in Russia, octogenarian Lioudmila Vassilieva defies power and runs for governor of Saint Petersburg

Lyoudmila Vassilieva is a well-known activist in the former Russian capital. She calls for an end to the war, a rare voice in the country where most opponents have been silenced.

In St. Petersburg opposition circles, Lyoudmila Vassilieva is a legend. She was born in 1941, a few months before the siege of Leningrad. This survivor became a committed activist, arrested several times. When asked why she was running for governor of St. Petersburg today, she replied that all potential candidates were imprisoned or classified as foreign agents. So she made up her mind. “Someone has to be brave and I’m a survivor of the siege. I’ve been through so much. I’ve never been afraid and I don’t want to be afraid because someone has to tell the truth”explains the candidate.

To run, Lioudmila Vassilieva must collect 80,000 signatures from voters in Saint Petersburg. Sveltlana came to drop off hers. “We met him on February 16, the day we learned of Navalny’s death. We saw him give a speech. She is a very intelligent, dignified person and we were impressed by the fact that she was not afraid of anything”, confides Sveltlana, a woman who came to submit her signature.

However, the octogenarian candidate refuses the label of opponent of the regime. “I am not an opponent. I am for the people, so that people live comfortably, so that they are not afraid of anything, so that they can say what they think, so that we are not pariahs in the world, but let the whole world extend a hand to us”defends Lyoudmila Vassilieva.

It is unclear whether she will be able to run for governor on September 8. The Russian government has numerous means at its disposal to disqualify opposition candidates. But in his young campaign team, there are many who believe it. “It’s complicated. It’s really a colossal job. But if you want and if you put in a lot of effort, then let’s say that the impossible is possible. Lyudmila is a well-known activist in St. Petersburg “It’s simply impossible not to sign for her.” campaigner Georgi Smirnov, the coordinator of his HQ.

While waiting to know if she can conquer Saint Petersburg, Lioudmila Vassilieva is campaigning, calling for an end to the war. “Be bold. When a person admits his mistakes, he regains his dignity”, she proclaims. The gubernatorial election will take place in September. Whether she is a candidate or not, Lioudmila Vassilieva will have made her voice heard, once again.