The Russian Communist Party has withdrawn its candidate in the Krasnoyarsk mayoral election, regional party committee official Alexander Amosov said on Monday.
On Wednesday, the communist nominee, Mikhail Oskolkov, accused the party of receiving $1 million from another contender for pulling him from the race. The party retaliated by threatening to sue Oskolkov for libel.
“Today we have filed official paperwork recalling Mikhai Oskolkov [from the race],” Amosov said.
“The reason, to be brief, is that he has been negotiating behind our backs with different political forces, in particular the territorial administration.”
Amosov alleged that Oskolkov was going to stand down in favor of the ruling United Russia’s candidate.
“We’ve pre-empted his move,” the party official said.