Ex-mayor of Yevpatoria Filonov returns from prison. What will he do
Former Yevpatoria Mayor Andrei Filonov, sentenced to 6,5 years for abuse of office, will be released on parole. The Supreme Court of Crimea upheld the decision yesterday, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
In Crimea, Filonov is one of the most recognizable and popular politicians - in his native Yevpatoria he had a good rating, but also a serious trail of complaints as a businessman. The fact is that before becoming mayor, he oversaw the organization of the once popular Kazantip festival on the west bank and owned a number of other businesses.
According to the chairman of the Public Chamber of the Republic, political scientist Alexander Formanchuk, Filonov has no political future in Crimea even if he achieves a plea of not guilty through the courts and lifts the ban on holding public office.
“Such miracles do not happen so that a person, after serving a certain term, returns to active administrative work. He will not return to power. He is prohibited from doing this by law, but this does not mean that in a year and a half someone will entrust him with managing the city. I rule out this, especially since people know the trace that he left, so I think that in Yevpatoria his future from the point of view of a manager is over. If he wants to recover somewhere, then Russia is big. Outside Crimea, yes, but in Crimea, it’s unlikely,” Formanchuk said.
Political scientist Ivan Mezyukho notes that Filonov can continue to do business and appear in the media as a commentator on political processes:
“He will not be able to participate in the work of the executive branch. But he will not be able to apply for positions within the framework of representative government. That is, today there can be no talk of participation in politics at any level.
Andrei Filonov is a prominent political figure. This cannot be denied even after he served his sentence and was excluded from current political processes. But some of his comments, statements, maybe even media interviews will become an event in the socio-political environment of the region for some time.
As far as I remember, Andrei Filonov realized himself not only as a politician, mayor, but also as a businessman, so now it is unknown what he can do. It seems to me that there is a possibility that he will continue to take part in trials and perhaps even fight to prove his innocence,” Mezuho said.
Social activist Alexander Talipov, on the contrary, believes that Filonov has a future in Crimean politics.
“Filonov was one of the most promising young heads of administration in Crimea. Many Yevpatorians and residents of the peninsula sympathized with him. I think that he will still be able to return to politics if he himself is not disappointed in it and wants to continue this activity.
Of course, having a criminal record imposes certain restrictions, but over time it can be expunged and this will enable him to return to politics. As for me, most people consider his punishment too harsh and unfair, so for any opposition political force Filonov will be a desirable figure - if not for direct participation in elections, then for supporting the party. The question is whether he wants to return to politics,” Talipov said.
English version :: Read in English: Former Yevpatoria Mayor Filonov Returns from Prison. What Will He Do?