Alexander Veshnyakov

In the circle of colleagues and close friends Veshnyakov described as "extremely disciplined" man. Therefore, no one doubts that actively declares a slogan of "purity and transparency of the forthcoming elections are not empty words. His Veshnyakov with the very characteristic of him "extremely disciplined" to implement.
. One of the friends Veshnyakov once said of him: "For the girls with him, I would not go, and in exploration - easily."
. As a child, Alexander Veshnyakov dreamed of becoming a pilot
. But given the fact that he was born and raised in a small village Baikalova Arkhangelsk (White Sea to throw, only 15 kilometers), its fate over time "redrafted". In addition, parents were hereditary fishermen. Even met almost in the sea - the fishing Artel, where my mother worked Veshnyakov. So, on the family tradition Sasha leaned a sailor, joined the Merchant Navy Arkhangelsk - at the time the most prestigious in the USSR Nautical School. The contest was appropriate: 12 people per seat. Sedate "Pomorie" (this is Veshnyakov called in school) immediately appointed Komsomol organizer company.
His friend and comrade in the college Vyacheslav Budyto recalls: "Komsomol organizer, he was a good. No flaming Oleg Kosh, and such a sustained, solid. Kept a strict, aloof, in feasts never participated and looked older than his age. In the evenings, during the self, other guys kept trying to deceive, make noise. He is always prepared for lessons. The feeling that he always knew what he wanted from life. "
Arkhangelsk MOREHODKA then famous for the brutal discipline. The elders of the number of "grandfathers" belabour green greenhorns first-year full-reel. During the night three times to wake the students and send to wash latrine just because someone incorrectly stood shoes. Veshnyakov such a fate happily avoided. His shoes were always correct.
In the severance Sasha went only to the mother. For this he had to ski jump on the opposite bank of the Northern Dvina. Neither more nor less - five kilometers.
It is said that Alexander A. never no one drove a strong friendship, was in itself. And of course, today the question of close friends Veshnyakov just shrugs.
But the secret ill-wishers have Veshnyakov vodilis. Some were irritated by his difference from all other. Others he simply jealous. Moreover, he was a member of the so-called elite boxes. Specially selected, perfect texture - tall and lean - the students were indispensable attribute of various ideological activities. Demonstrated the power and beauty of the Soviet fleet, systems marching in front of the stands Party leaders during the festive demonstrations.
. Same Vyacheslav Budyto jokingly says: "When I became a sergeant, I have repeatedly experienced the desire to deprive the separation Veshnyakov
. But he never gave me a reason.
After school - a direct route to work in the Northern Shipping Company. On ships and in distant lands. As the ship engineers, Veshnyakov walked half of the Earth. Western Europe, North Africa, Canada. The most vivid recollection of youth sailor - "watch dog". When the incoming service accounted for four in the morning. The most difficult was to overcome sleep and force myself to rise. And so every day.
By the time Alexander Veshnyakov already married, had a daughter. Recio was drawn to the shore. Therefore, when he was asked to do community work - a Komsomol organizer shipping company, agreed. Such political workers on the ships were called commissioners.
. - Typically left on the ideological front of people who are not professionally - recalls Vyacheslav Budyto .- In order not to leave people to fend for themselves (where it was still possible to go to sea diplomomN), he was shifted to the shore
. We Veshnyakov professionally everything was in order. He had already risen to the second mechanic - to the rank of chief engineer throw. So he chose. But in fact it was an ideological comrade correct this.
It is said that at first because of the orthodox adherence to principles of Veshnyakova strongly resented friends. As soon as Alexander A. became secretary of the Arkhangelsk city committee, to him, like apples at harvest, showered familiar with the request "to better employ them". Veshnyakov has refused and said: they say, my wife is an agent of the Pension Fund is working. (Incidentally, this law Veshnyakov extends to their own children: his son graduated from vocational school, a daughter - Institute of Maritime Transport.)
Public career Veshnyakov was swift. In Arkhangelsk the first time he tested himself in the role of organizer of elections of People's Deputies of the USSR, as secretary of the district election commission.
. - I had no illusions about my current activities, - said Alexander A. .- But then, in Arkhangelsk, was very powerful struggle
. It was 1989, and elections were held on an alternative basis for the first time - at loggerheads encountered Party power surrogates and candidates nascent democratic forces. Following the elections, many just say: Thank you for an honest election campaign. And even those who are lost, the court did not.
But big Veshnyakov first distinguished himself at the dawn of perestroika, when one of the few signed a letter directed against the major party boss - the first secretary of the Arkhangelsk Oblast Party Committee. Was accused of "failure to carry out democratic reforms in party work" and offered to leave the workplace on their own. This story is familiar and friends Veshnyakov retold to each other with great surprise: a quiet, quiet, and see-ca ...
. In the white stone Alexander Veshnyakov moved in 1990 - won in Arkhangelsk competitive elections and became a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR
. Although he was a communist, began to actively attend the meeting and the newly-made liberal in those days "Demrossii". "Demrossy" even supported his candidacy for the post of deputy chairman of the Council of the Republic.
But it seems, while Alexander A. not yet fully-bye to the damned communist past. In February 1991 he was one of six members (the famous "Six": Goryachev, Abdulatipov, Isakov, Isaev, Syrovatko) was the opposition to Yeltsin and addressed him a letter offering to resign as chairman of the Supreme Council. And earned a reputation as a man who helped coup.
After his victory, Boris Yeltsin, slowly but surely deprived the rebels of all posts. Now Alexander A. When asked about relations with the authorities and the president in particular, . he was somewhat annoyed: "If someone thinks, . what, . condemned man once for a position, . I do with it will not work, . - Is extremism and savagery, . I absolutely typical,
. And that position, which now holds Yeltsin, I deeply sympathetic. I just like the President, with both hands to hold fair elections. "
After leaving the post of deputy chairman of the Council of the republic after the dissolution of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, Alexander Veshnyakov until 1994 he worked in the Ministry of Transport Adviser. Until his old friend on the parliamentary activities in the Armed Forces Nikolai Ryabov not invited to be part of an emerging, radically new - not Soviet, but Russia - the electoral commission.
- On balance, I decided to accept. For me it was much more interesting than what I was doing in the ministry - confessed once Veshnyakov
It is said that Yeltsin did not bring pleasure to know that his recent opponent becomes a member of such an important electoral body. But the president to influence the situation for some reason unable. Or did not want to.
Since March 1994 Veshnyakov worked at the CEC by the expert, then a consultant and was responsible for the preparation and passage of the law on elections to the Duma. It was then with his active participation law was passed on the basic guarantees of electoral rights. Alexander Veshnyakov very proud that stood at the origins of the new legislative. That itself, which now holds the entire electoral process in Russia.
But not everyone in the Lower House reacted to the emergence Veshnyakova the CEC with the same enthusiasm as he. Members of the number of democratically-minded Alexander A. initially perceived with suspicion.
. Viktor Sheinis, a deputy from the GA Yabloko faction, member of the committee on legislation and judicial and legal reform: "The CEC at the time opposed the adoption of the law on public control
. His goal was to make the election very transparent and open. We were afraid that Veshnyakov as the official representative of the CEC will confront us. But we have it wrong. In 1995, I Veshnyakov were invited to the program "One on One". I accused the Central Election Commission that he had a rare tenacity does not respond to requests of the State Duma on the results of the 1993 referendum. Instead of protecting the position of the commission (he was still an employee structure), Veshnyakov said: "At that point I was not yet at the CEC, so I can not be responsible for all its actions". I was then pleasantly surprised that a person has their opinion and their position. "
This year, the CEC had elections. Veshnyakov's candidacy in the composition of the CEC voted almost all the deputies. If the predecessor Veshnyakov Alexander Ivanchenko, many accused of undue bias and orientation of the Kremlin, the Veshnyakov appreciate impartiality and neangazhirovannost. According to the deputy Sheinis, "now listen to the voice of the CEC.
Alexander A. famously got down to business. The first thing he said about the need to tighten the law on elections - to make it easier to control the financial flows of potential candidates, to update the legal framework and establish a measure of responsibility of candidates who have violated the law. "One will punish them - will discourage others," - said Alexander A..
Veshnyakov threatened reprisals so nimble and zealous, who climbs into the inferno forward Batko. These are candidates who, without waiting for the official start of the campaign, did twist his campaign commercials on the central TV channels. (True, it outstripped the president, who has grumbled about the winter election campaign launch Yuri Luzhkov, something like: "Here are some of the earlier start time. Never mind - the people them out. ")
In general, the new head of the Central Election Commission is set up very strongly. But Boris Yeltsin has no public criticism of the Veshnyakov did not express. Probably all doing right comrade.