Statement by the Federal Council No 56, 14.01.2019

Every day people in Russia and around the world fear more and more that there is a possibility of a big war with an enormous number of victims as new provocative resistance, conflicts, use and demonstration of military force, including the strategic weapons, emerge.

Russia’s government involved our country in military adventures in Donbass and Syria, in military conflicts in Libya and CAR, the practicability of which does not simply cause doubt but directly contradicts Russia’s national interests.

According to Russia’s Constitution the issues of the possibility of using military forces outside Russia is within the competence of the Council of Federation. However, the upper house of parliament voluntary gave up their constitutional right in favour of the president.

On 30th September 2015 the Council of Federation adopted an Order No 355-SF “On the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation outside the borders of the territory of the Russian Federation”. It granted the President the right to use the army abroad. However, the Council of Federation did nit introduce any territorial or time framework for the use of military force.

Such a state of affairs creates the threat of a war. One needs the smallest pseudo-legal pretext or provocation in order to start a war. It makes the countries and organisations, that see today’s Russia and Present Putin in person a source of military danger, take counter-measures. As a result global tension strengthens and there is an additional threat to the security and peace of Russia.

President Putin has stated it many times that Russia’s troops will be withdrawn from Syria. However they turned out to be a profanation or a simple force regrouping. The consequences of this policy are the death of many Russian soldiers and civilians, private soldiers, as well as Syrian civilians.

The Yabloko party insists that Russia should immediately stop participating in military adventures. We think that it is necessary to legally limit the right of the President to determine the territory and time framework of using army abroad. The issue of the necessity of Russia’s participation in international armed conflicts should be carefully discussed and considered by the parliament at every level. The decisions by the Council of Federation concerning the use of the armed forces should be limited by time, territory and objective fulfillment.

We will be able to aim for the future, ensure cooperation and repair the ties with our neighbours and western countries only if we make a principled political decision to end Russia’s participation in wars in Syria and Ukraine. We still believe in the power of diplomacy, in the possibility of solving the current problems by means of negotiations.

The war proves that the government is unable to abate their pride, forget about their short-term selfish interests, find a common language with western countries. Russia should not pay the price for the misfortunes of its bankrupt government, which is unable to sensibly realise Russia’s true interests.

Russia’s interests are a sustainable development of the economy, mutually beneficial trade relations with the world, mutual investment, scientific and cultural exchange, visa-free regime with Europe, cooperation with the West and East to prevent global threats and conflicts.

We want peace. Russia is a peaceful country!

Emilia Slabunova,
Yabloko Chair