Sergei Mitrokhin: after the death of Osama bin Laden we have to prevent possible “acts of revenge”

Interfax, May 3, 2011.

The US and other countries, including Russia, should adopt measures so that to prevent possible “acts of revenge” after the death of terrorist Osama bin Laden, said Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the opposition party YABLOKO.

“Elimination of bin Laden is a positive event. This is certainly a huge plus for Barack Obama… However, now the Americans should not only rejoice and triumph, but also prepare to possible acts of terror which terrorists may commit as the acts of revenge,” Mitrokhin said on Monday...

Open letter to Vladimir Vasilyev, Chair of the State Duma Security Committee

February 9, 2011.

The recent events have clearly shown that, despite substantial differences in the views, all the Russian parties and public movements should be in constant and active dialogue with each other so that to develop common approaches addressing the issues relevant to all citizens of the country.

The prime issue is the security of citizens. The present formats for discussion of these issues, both closed and public, leave much to be desired and do not contribute to mutual understanding between different people for development of much-needed common approaches.

We proposed to conduct a meeting with participation of senior representatives of the United Russia party as the party that has the maximum impact on political decisions and bearing ultimate responsibility for them...

Alexei Arbatov: 'Any Use of Force Creates Problems.'
Interview with Alexei Arbatov, Head of the Russian Academy of Sciences Center for International Security, by Yuliya Petrovskaya, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, September 27, 2004
...international terrorism "is the number one threat for Russia. But the whole problem is that our Army and Navy take only minimal responsibility for this threat.
...Israel,.. France, Britain, and Germany have great experience in combating terrorism. We should cooperate with these countries first."

Alexei Arbatov questions sense in Putin's reform plans
Ekho Moskvi radio station, September 16, 2004
Arbatov criticized the increased centralization of power at the expense of other branches of government. He said that Russia had been following "this path for the last four years and the terrorism situation has been getting worse and worse and worse". Arbatov said that Russia should go in the other direction and increase control over security structures.

What Happened to Russia?
By Grigory Yavlinsky, www.yavlinsky.ru, September 15, 2004
What happened to Russia? It drowned. In lies and cynicism.
Still, we have to swim on. We cannot sink to the bottom of this sea of cynicism and lies. Many people cannot live on in this way. After getting a taste of truth and freedom once, hoping that it will be possible to live in Russia and human dignity will be observed, they have become inner defectors.

Russia Echoes US on Terror, but Means Are Limited
AFP, September 12, 2004
"There have been no attacks in the United States since September 11 because America learned the lesson," Mitrokhin said.

Arbatov Sees Risk of Terror
The Associated Press, February 4, 2004
A prominent Russian liberal politician said Tuesday that a white powder found in the U.S. Senate that appears to be the deadly poison ricin was a grim reminder of the lurking danger of terrorists getting hold of weapons of mass destruction.

More Efficient Than War
By Grigory Yavlinsky, Izvestia, February 11, 2003
Nowadays it is difficult to find a politician in Russia who will not talk about the need to "join Europe". Russia is a European country. I am convinced that if everything goes well, Russia will be a member of all European political, economic and defence structures in 10-15 years. These will be mostly new organisations.

If You Want Peace, Prepare to War
September 20, 2002, By Grigory Yavlinsky
We can perceive some progress in the situation with Iraq. While the issue of sending UN inspectors to the country has almost been resolved, this should be brought to a logical conclusion. The inspectors should be able to start work without any preliminary conditions, be accorded wide proxies and be allowed to work unimpeded.

What Has Changed in the World Since September 11?
by Grigory Yavlinsky
Far from changing the world, September 11 brought to light existing problems. Mankind was provided with a clear signal: the key problem of the 21st century must be resolved. I am referring to the growing gap globally between poverty, deterioration in living standards, a fall in life expectancy and rise in illnesses on the one hand, and the well-being, prosperity, technological progress, rising education standards and growth of intellectual potential on the other. In other words, we are witnessing a gap between the citizens of many countries whose lives have been deteriorating and the citizens of developed countries.

Grigory Yavlinsky: Speech at the Forum-2000 Conference
Wednesday, October 17, 2001
I think that this is really a very important event, all the more so, as this forum takes place at a moment which is immensely important for mankind.

Press releases

Publications

One Year After
The Moscow Times. By Grigory Yavlinsky. September 11, 2002.
Rather than changing the world, Sept. 11 brought to light already existing problems. Mankind was given a clear signal that the key problem of the 21st century must be resolved.

Vladimir Lukin: American diplomacy did not achieve big results at the Shanghai summit
Press release, October 22, 2001
Deputy Speaker of the State Duma from the Yabloko faction Vladimir Lukin thinks that the recent summit meeting in Shanghai had "great psychological value". "Twenty states of the world that perform half of the world's trade clearly expressed their support for the fight against terrorism," noted Lukin in an interview with journalists on Monday October 22, 2001...

Grigory Yavlinsky believes that terrorism should be fought not only with weapons but also with intellect
Press release, October 22, 2001
The fight against terrorism implies, together with inevitable military actions, implementation of a broad-scale philosophical and educational programme, thinks the leader of Yabloko Grigory Yavlinsky.

Yabloko supports the actions of the President of the Russian Federation on the international arena and sets economic proposals
Press release, October 24, 2001
The Yabloko party supports the international policies adopted by the President of the Russian Federation regarding the acts of terror in the USA on September 11, 2001. This was confirmed by the leader of the Yabloko party Grigory Yavlinsky after the meeting of the President of Russia with the leaders of the Duma factions and deputies groups which took place in the Kremlin on October 23, 2001.

Grigory Yavlinsky proposes several measures to fight the reasons for terrorism
Press release, October 17, 2001

Vladimir Lukin: participation of the Russian armed forces in the military operations of the USA and Great Britain in Afghanistan is out of the question

Press release, October 08,2001

The Deputy Speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation from the Yabloko faction Vladimir Lukin said in an interview to journalists (on Monday 8 September 2001) that participation of the Russian armed forces in the military operations of the USA and Great Britain in Afghanistan is out of the question. At the same time he noted that “we should combine our international efforts to combat international terrorism.”

Yabloko supports the Russian government’s stance on the military actions in Afghanistan

Press release, October 08,2001

The Yabloko faction supports Russia’s stance on military actions in Afghanistan, said Deputy Head of the Yabloko faction in the State Duma Sergei Ivanenko in an interview with journalists on Monday, October 8, 2001.

Sergei Ivanenko: the military actions in Afghanistan will not lead to a collapse of the world economy

Press release, October 08,2001

The military actions in Afghanistan will not lead to a collapse of the world economy and sharp fluctuations in the dollar rate. This opinion was expressed by the Deputy head of the Yabloko faction in the State Duma Sergei Ivanenko in an interview with journalists on Monday, October 8, 2001.

Vladimir Lukin: the Russian military forces should not participate in US military operations in Afghanistan

Press release, October 07,2001
Deputy Speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation (the Yabloko faction) Vladimir Lukin thinks that the Russian military forces should not directly participate in the military operations of the US in Afghanistan.

Grigory Yavlinsky: the final resolution of the terrorist problem can only be political
Press release, October 08,2001
The leader of Yabloko Grigory Yavlinsky said that the beginning of the military operation of the US in Afghanistan was predictable, in view of recent developments.

Yabloko considers it necessary to increase financing for border guards

Press release, October 05,2001
The Yabloko Association considers it necessary to increase considerably financing for the border guards services of Russia. Such a statement was issued by deputy of the State Duma from Yabloko Alexander Shishlov at a press conference in St. Petersburg on October 5, 2001.

The leader of Yabloko and the Ambassador of the US in Russia discussed the interaction of the two countries in the anti-terrorist operation
Press release, September 25, 2001
On Tuesday, September 25, 2001, the leader of Yabloko Grigory Yavlinsky had a meeting with the Ambassador of the United States in Russia Alexander Vershbow. At the end of the meeting Yavlinsky informed journalists that Ambassador Vershbow had expressed his satisfaction and gratitude on behalf of the US government in connection with the initiative of the President of Russia to support the anti-terrorist operation of the USA.

Before meeting President Putin, Grigory Yavlinsky stated that the Russian Federation should intensify its efforts in domestic security provisions without reducing its measures to mere support of the US military operation
Press release, September 24, 2001
The Russian Federation should intensify its efforts in domestic security provisions without reducing its measures to mere support of the US anti-terrorist operation. This opinion was expressed by the leader of the Yabloko faction Grigory Yavlinsky in an interview with journalists before the beginning of a meeting with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin.

State Duma shows no interest in the problems of nuclear terrorism
Press release, September 19, 2001
On September 19, 2001 during the first meeting of the State Duma, a deputy from the Yabloko faction, Sergei Mitrokhin proposed listening to the report of Alexander Rumyantsev during the Government’s Hour in the Duma. Mitrokhin considers it necessary, in view of the threat of terrorism, to obtain from the Minister information on security measures at nuclear objects, such as nuclear power stations, spent nuclear fuel recycling plants and nuclear waste depositories.

Alexei Arbatov: the terrorists’ response to the retaliatory action of the US may consist of an even more terrible series of acts of terror
Press release, September 18, 2001
An even more terrible series of acts of terror may follow the retaliatory action of the US. Such an opinion was expressed by Deputy Head of the Duma Defence Committee and member of the Yabloko faction Alexei Arbatov at press conference in the RIA-Novosti agency on September 18, 2001.

Alexei Arbatov thinks that Russia may participate in the retaliatory actions of the US
Press release, September 18, 2001
The USA should hold consultations with Russia on the terms of Moscow’s participation in this operation, said Arbatov, Deputy Head of the Duma Defence Committee and member of the Yabloko faction, at a press conference at the RIA-Novosti agency on September 18, 2001.

Grigory Yavlinsky: additional funds are required to reinforce Russia’s borders, increase security for nuclear power stations and air flight safety
Press release, September 19, 2001
“There is no doubt that Russia is part of the international coalition in the fight with terrorism”. This statement was made by Yabloko’s leader Grigory Yavlinsky after the end of a closed discussion in the State Duma on the problem of combatting international terrorism.

Grigory Yavlinsky calls for immediate allocation of additional funds from the state budget to combat international terrorism
Press release, September 19, 2001
The leader of Yabloko and its parliamentary faction in the State Duma Grigory Yavlinsky is certain that Russia “is and will be part of the international coalition in the fight with terrorism”. In an interview with journalists, Yavlinsky stated that Yabloko was calling for the immediate allocation of additional funds from the current state budget to adopt decisive measures for increased security of Russia’s citizens.”

Alexei Arbatov: the efficiency of the US operation against the Taliban will depend to a large extent on the position of Russia
Press release, September 18, 2001
The efficiency of the US operation against the Taliban in Afghanistan will depend to a large extent on the position of Russia, both directly and indirectly, in view of Russia’s influence on Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and other countries in the region. This opinion was expressed by the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defence Committee and deputy from the Yabloko faction Alexei Arbatov at a press conference at the RIA Novosti news agency on September 18, 2001.

Alexei Arbatov thinks that after the acts of terror in the US support for plans to create the NMD system in the country will grow
Press release, September 18, 2001
After the acts of terror in the US support for the plans to create the national missile defence system (NMD) inside the country will grow. This opinion was expressed by Deputy Chairman of Duma Defence Committee and deputy from the Yabloko faction Alexei Arbatov at a press conference at the RIA Novosti news agency on September 18, 2001.

Declaration on the challenge from international terrorism
The Yabloko Association, September 12, 2001
The Yabloko Association conveys its deep condolences to all who suffered or lost their relatives due to the monstrous act of terror in the US. This is a tragedy for all of humanity...

Grigory Yavlinsky: Russia should actively participate together with the USA and the West in the fight against international terrorism
Press release, September 18, 2001
...In an interview with journalists on Tuesday September 18, 2001, Yavlinsky stressed that "it is high time now to participate in the development of joint actions rather than waiting for the USA to come forward with a decision."

Grigory Yavlinsky calls on USA to refrain from unjustified retaliatory measures after the acts of terrorism
Press release, September 12, 2001
“This tangle of violence should not be allowed to develop endlessly,” Yavlinsky told journalists (on Wednesday September 12, 2001) after the tragic events in the USA on Tuesday September 11, 2001.

Sergei Ivanenko: Russia must provide political support to the USA
Press release, September 11, 2001
The First Deputy Head of the Yabloko faction in the State Duma of the Russian Federation Sergei Ivanenko assesses the recent events in the USA as “a thoroughly planned terrible act of terrorism that had been planned over a long time.”

Cooperation With U.S. Called Key to Fighting Terror
By Simon Saradzhyan, The Moscow Times, April 23, 2004
Russia and the United States need to institutionalize their efforts to disrupt agents of international terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction before they link up to carry out attacks of catastrophic proportions, top security analysts from both countries said Thursday.

There Can Be No Good and Bad Guys Among Terrorists
Interview with Alexei Arbatov by Tamara Zamyatina, Echo Planeti, No 14, 2004
In general, and I am stressing it once again, Israel was right to liquidate Ahmed Yasin. My only criticism is that they should have done this much earlier.

The War against Terrorism and the Transformation of the World Order, three perpesctives
By Alexei G. Arbatov, CEPS Commentary, November 2001
...two months later after the "Black September", the weaknesses of the coalition and deficiencies of the operation are becoming more and more evident, as well as the confusion and inconsistency of the United States and other major players in adopting a new security strategy and still less in implementing it... (Archive)

The Strategy of a Compromise
By Grigory Yavlinsky, Deloviye Ludi, March 24, 2003
We cannot neglect the fact that Europe’s borders, separating the region from the most unstable and the most dangerous parts of the world, run along Russia’s borders. Their defense is an all-European concern. Furthermore, a weak and unstable Russia would represent an eternal breeding ground for terrorist threats.
Only a Bigger Europe, which takes advantage of the territorial and intellectual potential and all other resources of the former republics of the Soviet Union, can complete globally on an equal footing with North America and South-East Asia.

Nunn and Lugar Look To Safeguard Weapons
By Vladimir Isachenkov, The Associated Press, May 28, 2002.
Worried about the apocalyptic prospect of international terrorists obtaining nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, U.S. and Russian officials and analysts met Monday to help draft possible new safeguards. Former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn and Richard Lugar, a U.S. senator from Indiana -- who together launched the decade-old U.S. effort to help contain the threat of weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union -- described the threat of "catastrophic terrorism" as possibly the gravest challenge to global security.

Russians Ponder U.S. Relations
By JUDITH INGRAM, Associated Press Writer, April 2, 2002
MOSCOW (AP) - Ahead of a Russian-U.S. summit next month, Russians increasingly are asking what rewards they have reaped from joining the U.S.-led anti-terrorist coalition and where President Vladimir Putin pro-Western policy is leading the nation.

Russia Outlook: Will Russia Seize the Opportunity?
World Economic Forum
Annual Meeting 2002
Synopsis of the speech by Grigory Yavlinsky
Grigory A. Yavlinsky, Member of the Russian Duma and Leader of the Yabloko Movement, expressed some pessimism about Russia's short-term economic prospects...

U.S. May Send Troops to Georgia
By Gregory Feifer Staff Writer The Moscow Times, February 28, 2002
In what would amount to opening a new front in its war on terrorism, the United States is considering sending 100 to 200 U.S. special operations soldiers to Georgia, adding to the U.S. helicopters and handful of advisers already in Tbilisi to help the Georgian military combat terrorists in the lawless Pankisi Gorge.

Russia Concerned About U.S. Troops
By MISHA DZHINDZHIKHASHVILI, Associated Press Writer, February 27, 2002
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) - Russia expressed concern Wednesday over U.S. plans to train troops in Georgia to fight rebels allegedly linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror network. A Georgian defense official said a few American advisers were already in the former Soviet republic.

Grigory Yavlinsky on Russian-American Partnership
"The Voice of America" Radio, January 30, 2002
 The leader of the YABLOKO party Grigory Yavlinsky made a speech to the Carnegie Foundation on Wednesday. His speech was devoted to Russia’s domestic and foreign policy, the tasks formulated by his party that wishes to see Russia become an enlightened and liberal state, recognised as a civilised Western state.

Russia's Left-Wing Politicians Retreat From Their Support of U.S.-Led War
By ALAN CULLISON, Wall Street Journal, February 5, 2002

NEW YORK -- Russian liberals are sounding alarms over what they call the heavy-handedness of Washington's war on terrorism. But for now, little discontent appears to be emanating from the Kremlin, which instead has stuck to stressing the benefits of a new partnership with a former Cold War foe that will reshape arms-control rules and promote Russia's interests abroad.

Temporary Friendship or Eternal Union?
Obschaya Gazeta, January 24, 2002
Our party has from the outset ultimately backed the position expressed by President Vladimir Putin in his television address to the nation on September 11, 2001, - solidarity with the US in the fight against international terrorism, a course towards rapprochement with the West and the establishment of a partnership and preferably an alliance.

Putin Vows to Aid Taliban Foes, Clarifies Position on Air Bases
By Susan B. Glasser, The Washington Post, September 25, 2001
President Vladimir Putin tonight pledged to step up Russia's military support for opposition forces inside Afghanistan and gave tacit approval for the United States to use former Soviet air bases in Central Asia as part of any retaliatory strikes.

Russia to become anti-terrorist center
RosBusinessConsulting, September 20, 2001
Yesterday the State Duma passed a ruling on fighting international terrorism, prepared by the Duma foreign affairs committee. The ruling expresses condolences to the American people and all other countries whose citizens fell victims to the terror attacks in New York and Washington.

A War with a Whole Nation Can Never be Victorious
By Grigory Yavlinsky, Novaya Gazeta, October 1, 2001
There can be no justification to events in the United States. It does not matter whether political or religious goals, revenge or other motives formed the basis for this action. The destruction of a vast number of innocent absolutely defenceless people has no explanation and cannot have any justification.

Interview with Grigory Yavlinsky and Nikolai Kharitonov

NTV television channel, "Segodnya" programme, September 24, 2001, 10-00 p.m.

Report on the meeting of the leaders of Duma factions with President Putin
"Radio-1" radio station, September 24, 2001; 16-00

Russia faces fateful choice on cooperation with US
By Michael Wines, New York Times, September 21, 2001
As American military operations move toward what could be the first deployment of Western troops on former Soviet soil, Russia's policy of giving the Western war on terrorism full moral support — and so far not much else — is about to hit a dead end. What the Kremlin does next in Central Asia has the potential to alter relations with Europe and the United States, for better or worse, for years to come. The Russians are clearly anguished by their options.

On the terrorist attacks in America

Liberal International, London, September 12, 2001

Grigory Yavlinsky: Yabloko will insist on the allocation of additional funds to reinforce Russia’s borders, increase security for nuclear power stations and air flight safety

RosBusinessConsulting, September 19, 2001

Grigory Yavlinsky advocates Russia’s active participation in the international anti-terrorist operations
RIA Novosti, September 18, 2001

Grigory Yavlinsky: Russia should participate in the development of anti-terrorist operation jointly with the US and other countries
RosBusinessConsulting, September 18, 2001

Most of Russian legislators oppose Russia’s participation in the American “retaliatory operation”
ITAR-TASS, September 18, 2001

Soviet Veterans Warn United States

Associated Press, September 18, 2001
The prospect of a U.S. attack on Afghanistan brings an ominous message from veterans of the Soviet Union's decade-long war with Afghan guerrillas: You'll never win. "You can occupy it, you can put troops there and keep bombing, but you cannot win,'' said Lt. Gen. Ruslan Aushev, who was decorated for bravery during the 1979-89 war.

Yavlinsky calls for Russia to take active role in antiterror coalition
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, September 19, 2001
Yabloko leader Grigory Yavlinsky on 18 September called for Moscow to take "a leading and aggressive" role in the antiterrorist campaign alongside the U.S. and Europe, RTR television reported. Indeed, Yavlinsky said, Russia should not wait for an American decision on what to do but help prepare joint actions, because such participation is in Russia's national interests.

Parlamentarians denounce terrorism, divided on what to do
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, September 19, 2001
Both the Duma and the Federation Council on 18 September unanimously passed resolutions denouncing international terrorism, but debates in both chambers suggested that the deputies remain deeply divided as to how far Russia should go in cooperating with the United States in the war against it.

World leaders list conditions on cooperation
By Patrick E. Tyler and Jane Perlez, The New York Times, September 19, 2001
...an influential parliamentarian, Aleksei G. Arbatov, said although the consensus there was "total moral support" for the United States and the struggle against terrorism, there also existed a strong humanitarian concern "not to resort to massive strikes, to nonselective actions which are unjustified from the moral point of view, to avenge the death of thousands of innocent people with the deaths of tens of thousands of other innocent people."

Russia may play its own game
Nezavisimaya Gazeta, September 15, 2001
The experts we spoke with are convinced that Russia's foreign policy is pragmatic enough. The USA has already announced that retaliation for the recent terrorist attacks is inevitable. The countries which could face retaliatory strikes are Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Algeria, and Sudan. Many countries are expressing their readiness to assist the USA in this campaign, letting America use their military bases, territories and military resources.

Yabloko faction calls on West to refrain from inadequate retaliatory measures after the actes of terrorism in the U.S
RIA Novosti, September 12, 2001
..."We appeal to the leadership of Western countries to refrain from taking inadequate measures that could lead to an escalation in the tension in the world’s hot spots and increase mass support for terrorists, which could lead to even graver consequences," said Yavlinsky.