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Marina Salye obituary Marina Salye obituary
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The democratic politician Marina Salye, who has died aged 77, was a brave and implacable opponent of Vladimir Putin, and a charismatic leader in St Petersburg during the perestroika years. She first accused Putin of corruption two decades ago. Weeks before her death she was again urging that Putin be tried for his misdeeds – addressing a new generation of pro-democracy protesters enraged by Putin's decision to return to the Kremlin. The democratic politician Marina Salye, who has died aged 77, was a brave and implacable opponent of Vladimir Putin and a charismatic leader in St Petersburg during the perestroika years. She first accused Putin of corruption two decades ago. Weeks before her death she was again urging that Putin be tried for his misdeeds – addressing a new generation of pro-democracy protesters enraged by Putin's decision to return to the Kremlin.
Born in 1934, Salye came from a distinguished St Petersburg family. Her great-great-grandfather was watchmaker to the tsar. A talented scientist, she became a doctor of geology and was a research scientist at Leningrad's institute of geology until 1990. She travelled across the Soviet Union, studying rocks — an occupation prudently removed from state politics and stifling official ideology. Salye came from a distinguished St Petersburg family. Her great-great-grandfather was watchmaker to the tsar. A talented scientist, she became a doctor of geology and was a research scientist at Leningrad's institute of geology until 1990. She travelled across the Soviet Union, studying rocks — an occupation prudently removed from state politics and stifling official ideology.
In the late 1980s, when Mikhail Gorbachev embarked on a tentative experiment in political openness, glasnost, Salye emerged as the leader of a new and radical group of democratic activists. She became a prominent member of the Leningrad People's Front. In 1990 she was elected to the Congress of People's Deputies and to the Leningrad City Soviet, as the Communist party lost its monopoly on power.In the late 1980s, when Mikhail Gorbachev embarked on a tentative experiment in political openness, glasnost, Salye emerged as the leader of a new and radical group of democratic activists. She became a prominent member of the Leningrad People's Front. In 1990 she was elected to the Congress of People's Deputies and to the Leningrad City Soviet, as the Communist party lost its monopoly on power.
Salye was given the thankless job of organising food supplies at a time when the Leningrad shops were bereft of goods. It was as the elected chair of the city's food commission that she first came across Putin. He had returned from his undercover KGB mission in East Germany and was working for Leningrad's new mayor, Anatoly Sobchak, as deputy for international relations.Salye was given the thankless job of organising food supplies at a time when the Leningrad shops were bereft of goods. It was as the elected chair of the city's food commission that she first came across Putin. He had returned from his undercover KGB mission in East Germany and was working for Leningrad's new mayor, Anatoly Sobchak, as deputy for international relations.
Salye managed to stabilise the food situation. She introduced rationing and food coupons – a fraught step in a city with raw memories of starvation and the Nazis' wartime blockade. At the same time she travelled to Germany to secure badly needed imports of food. Once in Berlin, however, she was told that someone had beaten her to it: a mysterious order had come from St Petersburg city hall for 60 tonnes of meat.Salye managed to stabilise the food situation. She introduced rationing and food coupons – a fraught step in a city with raw memories of starvation and the Nazis' wartime blockade. At the same time she travelled to Germany to secure badly needed imports of food. Once in Berlin, however, she was told that someone had beaten her to it: a mysterious order had come from St Petersburg city hall for 60 tonnes of meat.
In 1992, amid the whiff of municipal corruption, Salye was tasked with investigating what had happened. She found that Putin had entered into legally dubious contracts with obscure firms to export raw materials abroad in return for food. The contracts were awarded without tender. These raw materials – oil, timber, rare metals – were duly exported. But the food never turned up.In 1992, amid the whiff of municipal corruption, Salye was tasked with investigating what had happened. She found that Putin had entered into legally dubious contracts with obscure firms to export raw materials abroad in return for food. The contracts were awarded without tender. These raw materials – oil, timber, rare metals – were duly exported. But the food never turned up.
Salye and another city councillor, Yuri Gladkov, discovered conclusive proof that $92m handled by Putin's department had vanished. She had suspicions about another $900m of city money but was unable to prove them. After reviewing her evidence, the city council concluded the money had been stolen. The legislature urged Sobchak to dismiss Putin and his deputy Aleksandr Anikin. Sobchak, however, rejected this. Instead he abolished the city council.Salye and another city councillor, Yuri Gladkov, discovered conclusive proof that $92m handled by Putin's department had vanished. She had suspicions about another $900m of city money but was unable to prove them. After reviewing her evidence, the city council concluded the money had been stolen. The legislature urged Sobchak to dismiss Putin and his deputy Aleksandr Anikin. Sobchak, however, rejected this. Instead he abolished the city council.
By the mid-1990s Boris Yeltsin had dissolved parliament and had effectively abandoned grassroots democrats such as Salye, who became politically less active. She never forgot her investigation, though. In early 2000, prompted by Putin's candidacy for the presidency, and incensed by his own less-than-truthful statements about his role in the meat scandal, Salye decided to speak out. She penned an eloquent and insightful attack on Putin. She accused him of corruption and oligarchic practices. By the mid-1990s Boris Yeltsin had dissolved parliament and had effectively abandoned grassroots democrats such as Salye, who became politically less active. She never forgot her investigation, though. In early 2000, prompted by Putin's candidacy for the presidency, and incensed by his own less-than-truthful statements about his role in the meat scandal, Salye decided to speak out. She penned an eloquent and insightful attack on Putin. She accused him of corruption and oligarchic practices.
Putin was elected despite her warnings, and Salye went into hiding. She told Masha Gessen – the author and journalist who tracked her down a decade later – that someone had threatened her. (She never revealed who. This chilling encounter took place in the office of the State Duma deputy Sergei Yushenkov, murdered three years later. Gladkov, her co-investigator, also died after apparently being poisoned.) Rumours suggested that she had taken refuge in France. The story – apocryphal, it turned out – said that Putin had sent her a postcard with the message: "I wish you a Happy New Year and the health to enjoy it." Putin was elected despite her warnings and Salye went into hiding. She told Masha Gessen – the author and journalist who tracked her down a decade later – that someone had threatened her. (She never revealed who. This chilling encounter took place in the office of the State Duma deputy Sergei Yushenkov, murdered three years later. Gladkov, her co-investigator, also died after apparently being poisoned.) Rumours suggested that she had taken refuge in France. The story – apocryphal, it turned out – said that Putin had sent her a postcard with the message: "I wish you a Happy New Year and the health to enjoy it."
In reality, Salye was lying low in a remote village in the Pskov region of north-west Russia. She maintained her silence throughout Putin's two terms as president. In 2010, however – a decade after Putin's Kremlin takeover and Sobchak's death – she begin giving interviews again. Salye had kept her archive detailing the web of city hall corruption with Putin at its centre; she hid the papers at her rustic dacha home with its Russian flag, 12 hours' drive from Moscow. In reality, Salye was lying low in a remote village in the Pskov region of north-west Russia. She maintained her silence throughout Putin's two terms as president. In 2010, however, – a decade after Putin's Kremlin takeover and Sobchak's death – she began giving interviews again. Salye had kept her archive detailing the web of city hall corruption with Putin at its centre; she hid the papers at her rustic dacha home with its Russian flag, 12 hours' drive from Moscow.
Salye was one of Putin's earliest critics. But ironically, by the time she re-emerged into public life, hundreds of thousands of other Russians had grown fed up with Russia's authoritarian leader, taking to the streets in scenes reminiscent of turbulent perestroika years. Western journalists began seeking her out again. In a telegram read at her funeral, Gorbachev called her a "bright leader of our democratic movement" and "brave, principled and unyielding." Salye was one of Putin's earliest critics. But ironically, by the time she re-emerged into public life, hundreds of thousands of other Russians had grown fed up with Russia's authoritarian leader, taking to the streets in scenes reminiscent of turbulent perestroika years. Western journalists began seeking her out again. In a telegram read at her funeral, Gorbachev called her a "bright leader of our democratic movement" and "brave, principled and unyielding".
She made her last public appearance on 4 February at a rally in St Petersburg, just a month before Russia's presidential "election" saw an inevitable Putin victory. Addressing the crowds, she called for Putin to be tried for his crimes and urged the restoration of Russian democracy and a free media. The crowd shouted back: "Jail Putin!" A little short of breath, but still vigorous, lucid, and as uncompromising as ever, she shouted into the microphone: "Together we will win."She made her last public appearance on 4 February at a rally in St Petersburg, just a month before Russia's presidential "election" saw an inevitable Putin victory. Addressing the crowds, she called for Putin to be tried for his crimes and urged the restoration of Russian democracy and a free media. The crowd shouted back: "Jail Putin!" A little short of breath, but still vigorous, lucid, and as uncompromising as ever, she shouted into the microphone: "Together we will win."
She is survived by two sisters, Natalya Mikhailova and Tatyana Salye.She is survived by two sisters, Natalya Mikhailova and Tatyana Salye.
• Marina Salye, politician and activist, born 1934; died 21 March 2012 • Marina Yevgenyevna Salye, politician and activist, born 19 October 1934; died 21 March 2012