Nezavisimaya Gazeta: “Road-works named after Putin”
Joachim Ritu Cabi Crima or (Vassily Ivanovich Crima), the well-known United Russia party member of African origin who lives in Volgograd, is ready to meet Prime Minister Vladimir Putin after repairing a road in the Srednyaya Akhtuba district centre. Crima, originally from Guinea-Bissau, simply couldn't wait for the local authorities to solve the road problem and instead used his own resources, and mobilized local help to mend a street in Srednyaya Akhtuba. The African, who has lived in Russia for 15 years, believes that other long-running problems this country faces can also be solved by people coming together and joining forces.
Until now Komsomolskaya Street was one of the most dilapidated streets in Srednyaya Akhtuba. Old-timers say it has never been mended in the entire history of the village.
This is why the "road-works triumph" that Vassily Ivanovich Crima, a Russian citizen of African origin, who became well-known all around Russia after the municipal elections of 2009 (then Mr Crima was running for the head of Srednyaya Akhtuba District, but lost), engendered several days ago has become a real sensation.
"Komsomolskaya Street where I live was impassible," the Afro-Russian told Nezavisimaya Gazeta. "Words cannot describe what it was like after the rain. Everything was plastered with mud. If you go to work you sometimes had to go back home to change after getting as far as the end of the street. It was slightly easier for grown-ups, but just imagine what it was like for children who can't pick their way through it, choosing places where it is less muddy? So my patience just snapped."
Mr Crima did not turn to the local authorities for help, as it was senseless. After talking with fellow-villagers he decided to tackle the "centuries-old" issue himself. Negotiations between members of "Srednyaya Akhtuba civil society group", which had grown somewhat unexpectedly out of concern over a potholed road, and a construction company proved successful. Several lorries delivered broken bricks, gravel and sand to Komsomolskaya Street. Crima, the Afro-Russian local self-government activist, led villagers who live on the street in filling in the potholes and leveling a 250-metre section of the road. Their efforts worked miracles.
"I have been supported by almost everybody here," said Vassily Crima. "And not only in the physical labour involved, carrying bricks and sand, but also financially; we all shared the expenses, everyone contributed as much as they could. As a result the road has become an actual road, not simply a general direction, as we say in Russia."
The Afro-Russian member of United Russia (Joachim Crima is still an activist with the Srednyaya Akhtuba district United Russia party organisation) is pleased with this first attempt at community activism in the village. "This way we have contributed to solving the Russian road problem, which Vladimir Putin mentions so frequently," said Mr Crima.
Incidentally, the Russian Prime Minister is to visit Volgograd on July 15 to discuss the results of Volga "dancing bridge" inquiry and issues relating to road maintenance and the construction industry. Vassily Crima says that he was not aware of Mr Putin's impending visit to Volgograd, or about its agenda. "I am very glad that we had the opportunity to help Vladimir Putin here in our district," said Mr Crima. "He is a very honest person. The country's destiny means more to him than does his own. Vladimir Putin really loves Russia and wants to make it a great and respected power in the world. I want to be like Mr Putin."
He also added that he had contemplated renaming the street after Vladimir Putin once it is completely repaired: "And Putin Street is no place for potholes and dilapidation".
Mr Crima said he hoped that the Prime Minister would visit Srednyaya Akhtuba. "It is not at all far from Volgograd, we are just across the ‘dancing bridge'."
Andrei Serenko
