United Russia’s branch in Yaroslavl said it should have put forward a single candidate in the mayoral election runoff that was won by an opposition-backed candidate.
Independent candidate Yevgeny Urlashov, backed by opposition parties, won 70 percent of votes on April 1, beating the 27 percent received by businessman Yakov Yakushev, who had the support of the governor, a member of the ruling United Russia party.
Another United Russia candidate, Sergei Yastrebov, first deputy mayor for construction and socioeconomic development, had won the first round in December but the party - following the governor's lead - refused to advance his candidacy for the runoff and opted for Yakushev.
“Having no single candidate from United Russia was a mistake,” said Nikolai Aleksandrychev, secretary of the party’s local branch.
At a meeting with United Russia members on Friday, President Dmitry Medvedev said it was “unacceptable for a party when one person … wins the primaries and is capable of winning the polls but then the governor decides to advance another person.”
Urlashov's victory was perceived by the opposition as delivering a heavy blow to the influential United Russia and bringing together the scattered opposition forces.
