Statement by the Yabloko Chairman, 1.07.2020

Yabloko does not recognise Vladimir Putin’s “plebescite” on consitutional amendments and its results. Such a statment was made by Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov:

Today, on 1 July, 2020, the false and unlawful special operation Constitution 2020 will be completed ingloriously.

Its purpose and meaning is to put President Vladimir Putin beyond the limits of presidential terms, out of voting rules, out of reach of court and above the law; to consolidate in the Basic Law of Russia the lawlessness and arbitrariness that have developed in our country over the past decades.

The Yabloko party reiterates the illegality of both the amendments to the Constitution and the voting procedures in the Federal Assembly, regional legislative assemblies and an absurd “plebiscite” with the use of early, electronic and home-based voting. Citizens’ applications on changing the form of voting were not recorded.

“Voting points” were organised in unsuitable places for this: in the streets and yards, even in the trunks of cars. It is unclear where and how the ballots of the citizens who voted early were stored. All this, in the absence of citizens’ control, created unprecedented opportunities for falsification.

This is a mockery of common sense.

We regard the unconstitutional pushing through of unlawful amendments and the tragicomic “vote” as a severe blow to Russian statehood. Not only the terms of Vladimir Putin are “nullified”. The whole system that has developed since the declaration of independence of Russia in 1990 is “nullified”.

We believe that this “special operation” strongly illustrated that the political time of President Putin has been exhausted, as well as the shelf life of the current Russian political system. It has exhausted itself for a long time, and is not able to solve any important tasks for the country.

Now there is “zero” in front of us. Empty space. And it is us, not Putin, who will build a safe, prosperous and free life of people on it – a truly modern Russian state.

We have already begun this work: at the initiative of our party, alternative proposals for development and strengthening of Russian statehood, called the Constitution of Free People, were developed. We conducted the campaign Speak Up Against the Reset of Putin’s Presidential Terms. Hundreds of Yabloko party members across the country took part in it. Many members and supporters of our party were detained, arrested, beaten and not allowed to distribute our leaflets. But even in these conditions, millions of Russian citizens learned about our stance.

Russia will be free. We will do it together with you!

Be with us. Join our party! Become our candidates!

Vote in real elections, explain what is happening to friends and acquaintances.

Do not despair – the main thing is ahead!

Make the voice of free people louder!

Nikolai Rybakov,

Chairman of the Yabloko party