In a surprising turn of events, the mayor of Berezovsky, Russia, has lost the local election to an unexpected candidate—his own driver’s wife, Yulia Maslakova.
The election results in Sverdlovsk’s Berezovsky city have stunned many, as incumbent Mayor Yevgeny Pustov, who was seeking a fourth consecutive term, was defeated by Yulia Maslakova, a member of President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.
Even Maslakova herself admitted she never expected to win. Speaking to journalists, she revealed that she was only nominated to fulfill procedural formalities and had not seriously considered the possibility of victory. Now, she is reportedly looking for ways to avoid taking the mayoral oath.
Unlike in many other cities, the mayor of Berezovsky is not elected directly by public vote. Instead, the selection process is conducted through a committee and local deputies, who typically represent various regional and municipal authorities.
This year, the deputies reportedly requested additional candidates in the mayoral race, but the selection committee only provided two choices—incumbent Mayor Pustov and Yulia Maslakova, the head of the city’s Investment Development Department and the wife of the mayor’s personal driver.
