Narva soc dems No 1 Yevgeni Ossinovsky claims that benefits distributed to pensioners, from city coffers, come with Centre Party elections propaganda. Galina Vologdina, head of social assistance at Narva city government, thinks Mr Ossinovsky is having a bout of pre-election grumbling aimed at maligning a competitor.
On October 2nd, the frontier town took to distributing the yearly €20 Christmas support to its pensioners, appointed by city council in 2010. The bonus goes to pensioners due to old age, work incapacity and being survivors, over 20,000 persons all in all.
According to Mr Ossinovsky, the department headed by Ms Vologdina lets pensioners know they are expected, at elections to vote for candidate No 105 i.e. Galina Vologdina.
As Riigikogu member, Mr Ossinovsky requested explanation from Ms Vologdina whether she had elections materials stored up at her office and whether she was advising people, having recourse to her as an official, to vote for her. «How do you assess a situation where people in need of help detect no difference between you work as an official and your political activity?» the parliament member asked in his official letter.
Mr Ossinovsky accused Ms Vologdina in restricting the freedom to choose by pensioners, which he considers an offence pursuant to Penal Code section 162, potentially leading to pecuniary punishment or imprisonment up to one year.
Mr Ossinovsky told Postimees of having received information from various sources that Ms Vologdina is carrying out election campaign while at her post. One participant, whose job it is to assist the elderly, has also contacted the newspaper. The person said that together with the Christmas benefit, the pensioners are given calendars with Ms Vologdina’s name and candidates’ list number, wherefore quite a few elderly have gotten the impression of having underwritten a commitment to vote for the director of social assistance department. The person, whose name is known to Postimees, requested anonymity being dependent on social assistance department regarding the job.
A person assisted by the abovementioned caregiver, a 89 years old pensioner living alone and only moving about the apartment, confirmed to the newspaper that on October 2nd €20 of Christmas support was brought to her apartment. While she signed the receipt, social worker set a calendar on her table, with name and elections number of Ms Vologdina.
«The entire visit took half a minute, there was no agitation. I am fully aware this is city support, not personal help by Ms Vologdina,» the elderly lady said firmly, promising that on the election day – ballot box brought to her home – she would not vote for Ms Vologdina, but for somebody else. The lady also wished not to see her name in the newspaper, as she is being assisted in cleaning her apartment and bringing products; therefore, she doesn’t want to lose favour with the social workers.
Ms Vologdina informed Postimees that she had answered letter by Mr Ossinovsky in written form. «If he has facts and thinks this is offence, let him address the police. That was the content of my response,» said she, adding that Mr Ossinovsky’s accusation is groundless: «Could the people, having received Christmas support for years, really think that this time it is not from the city, but personally from me?»
At the beginning of October, 400 Narva pensioners not moving about received their Christmas support. According to Ms Vologdina, she has not issued orders to her subordinates to distribute elections calendars together with the benefit. «Why, I ask, is Mr Ossinovsky not going to the police with this, rather aiming for limelight? Less than a week remains before elections, I run in the list of a competing party and I have a good reputation in the city. Thus, is this not an attempt to malign a competitor?» asked Ms Vologdina.
According to Olja Kivistik, press secretary of Ida-Viru Police Prefecture, the fact that pensioners were given elections calendars together with city benefit will not constitute violation of the law, if not accompanied by direct campaigning. «Maybe it is not too ethical; however, it could be considered violation of the law if pressure were applied to people and they were told: you must vote for me or my colleague,» explained Ms Kivistik.
Galina Vologdina
• Director of Narva social assistance department since 2006; prior to that, director of Narva Pension Board for over 20 years.
• Centre Party member since 2006.
• Elections results: 482 votes in 2005, 7th place in Centre Party list by votes; 892 votes in 2009, 3rd place in Centre Party list.
Source: Postimees