Joaquim Crima, Russian: Жоаким Крима, a Guinea-Bissauan-born farmer, is a former independent candidate in the 2009 Srednyaya Akhtuba election.[1] as the first black man to run for head of the district, Crima received the nickname, "the Russian Obama".[2][3] However, both he and another black candidate for the post, Filipp Kondratyev (the son of a Ghanaian father and a Russian mother) came in third (with 4.75%) and last respectively against the United Russia incumbent.[4]
Joaquim Crima, is a 37-year-old native of Guinea Bissau who settled in southern Russia in 1989 after earning a degree from Volgograd State Pedagogical University. He and his wife, Anait, who is of Armenian descent, have a 10-year-old son. In addition to farming, he also sells melons at the local marketplace in the district.
Crima is promising to battle corruption and bring development to his district on the Volga River. He wants to fix problems in his district, where some residents still lack potable water, have unpaved streets and use outhouses. About 55,000 people live in the district's 18 villages and towns.
"The current district head has been in power for 10 years, but he hasn't done anything for people here," said Crima. "There are young families that need housing, who need opportunities. This town and Russia are ready for a change."