Dmitry Russkikh returns to politics: "The campaign will be tough, nerve-wracking, and dirty."

      Former deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Kirov region Dmitry Ruskiy, who prematurely resigned from his deputy powers last spring, will participate in the elections again. At that time, he explained his decision by the desire to make way for young politicians and to spend more time with his family and main job. This time he is nominated from the party "Just Russia - For Truth" by territorial group, but he did not make it into the party's top three.

      As Ruskiy told Newsler.ru, he initially did not plan to participate in the campaign at all. According to him, the decision changed after young party members asked him to help them with his experience. "The new leadership of the regional branch asked me to support and help participate in the election campaign, as I have a lot of experience. I agreed and considered it mandatory after a number of changes in the party occurred in 2025-2026," the politician said.

      Ruskiy noted that various options for his participation were discussed, including inclusion in the party's top three. However, the party decided to bet on new candidates. "We tried to offer people something new. The old are always good, but the new are always better. I believe the party should renew itself. I have already gained my experience. People with political experience should help and guide the youth," he believes.

      At the same time, the interlocutor emphasized that it is not principled for him what place he occupies on the party list. "I'm not about the place, but about the result. I will participate in the campaign. I will pass on my help, energy, and knowledge to the new candidates," Ruskiy said.

      According to the politician, the current election campaign is significantly more difficult than the previous ones. He claims that even before the party conference, five potential candidates refused to participate, whom, in his opinion, were influenced. "The campaign will be tough, nerve-wracking, and dirty. All opposition candidates are seen as enemies, not competitors. Although it shouldn't be that way," Ruskiy stated.

      He also admitted that opposition parties are finding it increasingly difficult to find people willing to participate in elections. "This year it was hard to find candidates, and I am very grateful to the people who agreed. If the campaign is dirty, then for the next elections we will most likely not gather anyone at all. We need to compete with opposition candidates, not hate them. The strongest should win. The final word is with the voters. They are smart and understanding," the interlocutor noted.

      Evaluating the party's prospects, Ruskiy stated that much will depend on how competitive the upcoming campaign turns out to be. "If the elections are more even, there is no hatred towards the candidates, and there is no dirt, then the campaign will be more interesting," he believes.

      It should be noted that at the regional conference of "Just Russia - For Truth," the party's top three for the elections to the Legislative Assembly was headed by the head of the regional branch, Ekaterina Kolotova. The second number was deputy of the Kirov City Duma Alexander Nikulin, and the third was deputy of the regional Legislative Assembly Tatyana Yerdyakova.

      Earlier, the regional branch of the party was already in the spotlight due to personnel changes. In early June 2024, Legislative Assembly deputy Albert Bikaluk announced his exit from "Just Russia - For Truth," and in June of this year, he joined the CPRF, and today, June 28, he commented on his nomination this year. In addition, earlier, the current head of the regional branch of the LDPR Pavel Dorofeev and former deputy of the Legislative Assembly Nadezhda Surayeva left the party.