The results of the new poll by the Russian Public Opinion Assessment Center: Zhirinovsky is now on the same level with Pavel Grudinin. The rating of the former has increased and the one of the latter has dropped in a matter of days. Ksenia Sobchak's numbers are still rather low, but she's trying to stay positive. She arrived in Omsk to talk to her supporters.
Stanislav Bernwald with the details.
- Greetings, Stanislav.
- Good evening.
- Did she really get valenki?
- And not just valenki. She received many curious gifts which I'm going to tell you about.
Flowers, applause, and the happy smiles of her fans. She came here not as a famous TV anchor on her tour across Russia but as a presidential candidate.
Ksenia Sobchak: "Well, we begin our Grand Siberian Tour here, in Omsk. We'll be visiting campaign offices, awarding the best volunteers and discussing our campaign. I'm really glad Omsk welcomed me today with good weather".
She took a night flight to Omsk and instantly went to her office to meet her voters, receive gifts, and discuss the platform. As always, Siberians brought many gifts. Sobchak received felt valenki and the Omsk condensed milk that she loves so much. She claims it's the best brand in the country.
- Here you go, now you'll be warm in Siberia.
- Thank you!
- We've heard you like our Omsk condensed milk so we decided to give it to you as a gift.
Thank you!
Currently, Sobchak's campaign is in its active stage. Her staff and volunteers are gathering signatures across the country. A candidate must gather at least 100,000 signatures in order to be allowed to run. Only 2,500 signatures could be acquired in a single region. Omsk has already fulfilled the task so now, Sobchak's discussing her platform with the local voters.
Ksenia Sobchak: "I will be speaking about the issues of our big country. I have already visited many cities in six different regions of Russia I gather all these issues accumulate them discuss them shed light on them and will continue to do so".
The people of Omsk shared their concerns with Sobchak. Tatiana Savina complained about the condition of the local clinics especially the one where she takes her kid. Right after the meeting with her potential voters surrounded by journalists and volunteers, Ksenia Sobchak headed to the clinic.
Ksenia Sobchak: "Oh, God, it's horrible! Look, there's already been a malfunction. The cords are charred. Just point the cameras there".
Sobchak scolded the chief physician. He had to explain why the clinic hasn't been renovated during the last 15 years. Five years under his leadership, the clinic now reminds of a haunted house rather than a medical facility.
- Why couldn't you get money to renovate the clinic?
- We're gradually trying to get the funding.
- Doctors sit on the chars covered with rags.
- This year, we'll be gradually receiving our funding.
In the evening, during another meeting with her future voters This time, Sobchak had to answer some uncomfortable questions for example, about the way her campaign was financed and her trips abroad. The latter was brought about by her recent trip to the island of Bali. According to her opponents she was invited to the party of one of the Russian billionaires.
Ksenia Sobchak: "Many blame me for advertising something and hosting some sort of parties. Yeah, I don't have Gazprom stocks and I don't work in a state enterprise. A man who spends half a year in some exotic lands calls me and tells me that if I come to talk to him he'll fund my campaign. So I fly 19 hours in order to talk to him for a couple of hours and persuade him and I come back with a large sum that will fund my campaign".
At the meeting, Sobchak promised to reveal the names of those who donated to her election campaign. She promised it'll be an unprecedented case in the history of the Russian elections.
Stanislav Bernwald on Ksenia Sobchak's trip to Omsk
