"We will decide how we live our lives": Protests against municipal reform continue in Altai. The head of the republic has made concessions.
Acting head Altai Andrey Turchak said about introducing "important amendments" to the law on municipal reform, against which mass protests have been going on for several days.
Thus, residents were promised the preservation of public assemblies, public hearings, public discussions, and the institution of village elders, which operates in small villages. Furthermore, the region will retain the ability to directly elect the heads of municipal districts, into which the districts are planned to be merged.
The authorities launched the process of dismantling the local government system late last year, attempting to merge districts into okrugs. Some residents call this an attack on the Constitution, which states that the source of power should remain the people, not officials. Furthermore, people fear that the reform is intended to redistribute the republic's territories in favor of oligarchs.
The protest entered its active phase on June 12, when a group of residents blocked traffic on the federal highway at the Chike-Taman Pass. At least three participants in this action appointed Administrative arrest for 13 and 14 days, and another fined 14 rubles. About a hundred people gathered outside the court and applauded the detainees.
Yesterday, posters against municipal reform появились on fences, bus stops, bridges and cars.
Today, photographs of residents who went out to picket against municipal reform, опубликовал Telegram channel "Voice of Altai. Voice of Russia."
Photo: Telegram channel "Voice of Altai. Voice of Russia"