Barsik the cat voted more popular than other mayoral candidates in Siberian city in protest of corruption
'Only mice don't vote for Barsik!'
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Residents of the Siberian city of Barnaul have nominated Barsik the cat for mayor in an unofficial poll, in protest of corruption among local officials.
Of the six human candidates and one cat, the ambitious feline won 91.2 per cent of the 5,400 votes cast.
Regional officials among Russia's opposition parties approved of the cat - one politician said his candidacy is an effective protest about how regional politics is run, according to online newspaper Gazeta.ru.
The poll was started by the group Altai Online on Russian social media platform VKontakte. The group also uploaded a video of the first "interview" with Barsik the cat.
They have also launched a crowd-funding campaign to to buy a billboard in the city centre depicting the candidate with the slogan: "Only mice don't vote for Barsik!"
For the past five years, the people of Barnaul have not elected their own mayor. Instead, they were appointed from central government.
The city has witnessed a series of high-profile corruption cases, The Guardian reports.
A comission of the city council and regional governor Alexander Karlin will convene next week to appoint a new city administrator, after Igor Savintsek resigned in August following abuse of power allegations.
He is accused of selling off municipally owned land to organisations affiliated with family members.
Unfortunately for Barsik the cat, he is not registered as a mayoral candidate, so will not be allowed to take office.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments