The Yabloko Association has made a successful start to the autumn-spring stage of the election campaign, said Yabloko’s Secretary for Elections and Interaction with the Authorities, deputy of the State Duma Igor Artemyev.

After the first round of the elections for head of Artyom city (Maritime Territory) held on January 28, 2001, the leader is Vladimir Novikov, member of the Yabloko party and acting mayor of the city. He obtained 34.8% of the vote. His main rival, communist Kozin received 22.9%. T he second round is scheduled for February 11, 2001. The elections in Artyom are being held owing to the early resignation of the mayor of the city due to the energy crisis.

Last Sunday Alexander Khlopnin, supported by the local and federal organisations of Yabloko, was elected governor of Taimyr (Dolgano-Nenetsk) autonomous district in the first round. Khlopnin obtained 63% of the vote, which was 34% more than his main competitor, the present governor of the autonomous district, Gennadi Nedelin.

Five members of the Yabloko party and one supporter of Yabloko were elected deputies of the Duma in Kaluga, the City Assembly of Dudinka (Taimyr) and the City Council of Fryazino (Moscow region). The head of the Fryazino city was also elected with Yabloko’s support.