vlad.tribnet.com / Issue #151 / Special reports / Reading article...

Krai demands city vote

The krai electoral commission and the city prosecutor have begun pressuring Mayor of Vladivostok Victor Cherepkov to set a date for city duma elections, saying that not doing so violates the right of city residents to elect and be elected. Vladivostok has not had a duma since Cherepkov took office in 1994. But the krai duma officially suspended the mayor Sept. 26, which means that Vice Mayor Yuri Kopylov, whom the krai named acting mayor, should be the one to set a date — if he’s indeed the mayor now.

Dalpress muscles out rival landlord

Security guards representing printing giant Dalpress denied entrance to companies paying rent to its archrival, newspaper publisher Vladimir Shkrabov Sept. 30, leaving dozens of workers at 10 Krasnovo Znameni loitering outside. Shkrabov is locked in suit with Dalpress over who has rights to let space in the krai-owned newspaper complex. Courts ordered Shkrabov to leave by Sept. 18, but he appealed. Although police chased off the security, the guards returned Oct. 1. Krai property committee Deputy Yelena Gracheva says she isn’t sure how the conflict has been decided. Neither Dalpress nor Shkrabov could be reached.

Prosecutor says city budget is illegal

The Vladivostok prosecutor filed a suit declaring that Mayor Victor Cherepkov’s 1997 city budget is illegal. The suit says that the budget doesn’t stipulate funding for schools, health care and city building, which should all be financed by law.

Workers: Boot the boss

Workers at Progress, the ailing Arsenyev factory famed for producing Black Shark helicopters, demanded that its board of director fire Director Yuri Bodnya. Company debts total 57 billion rubles ($9.8 million) for over 15 months, the firm has reported. The Federal Accounting Department is checking whether Bodnya misused funds from Moscow intended for the plant and its workers.

Officers train in Manila

Pacific Fleet officers took part in the Sixth Working Symposium of Navies of the Western Pacific in Manila. Topics were the prevention of conflicts, strengthening collaboration, and cooperation into the 21st century.

New firm to fix lights

City Hall created a municipal company to maintain traffic lights and street crossings in late September. The new company will take over operations and equipment from the traffic police, making the service more efficient.

Blackouts shorten

Dalenergo has shortened power cuts in Primorye to one or two hours a night, since it decided to cut off all commercial defaulters. Power generation has also increased; the shortage is one-sixth the level of late September.

Ferry strike ruled illegal

The Krai Supreme Court ruled that this summer’s strike by ferry service provider VladMorPass was illegal. Thousands of residents from nearby islands were hit by the stoppage.