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New items of the server - May 2012
May 31, 2012

Let us protect Article 31 on the freedom of assembly of the Constitution on June 5!

Open letter by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin to organisers and participants of street protests, May 31, 2012

To organisers and participants of street protests
at Bolotnaya, Sakharov and Pushkin Squares, Chistiye Prudi, Novy Arbat, the participants of the movements “Strategy 31”, “The White Ribbon”, “March of the Millions” and other protest actions: Boris Akunin, Dmitry Bykov, Genadi Gudkov, Dmitry Gudkov,
Eduard Limonov, Alexei Navalny, Sergei Parkhomenko, Vladimir Ryzhkov,
Lev Ponomarev, Sergei Udaltsov, Yugenia Chirikova and others

Today, on May 31, the day when actions in protection of Article 31 of the Constitution guaranteeing RF citizens the right to assemble peacefully, without weapons, hold rallies, demonstrations, marches and pickets are normally held [in Russia].

On this day, I am turning to you calling you to pay very close attention to the amendments prepared by the State Duma to the Administrative Offences Code and Federal Law No 54 "On Assemblies, Rallies, Demonstrations, Processions and Pickets". These amendments are prohibitive and maximally limit the constitutional right of citizens to protests.

Not only do they set high penalties [for the rallies], but also make any form of street activity impossible and broaden the possibilities for abuse by the police providing grounds for absurd accusations...

Liberals label Egyptian Presidential Candidates as "worst possible scenario"
LI News Bulletin, Issue 285, May 31, 2012

Commenting on the unofficial Presidential election results in Egypt, liberals expressed concern that two main Presidential candidates, Mohammed Mursi (Muslim Brotherhood) and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, are a “worst possible scenario” following the revolution in the country last year. Mohamed Nosseir, member of the Political Bureau of FEP, and Mohamed Abbas, Secretary-General of DFP (LI full member), explained that “the results of the first round of the elections are a clear indication that the majority of voters do not wish to see the Muslim brotherhood or the old regime take control again” as around 9 million Egyptians decided to vote for the alternative Presidential candidates (Hamdeen Sabbahi and Abuo Al Fotoh). Nosseir added that the Egyptian political forces that account for the remaining votes have met on June 28 and decided to work together which has resulted in submitting a document that defends and promotes the revolution's demand for an Egyptian civil state. The opposition is hoping that this document will be endorsed by the Egyptian intellectuals, political leaders, and artists, and will eventually become obligatory for whoever wins the coming election.

May 30, 2012

Moscow Mayor Sobyanin supports YABLOKO’s proposals
Press Release, May 30, 2012.

Moscow Mayor Sobyanin partially supported the proposals made by YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin to delegate municipal assemblies the right to coordinate some issues of urban planning.

On April 22, Moscow hosted the Municipal Deputies Forum which supported Sergei Mitrokhin’s draft law on introducing amendments into the law "On the organization of local self-government in Moscow."

Speaking today at the Congress of the Moscow Municipalities Councils Sergei Sobyanin proposed to expand the powers of urban municipalities relating to construction of new facilities.

"I propose to grant the municipal assemblies the right to coordinate construction of facilities that have to serve the needs of the residents of specific areas," said the Mayor...

Dmitry Medvedev's statement on political reform made under the pressure of mass protests turn out a simulation and even a mockery

Statement by the YABLOKO Bureau, May 25, 2012.

This is most clearly demonstrated by hasty appointments of governors in a large number of regions. The "filters" built-in into the nomination of governors made it virtually impossible to nominate candidates from the opposition. In addition to the presidential recommendations, there were adopted extremely tough requirements to collection of signatures from municipal deputies in support of [nominated] candidates. A formally possible nomination of alternative candidates at a time when the vast majority of municipal deputies are representatives of the ruling party or its affiliated groups in reality results in the creation of an insurmountable barrier for the opposition or independent candidates in entering the election race.

A number of regional legislative assemblies where the positions of "the United Russia are particularly unstable hastily pass laws fixing the most stringent of the proposed regulatory frameworks for the candidates from other parties"...

Muscovites dismantle the fence around an unlawfully seized beach at Serebryanniy Bor
Press Release, May 30, 2012.

A meeting of the residents of the West and North-West of Moscow who oppose unlawfully seizure of Moscow beaches will take place in Serebryanniy Bor on Thursday, May 31. The residents will dismantle un unlawfully erected fence.

On May 28 YABLOKO’s public inspection which also included environmentalists and journalists managed to get inside the fenced territory of the beach. (See the photo report here.) The guard of the fenced beach was unable tell the name of the “owner” of the beach, but said that the place was a "barbecue site" for Federal Security Service and Interior Ministry officers and their families...

ALDE position paper on the Eurozone
Press Release, ALDE, May 30, 2012

Four steps to exit the crisis

"We are facing the prospects of a lost decade of growth and employmentand an absence of decisive leadership on how to tackle it.

Politicalelites are sharply divided between the need for increasing spending tocreate growth and the pursuit of further budgetary consolidation.

Neither of these two solutions alone can work - more austerity willdrive the EU into a prolonged recession whilst uncontrolled spendingwill increase public debt to unsustainable levels."

Eurovision: out of sight, not out of mind
ELDR Press Release, May 29, 2012.

The singing is over in Azerbaijan after the Eurovision final. Nonetheless it’s still time for democracy! Given the last minute arrests and clamp downs, as reported by the international and European Liberal Youth present in Baku, Liberals will remain vigilant! We are greatly concerned if the government will follow up on their threats to retaliate further on the opposition after Eurovision.

The European Parliament during its plenary session on Thursday 24 May, strongly condemned Azerbaijan’s human rights abuses, the basic breaches and violations of the principles of democracy, freedom of speech, rule of law, and in some domains the total lack of values, specifically calling on the leadership of the Union to raise these issues when in Baku, or negotiating energy matters with the country...

May 29, 2012

Forum "Environmental Problems in the Political Context" held in the Moscow Region
Press Release, May 29, 2012.

"The Green Forum: Environmental Problems in the Political Context" was held on the initiative of YABLOKO’s Green Russia faction in the Moscow Region on May 28, 2012.

Representatives from 64 environmental organizations from 35 Russian regions from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka participated in the Forum so that to discuss the political and environmental situation in Russia.

YABLOKO leader Grigory Yavlinsky and the leaders of the Green Russia faction (Acad. Alexei Yablokov, Alexander Nikitin and Olga Tsepilova) participated in the Forum. The discussion was also attended by leaders of environmental organisations such as Greenpeace Russia, the Russian branch of the World Wildlife Fund, the International Socio-Ecological Union, as well as a number of influential regional organisations such as Dodo, Nizhni Novgorod, Ecodefence, Kaliningrad, Plotina.Net!, Krasnoyarsk, Bellona, St. Petersburg, Siberian Ecocentre, Novosibirsk, the Far East Fund for Environmental Health, Vladivostok, the Kamchatka League of Independent Experts, the Union of Moscow Environmental Organisations, the Union of Bashkirian Environmentalists and the Green Branch, Yaroslavl...

YABLOKO leader participated in the inauguration of Yugeny Urlashyov, the Mayor of Yaroslavl
Press Release, May 26, 2012.

YABLOKO leader participated in the inauguration of Yugeny Urlashyov, the Mayor of Yaroslavl, and congratulated him on taking the office.

Sergei Mitrokhin discussed with the Mayor the issues of urban economy and the city budget. "We will try to restore the law on financial foundations of local self-government developed by YABLOKO and revoked later by United Russia. If it had worked, then today the Yaroslavl tax base would have been several times larger,” he said...

May 27, 2012

Organiser of an action against raising of penalties for rallies to stand trial
Press Release, May 27, 2012.

Pyotr Ivanchikov, YABLOKO’s activist and organiser of an action against raising of penalties for rallies, will to stand trial for oragnisation of an action. After his detention he was held for in a local police department for four hours (instead of the maximum three hours allowed by law). He is incriminated “violation of the established order of oragnisation of a rally” (Article 20.2 of the Administrative Offences Code).

Ivanchikov is accused that the topic of the rally differed with the topic agreed upon with the authorities. YABLOKO had applied for a permission to conduct a rally stating the topic of urgent elections of the Moscow Mayor, however, in light of the events of raising penalties for rallies by the parliament, YABLOKO changed the topic (such a change is not prohibited by the law)...

YABLOKO’s action: toughening of penalties for rallies is a straight way towards a totalitarian state
Press Release, May 27, 2012.

A theatrical action against toughening of penalties for violations at the rallies took place in Novopushkinsky Garden on May 27. Potential "violators" were implementing compulsory community services under the sounds of military marches of Hitler's Germany without waiting for the final adoption of the draft law toughening the penalties by the ruling United Russia faction. Half an hour after the start of the action, its organiser Pyotr Ivanchikov was detained by police for alleged non-conformity of the declared topic of the rally with the actual one. "Muscovites complain about the Nazi marches," a police lieutenant told the journalists.

While the protesters were filling Novopushkinsky Garden, YABLOKO activists wearing prisoners' hats broomed the pavement under the sounds of military marches from Hitler's Germany.

"We want to show that the State Duma is going to adopt a law natural in a totalitarian state," said YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin opening the meeting. “Under the clamour of possible reduction of fines from 1.5 million roubles to 300,000 roubles, the State Duma adopted a resolution listing these monstrous amendments,” he noted.

Participants of the action demonstrated disproportionate punishment for “violations” that would be introduced by the new law. They could have been convicted to compulsory community services only for wearing the Guy Fawkes masks. In addition, each of them wore a plaque innumerating other "aggravating circumstances", such as "walking across Moscow", "trampling the grass," and "wearing a white ribbon"...

May 25, 2012

International Conference "Youth under Threat of Extremism and Xenophobia. A Liberal Response"
conducted jointly by ELDR and YABLOKO. Moscow, April 21, 2012. Speeches, videos, presentations

Published on May 25, 2012.

Welcoming speeches

Dr. Sergei Mitrokhin, Chair of the YABLOKO party
Dr. Marc Guerrero, ELDR Vice President, CDC Catalonia, Spain
Dr. Astrid Thors, ELDR Vice President
Emil Kirjas, Secretary General of Liberal International
Vladimir Lukin, Russia’s Ombudsman.

LibDem leader warns of Eurozone Collapse, calls for Social Mobility
LI News Bulletin, Issue 284, May 25, 2012

As the Greek debt crisis continues, Nick Clegg MP, leader of the Liberal Democrats (LI Full member) warned that a single currency would not be capable of surviving solely through fiscal discipline. The Eurozone must prepare for a possible Greek departure and must recognize that an ability of countries to share debt and administer fiscal transfers is what could keep the Eurozone from collapse. Clegg expressed feelings that this crisis could lead to electoral triumph for both the far left and right, which could lead to increased extremism and xenophobia. He believes this could be prevented through EU leadership, as well as policies which reflect a more socially mobile society. “We must create a more dynamic society. One where what matters most is the person you become, not the person you were born… For liberals, this is core stuff. It gets to the very heart of our politics. We are a party and a creed that is defined by our belief in a fairer, more open society,” Clegg said.

MORE

LI President in Macedonia meets President and LDP leaders
LI President: “Ukraine is at crossroad”
Liberals beaten and detained in Azerbaijan
LI Patron and DPP on President Ma’s inauguration
LI VP Al-Sahlani on Malawi: “path towards equality, diversity and inclusion”
Anwar Ibrahim faces new political charges
Georgia set to resolve presidential nomination controversy

Verhofstadt meets with Yulia Tymoshenko. "Justice cannot be delayed or denied"
Press Release, ALDE, May 25, 2012

This afternoon Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE group leader), together with Hans van Baalen (VVD, Netherlands) on behalf of ELDR Party, was able to visit Yulia Tymoshenko in hospital in Kharkiv in the north east of Ukraine, following meetings in the morning with Ukrainian Prime Minister, Mykola Azarov and the chief prosecutor, Viktor Pshonka.

See also:

Youth job opportunities must be the focus for EU growth and employment efforts

May 23, 2012

Grigory Yavlinsky on the global economic problems
Press Release, May 23, 2012.

We can overcome the global economic crisis only changing the present rules of our life and checking them with such concepts such as trust, morality and the public good, said Grigory Yavlinsky, member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee and Doctor of Economic Sciences.

"There is a substitution of meanings, when the market economy is viewed at solely as a tool for deriving profit, manufacturers are not oriented to the real needs of the people depriving the latter of choice and imposing what will bring the greatest profit. This is not the post-industrial economy, but a postmodern world where not only businessmen, but also experts and politicians are guided only by self-interests and that is why they can not cope in principle with the ongoing crisis," Yavlinsky stressed in the debate on the global economic problems with political philosopher Prof. Michael Sandel, Harvard University and Diane Coyle, academic and economist...

Grigory Yavlinsky on Hard Talk, BBC, May 21, 2012.

Stephen Sackur speaks to Grigory Yavlinsky, economist, reformer and a veteran leader of Russia's fragmented opposition.

Grigory Yavlinsky, Michael Sandel and Diane Coyle on money and morality. Start the Week. BBC Radio 4, May 21, 2012.

On Start the Week Andrew Marr discusses the relationship between markets and morals with the political philosopher Michael Sandel. In his latest book, What Money Can't Buy, Sandel questions the dominance of the financial markets in our daily lives, in which everything has a price. But the economist Diane Coyle stands up for her much maligned profession, and points to the many benefits of a market economy. The Russian economist Grigory Yavlinksy argues against viewing the world of money as separate from culture and society: he believes the financial crisis was merely a symptom of a wider moral collapse, and that it is time to examine the way we live.
Producer: Katy Hickman.

A protest action against raising penalties for rallies
Press Release, May 22, 2012.

The State Duma has been examining amendments stipulating the raise of penalties for rallies up to 1.5 million roubles. The amendments constitute another crime buy the ruling Unite Russia party against the nation.

A general protest rally against the draft law will take place on Sunday. The rally has a permission from the Moscow authorities.

The government has to see that no penalties will stop us. We are not going to speak about some abstract democracy. We will say #DumaStop. We are against the amendments. And we will make them listen to us.

Novopushkinskiy Garden (Pushkinskaya metro station). Sunday, May 27 at 14:00.

Orlando elected mayor of Palermo
ELDR News, May 23, 2012.

The results of the second round of mayoral elections in Italy last weekend were an outstanding success for ELDR Vice-President Leoluca Orlando MP. Obtaining about 73% of votes in the city of Palermo election, Orlando becomes Mayor of Palermo, an office he will be holding for the fourth time in his life.
“My election is a response to the wave of anti-politics in Italy”, said Orlando commenting on his result. “Backed by my electoral support I will be asking Prime Minister Monti about his intentions regarding the current dreadful social question in Italy and particularly in Palermo”.

More

Eurovision's dirtysecrets

Time to call a Convention on the Eurozone 22

Liberals in Brussels put EU citizenship in practice

Liberals condemn socialists for accepting hate crime

May 22, 2012

Mitrokhin released without charges, other activists will stand before court
Press Release, May 22, 2012.

The police released YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin without any charge. However, other YABLOKO activists detained by the State Duma will have to stand before court "for participation in an unsanctioned picket"...

All the detainees were transported to the police department and all of them but for Sergei Mitrokhin were charged with “violation of the established order or organization of a rally”. The policemen did not set any charges against Mitrokhin referring to some order.

The activists will stand before court on May 30. Their cases will be examined by a judge notoriously famous for her tough sentences to opposition activists.

Sergei Mitrokhin and activists detained at the "walking protests" by the State Duma
Press Release, May 22, 2012.

Several YABLOKO activists were detained by police during “walking protests” conducted by YABLOKO by the State Duma this morning. The police detained YABLOKO Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin and Kirill Gontcharov, leader of the Youth Yabloko, and three other activists of the party...

...Sergei Mitrokhin called the police actions be absolute lawlessness, as the activists were detained at a legal action which did not require a special approval. " The police actions have proved once again how dangerous the adoption of the amendments [on raising fines of rallies] are to all of us," Mitrokhin said. He noted that the parliament wanted to set impossibly high fines for violations at the rallies which would deprive people of an opportunity to peacefully express their views. "This may push people to an armed rebellion," he said...

European Liberals gather in Armenia
LI News Bulletin, Issue 283, May 21, 2012

Days after the parliamentary elections in Armenia, the European Liberal Democrats - ELDR (LI cooperating organisation) held their spring Council meeting in the Armenian capital Yerevan. Assembled delegates from across Europe expressed solidarity and support to the Armenian opposition, led by the Armenian National Movement, which saw recent return to the Armenian Parliament. ELDR President, Sir Graham Watson MEP, stressed slow democracy progress in Armenia, and called for intensified steps to ensure sustainable development in the country saying: “Arguing for gradual development has always been the subterfuge of the authoritarian leader. Armenians are perfectly capable of running a fully democratic society.” The Council adopted resolutions on Cyprus and UN Arms Trade Treaty. LI delegation at the Council included LI VP on the Bureau Abir Al-Sahlani MP, Treasurer Robert W. Browne, Secretary General Emil Kirjas and Membership and Policy Officer Robert Wintraecken. Addressing the Council, Treasurer Robert W. Browne recalled the dialogue between ELDR and LI Presidents and invited ELDR as a functional and legally established party to join LI as its Full member.

MORE

LI Human Rights Committee Commemorates International Day against Homophobia
European Liberals gather in Armenia
Support for FDP Increases in Local Elections
LI VP Lamine Ba: “ECOWAS Has to Restore Constitutional Legality”
FNF starts new two-year project in northern Iraq
Finnish Defence Minister Wallin met with U.S. Minister of Defence
DA Condemns COSATU violence at Youth Wage Subsidy March

May 17, 2012

Youth YABLOKO to picket the State Duma protesting against raising of fines for rallies
Press Release, May 17, 2012.

Tomorrow on May 18, Youth YABLOKO activists will conduct a series of pickets by the State Duma against adoption of the law on toughening punishment for violations at rallies. Kirill Gontcharov, leader of the Youth YABLOKO, will participate in the action.The picket will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Tomorrow the Russian parliament will examine a draft law on the introduction of a fine amounting to RUR 1.5 mln (approximately USD 50,000) for violations at rallies. The draft law was submitted by the ruling United Russia deputies and envisages a raise of a maximum fine for the organizers and participants of mass-scale actions to RUR 1.5 mln.

On Tuesday, the Duma Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building recommended to adopt the draft law in the first reading.

Mitrokhin visits the protesters camp at Chistiye Prudi, Moscow
Press Release, May 14, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Galina Mikhalyova, First Deputy Chair of the Moscow YABLOKO, joined YABLOKO activists who had been visiting the opposition camp at Chistiye Prudi by Abai Kunanbyev monument all these days.

Mitrokhin and Mikhalyova answered protesters' questions and even tasted food from the mobile kitchen.

"We support any peaceful protest forms that do not violate the Russian law and are not connected with provocations and adventurism," Mitrokhin said. He added that the scope of mass-scale protests and their efficiency can only grow only like this.

Mitrokhin also noted that "the government does not have any motives for violent action against the campers."

"We will be categorically against any attempts to provoke violence whoever would initiate these – either the government or the protester," he stressed.

May 16, 2012

Yavlinsky called on the "walking protestors" in St. Petersburg to set political goals

Interfax, May 15, 2012.

St. Petersburg. May 15. Interfax.ru – Grigory Yavlinsky, founder of the YABLOKO party and deputy of St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, spoke to the participants of the “walking protests” at the St. Isaac's Square, St.Petersburg.

The [present] “walking protests” should have a political meaning, they should not happen just for nothing," he said, adding that the objective should be victory of democratic forces at elections...

Mitrokhin asks the President to solve the housing problem for 11 homeless families with many children
Press Release, May 16, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin has forwarded a letter to President of Russia Vladimir Putin asking him to take under his personal control the problem of 11 large families that for various reasons remained homeless.

These are families from different regions of Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tatarstan, Krasnodar and the Moscow region. Many of these families have seven children and more and in some families there are disabled children. These families have not received child benefits and other allowances for years...

Police Clear Chistiye Prudy Camp, Arrest 20 Protesters

The Moscow Times, May 16, 2012.

...Basmanny Court on Tuesday ordered the camp at Chistiye Prudy closed in response to a lawsuit by residents of the area around the former camp who complained of inaction by authorities. (Related article: Court Orders Protest Camp Dismantled)

Leader of the liberal Yabloko party Sergei Mitrokhin called the police action illegal in a message on Twitter, saying he had filed an appeal of the Basmanny Court decision late Tuesday.

May 15, 2012

Mitrokhin appeals against the decision to liquidate the opposition camp in Moscow
Press Release, May 15, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin appealed against the decision to liquidate the opposition camp in the garden at Chistiye Prudi boulevard, Moscow.

"I believe that this decision violates my right to free walking in the garden without time restriction and at any time," he said.

In addition, Mitrokhin noted that the decision by the Basmanny Court, Moscow, did not envisage immediate implementation, as the law stipulates that it should be implemented only after the decision comes into force, i.e. after 30 days from the date it was made...

Rafgat Altynbayev, senator from the Ryazan region, may be recalled
7info.ru, May 15, 2012.

Sergei Mitrokhin, Chairman of the YABLOKO party, sent an inquiry [to the prosecutors] on verification of income statements of four members of the Federation Council, including Rafgat Altynbayev, a member of the Federation Council from the Government of the Ryazan region.

The 7 News agency asked Oleg Kovalyov, Governor of the Ryazan region, whether he had known about this fact, and what he his reaction proceeding from the results of the audit would be.
“I know about this inquiry. If the commission detects violations, then we will consider recalling of the Senator,” said the head of the region.

Houses of 80 families pulled down in Sochi on the Day of Family
Press Release, May 15, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin demands from President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachyov and Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov to immediately stop pulling down blocks of flats in the center of Sochi (Plastunskaya street 80 and Golenva street, 7).

Bailiffs and riot police have thrown out 80 families, hoodwinked investors, who lived in these blocks of flats and have begun pulling down the houses. The houses are pulled down so that to build a parking for coaches and buses for the guests of the Olympics for the two weeks of the Olympic Games in 2014...

May 10, 2012

Grigory Yavlinsky participated in the memorial ceremony at Piskaryovskoye Cemetery, St.Petersburg
Press Release, May 8, 2012. Photo report.

A memorial ceremony devoted to the 67th anniversary of victory in the Second World War took place at Piskaryovskoye Cemetery, St.Petersburg. Representatives from the city government, veterans and siege survivors organisations, delegations from other countries and cities, representatives of diplomatic corps, different confessions, youth public organisations and thousands of St.Petersburg residents came to the cemetery to pay tribute to those who died in the 872 days long siege of Leningrad.

According to Grigory Yavlinsky, Chair of the YABLOKO faction in St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, who participated in the ceremony, “The city has been feeling the pain from the wounds from the Leningrad siege even decades past the events”. Yavlinsky together with other deputies of the faction and YABLOKO’s activists laid wreaths and flowers to the monument to the victims of the siege.

The Piskaryovskoye Cemetery contains 126 collective graves with burials of 420,000 civilians who died during artillery bombardments, bombings and from hunger and 70,000 military who defended the city.

YABLOKO paid tribute to the memory of soldiers of the Second World War
Press Release, May 8, 2012. Photo report.

YABLOKO’s delegation laid a wreath and flowers to the Tomb of Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall. “In cherished memory of the heroic liberators” ran the inscription on the wreath ribbon.

Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO Chair, and Political Committee members Alexei Arbatov, Sergei Ivanenko and Grigory Yavlinsky participated in the ceremony. They wore White Ribbons, symbols of the winter and spring protest actions in Russia, together with St.George Ribbons, the symbols of memory of the victims of the war.

May 9, 2012

YABLOKO pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Second World War on the Victory Day
Press Release, May 9, 2012. Photo report by Anton Baskakov

Mourning ceremony in memory of those killed during the Second World War was held by YABLOKO activists at Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery - the largest military burial in Moscow - today.

Activists and leaders of the YABLOKO party laid flowers and a wreath at the Eternal Flame at the Memorial.

The participants observed a minute of silence in memory of those killed in Second World War.

ELDR Vice-President scores in mayoral elections
ELDR Press Release, May 9, 2012.

On Monday, ELDR Vice-President Leoluca Orlando scored 42% in the mayoral elections in the Sicilian city of Palermo, crushing the candidates of both left and right.

"The old politics is dead" in Palermo, Orlando said, referring to the two big blocs of the centre-right and centre-left parties which have governed Italy for decades.

More than 9 million people were eligible to vote in more than 900 towns and cities across Italy in the first significant election since Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti took office in November 2011.

MORE

Sir Graham Watson on "Super Sunday" elections and ELDR member party Armenian National Movement (ANM) return to Parliament

French Presidential Election: Verhofstadt expects a positive boost to European policy
Press Release, ALDE, May 6, 2012

The French presidential election has been followed with interest throughout Europe. France, a founding member state, has a weighty influence within the EU. Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, welcomes the election results as the President-elect has made strong commitments to revitalise the European project.

Guy Verhofstadt said: "Nicolas Sarkozy is an energetic man who has recently directed his energy in taking positions on the eurozone crisis and on the Schengen area that have been particularly disappointing and alarming for those in Europe who, like me, expect more from France"...

May 5, 2012

14,000 signatures in ten days collected for YABLOKO's candidate in the mayoral elections in Omsk
Press Release, May 5, 2012.

Collection of signatures for registration of Alexander Korotkov, YABLOKO member and ex Vice-Governor, as a candidate in the mayoral elections in Omsk has finished.

Within ten days only (from April 25 to May 4) YABLOKO collected 14,000 signatures in favour of his nomination. Now the election headquarters of the candidate have to select 9,916 signatures required for Korotkov’s registration and wil forward them to the Electoral Commission until May 7.

Alexander Korotkov, ex Vice-Governor of the Omsk region, was nominated to run for the mayor of Omsk at YABLOKO’s Federal Bureau meeting on April 20...

ELDR Council in Yerevan
ELDR Press Release, May 2, 2012.

On Friday 11 and Saturday 12 May, European Liberal Democrats will meet for the ELDR Council in Armenia's capital Yerevan. On the agenda are topics such as democratisation and human rights in the southern Caucasus, energy security for Europe, and liberal policies to tackle climate change as well as other topical issues.

The ELDR Council will follow parliamentary elections in Armenia to be held on Sunday 6 May. ELDR member Armenian National Movement (AMN) will participate on the list of the biggest opposition alliance, the Armenian National Congress. AMN Leader Aram Manukyan: "There is a glimmer of hope that these elections may be different from the previous ones."

May 4, 2012

YABLOKO to pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Second World War
Press Release, May 4, 2012.

The leaders and activists of the YABLOKO party will pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Second World War. Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO Chairman, and Grigory Yavlinsky, YABLOKO founder and member of Political Committee, will lay a wreath to the Tomb of Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall on May 8 at 17:20.

On Victory Day of May 9, according to long-term YABLOKO’s tradition, Sergei Mitrokhin, Grigory Yavlinsky and YABLOKO activists will honour the memory of the dead soldiers at Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery, the largest military burial in Moscow. The participants of the ceremony will lay flowers there at 13:30.

Address: Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery, Preobrazhensky Val 17A.

Public Prosecutor General's Office violated the law by refusing to investigate the circumstances of the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi
Press Release, May 2, 2012.

Public Prosecutor General's Office refused to investigate whether there was a conflict of interests in the March meeting between President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Italian citizen and businessman Silvio Berlusconi. Mr.V.Volkov, Asistant to Public Prosecutor General, informed (in the response to the inquiry by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin) that President and Prime Minister can not be subject to the prosecutor's investigation. This contradicts the Law "On Public Prosecutor's Office", and YABLOKO is preparing a lawsuit...

Condolences on the act of terror in Makhachkala, Dagestan

May 4, 2012

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses condolences to relatives of the victims of a double bombing in Makhachkala, Dagestan. We are wishing all the injured a speedy recovery.

Despite repeated assurances by the Russian leadership that terrorism has been defeated in Russia, the Caucasus and the armed gangs are not eliminated and terrorist attacks do not stop.

We demand an immediate investigation into this crime and punishment of all guilty in this in this crime in accordance with the law.

We demand that President-elect Vladimir Putin should take investigation of this act of terror under his personal control...

 

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