Liberals Make Gains in St. Petersburg Vote

Voters sought to end a wave of deadly, dirty politics and gave liberal candidates the biggest chunk of seats in City Council elections here, according to preliminary results Monday.

Liberal candidates capitalized on voter anger over lawlessness in Russia’s second-largest city, campaigning on anti-crime, anti-corruption platforms. The run-up to the election was tainted by contract hits, beatings of candidates and reports of vote-buying in this traditionally pro-Western city.

Sunday’s runoff was seen as a test of the strength of liberal groups nationwide, which have been in disarray recently. The vote also attracted attention because a leading liberal legislator was slain in St. Petersburg last month.

Only six of the 50 seats were filled in the first round of voting Dec. 6. But the runoff, with a turnout of 32%, didn’t produce the sweeping victory many liberals expected.

Three liberal parties captured a total of 24 seats in both rounds of voting. Communist groups--who enjoy much greater support elsewhere in Russia--took five seats, and independents and smaller parties took the remaining 21, election officials said.

The largest single block, 15 seats, went to a local liberal group led by Yuri Boldyrev.

It was followed by local representatives of Russia’s main liberal party, Yabloko, headed by Grigory A. Yavlinsky. Yabloko won eight seats, up from three in the previous City Council.

Many of the independents were expected to side with liberals.

“Today in St. Petersburg, Communists present no danger to anybody,” Boldyrev said after the results were announced Monday.

But there are other dangers.

During the campaign, attackers beat one candidate with metal rods, and the windows of a City Council member’s apartment were shot out. Most shocking was the slaying Nov. 20 of liberal politician Galina V. Starovoitova, who was gunned down outside her home.

Observers also reported vote-buying and busing of pensioners to election sites.