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The Yabloko Association does not consider it necessary
to urgently change the symbols of the Russian Federation.
Yabloko categorically opposes any restoration of
the symbols of the
Soviet
state. The Yabloko faction in the State Duma will
not support the draft
law
to revive the music by A. Alexandrov as the state
hymn of the Russian
Federation. This initiative may be placed in the same
rank as such
odious
ideas as the restoration of the monument to Dzerzhinsky
at Lubyanka
square
and post No 1 by Lenin’s Mausoleum. However, these
ideas have been
advocated by the revanchist forces and are supported
at top state level.
We assess any attempts of this kind as a trial step
to the restoration
of
the elements of a totalitarian system that are far
from being simply
symbolic, in view of the continuing attacks by the
state bureaucracy on
independent mass media, as well as a propaganda campaign
justifying
restrictions on human rights and freedoms.
Paying the tribute to respect for symbols and the
outstanding
achievements
of the past era, we think that it would be unethical
to restore the hymn
of
a state that no longer exists. We should not forget
that the “Stalinist”
hymn is incontrovertibly connected to the bloody
crimes against the
Russian
people.
We think that the hymn of Russia cannot be imposed
on society from the
top
by a decision of the State Council or the State Duma.
It should
consolidate
Russian society, rather than split it into opposing
groups. Such a
result
may be achieved only after a comprehensive public
discussion. Yabloko is
ready to begin such discussion and proposes the well-known
march “Farewell of a Slavic Woman” as a version for
the hymn of Russia.
Chairman of the Yabloko Association
Grigory Yavlinsky
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