IN BRIEF

Published: January 23, 2013 (Issue # 1743)

Yabloko Seeks Growth

ST. PETERSBURG (SPT) — Forty-four people have annulled their membership of the St. Petersburg branch of the Yabloko Democratic Party, Interfax reported, citing information from former Yabloko member Vitaly Shtager. The news agency did not say during what period of time the annulments had taken place.

In the middle of January, Shtager announced that he had left the party along with 11 other people. The group of former Yabloko members also suggested that other members unhappy with the party’s current situation should also consider leaving.

Grigory Yavlinsky, head of the party in the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly, said that Yabloko could soon see a potential increase of 150 percent — more than 600 people — in membership in the city as new members join the party.

According to the latest statistics, the St. Petersburg branch of Yabloko consists of 400 members.

Illegal Landfill Found

ST. PETERSBURG (SPT) — A large illegal landfill site has been discovered near the construction site of the General Motors plant in the village of Shushary to the south of the city, Interfax reported, citing the city police.

Construction waste had been taken to the landfill using heavy vehicles, and the city police have already detained several dozen trucks involved in the dumping, the news agency reported. The vehicles used had come from the nearby GM construction site, Fontanka.ru reported.

A criminal case into violation of the rules for the treatment of ecologically dangerous substances and waste has been launched.

GM launched its plant in St. Petersburg in 2008. It produces models including the Chevrolet Cruze and Opel Astra. By 2015, GM plans to expand the capacity of the plant to 230,000 cars a year. The current capacity is 98,000 cars a year.