[VeronicaF]

Chart topper to poll topper? Singer from Russian pop duo t.A.T.u. enters primary to represent ruling party in upcoming election

According to United Russia, the country's ruling party, singer Julia Volkova has formally applied to take part in the primaries for a parliamentary seat, with State Duma elections upcoming in September.

She will run in Ivanovo, a city 250km east of Moscow. Well-known as a major center for textile production, the Ivanovo Region is now one of the country's most impoverished areas per capita, according to official statistics.

“Today, Julia Volkova personally came to the organizing committee of the regional branch of the party and submitted documents to participate in the primary procedure of United Russia,” a party representative said.

Writing on Instagram, Volkova announced that she had “taken the first step” toward becoming an elected politician.

The Ivanovo election will also be contested by Yelena Välbe, a three-time Olympic champion and current head of the Russian Cross-Country Skiing Federation. Following the primaries, set to take place in May, the election will go ahead on September 19.

https://www.rt.com/russia/522462-tat...arty-election/

Singer from Russia’s scandalous ‘lesbian’ girl band Tatu vows to take on Putin’s enemies as she stands to be an MP

SCANDALOUS Tatu star Yulia Volkova is battling to become a Russian MP after ditching pop for politics.

The former member of the outrageous "lesbian" duo plans to stand in September’s parliamentary elections to take on Vladimir Putin's rivals.

And she already has the backing of officials from United Russia - the huge country's ruling party.

“I have taken the first step,” she said, vowing Putin’s political foes “will not catch up with us”.

However, she did not give any more details about her political manifesto or her views.

Eighteen years ago she and bandmate Lena Katina caused a storm when they burst on the international scene as Tatu.


They caused controversy across Europe as they kissed and cuddled on stage while wearing skimpy school uniforms.

Children's groups reacted with outrage amid claims their act was a marketing stunt promoting homosexuality among vulnerable teenagers.

In Britain, she enraged Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan who launched a campaign to ban a pop video showing them romping in the rain for their 2002 No1 song All The Things She Said.

ITV refused to play the clip on Ant and Dec's morning music show CD:UK, insisting: “It is not really suitable for children.”

At their height, Volkova and Katina, both now 36, defied their critics and topped the charts in many Western countries as well as Russia.

Sergei Perminov, deputy secretary of the United Russia general council, confirmed Volkova had been registered in an open primary to be a candidate for the country’s parliament - or State Duma - from Ivanovo.

“Volkova is participating,” he said. "We are an open party - we invite everyone to participate in our selection procedure, bold candidates, interesting, bright, honest, professional.

"People will decide who is worthy to represent them in the State Duma.”

The election is likely to face widespread criticism amid the banning of supporters of jailed Putin foe Alexei Navalny whose FBK foundation is poised to be officially labelled "extremist", making it illegal.

Meanwhile pro-Putin parties are seeking to recruit new loyalist candidates to give them a fresh face.

After the pop group broke up in 2011, Volkova embarked on a solo career as a singer and actress.

Two years ago she hit the headlines after fans slammed her for plastic surgery which “changed her face” and made her look “scary".

more https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/148000...utin-election/

Uhm... the only thing I actually think about is the second hand embarrassment Lena must be feeling, is Julia ok?