office made it clear that he is not especially interested in broad media coverage of his election campaign.

“There’s no need for television or bill boards as long as you stand by my side,” he said addressing the audiences. “Your promotion capabilities are really huge.”