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Yabloko's Views

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New items of the server - September 2011

September 30, 2011

Yabloko: “Putin-Medvedev Presidency Tandem Chooses Stagnation”
LI News Bulletin, Issue 252, September 29, 2011

Sergei Mitrokhin, the leader of Yabloko (LI full member) commented on the news that President Medvedev is going to head the United Russia party at the parliamentary election in December 2011 while Prime Minister Putin will run at the presidential elections in 2012 as ”nothing unexpected.” Describing the recent statement of Putin and Medvedev as simply a “rotation in the tandem”, Mitrokhin characterised the proposal as “a way towards a new stagnation rather than modernisation, and this stagnation may lead the country to the same deplorable outcome like the stagnation of Leonid Brezhnev's era.” Mitrokhin's concerns were echoed by Yabloko's top parliamentary candidate Grigory Yavlinsky, who warned that the announcement should be viewed as the emergence of a “new political reality” and that the system “created during Putin's presidency implies that it should be maintained for another 12 years, and perhaps 24 years, that is, until 2036.” Emphasising that a return to valid elections at all levels is the only solution, the Yabloko leaders called on citizens to voice their disapproval at the parliamentary elections in December...

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September 28, 2011

YABLOKO managed to collect half of the required voters’ signatures to get registration at parliamentary elections

Press Release, September 28, 2011

YABLOKO managed to collect about 80,000 signatures out of 157,000 required for registration of the party in the parliamentary election campaign.

The law envisages the number of signatures from a region should not exceed 5,000. Three YABLOKO’s regional branches (in St.Petersburg, Saratov and Kirov regions) have already accomplished this task.

Over 4,000 thousands were collected in each of the four regions: Voronezh, Tomsk, Omsk and Kurgan regions...

Centerpartiet elects Annie Lööf MP as new Party Leader
ELDR Press Release, September 23, 2011.
On 22-25 September, ELDR’s Swedish member party Centerpartiet is convening for what has been described as their most important Party Congress in a decade in the scenic skiing resort of Åre, Sweden.

A large part of the drama has obviously been triggered by the fact that current Party Leader and Minister for Enterprise Maud Olofsson has announced her stepping down, why the party elects a new Party Leader, but also takes the opportunity to have a comprehensive debate on the party platform and elect new Deputy Party Leaders, a first in the long and proud history of Centerpartiet...

Verhofstadt: Barroso must now convince Council of need for more Europe
Press Release, ALDE, September 28, 2011

In today's State of the Union debate in Strasbourg, Guy Verhofstadt welcomed President Barroso's passionate defence of the European Union and the central role of the Commission in proposing common solutions to the current crisis.

"We stand in the eye of a financial storm. Banks have lost trust in each other, stock markets are at a 4-year low, growth prospects are anemic and the spreads on government bonds in the eurozone are increasing by the day. Only courage, solidarity and leadership will provide a route out of the current crisis"...

September 27, 2011

Grigory Yavlinsky: There is an alternative

Grigory Yavlinsky's blog. Video. September 27, 2011

...Because if this system does not change, then it will impossible to amend or rebuild it a few years. And we can influence the developments only within a very short period - in 2.5 months through elections to the State Duma. Whatever they are! And at presidential elections that come in six months... We should show that there is an alternative for the country at these elections. And yet – I am stressing the word “yet” here - we can do it! And YABLOKO offers such an alternative...

YABLOKO’s leader does not expect any changes in Russia’s financial policy in view of the appointments

Interfax, September 27, 2011

According to YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin, new appointments in the financial and economic bloc of the Russian government are unlikely to lead to changes in Russia’s financial policy.

“I think that any abrupt changes in view of appointment of Anton Siluanov acting Finance Minister and Igor Shuvalov supervisor of the financial-economic bloc in the government are unlikely. Most probably everything will remain as it is,” Sergei Mitrokhin told to Interfax.

He also noted that replacement of the Finance Minister is unlikely to lead to economic upheavals...

Eugenia Chirikova supported YABLOKO’s list of candidates in Khimki

Press Release, September 26, 2011

Eugenia Chirikova, leader of the movement in protection of Khimki Forest, supported YABLOKO’s list of candidates to the Council of Deputes of Khimki. According to YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin, there were negotiations with Eugenia Chirikova on her joining YABLOKO’s list, however she refused to participate in the coming elections in principle...

September 26, 2011

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin spoke at an anti-corruption rally in the Sverdlovsk region

Press Release, September 25, 2011

...According to Mitrokhin, the construction company enjoyed support not only of the city parliament which adopted corresponding amendments to the land laws neglecting the rulings of the statutory court, but they were also supported by the city government, namely, Alexander Yakob, head of city administration. “We can also see that even the governor sided with the corrupt officials and businessmen demanding to cancel the decision of the statutory court,” Mitrokhin said...

Sergei Mitrokhin: “The tandem chooses stagnation”

Press Release, September 24, 2011

...“President’s statements that on Prime Minister’s post he will engage in modernisation are hard to believe. As modernisation means renewal of governing rather than rotation in the tandem,” Mitrokhin added.

According to Mitrokhin, “this joint proposal by Putin, Medvedev and the United Russia party is “a way towards a new stagnation rather than modernisation, and this stagnation may lead the country to the same deplorable outcome like the stagnation of Leonid Brezhnev’s era ended for the USSR.”

Grigory Yavlinsky on the initiative of Putin-Medvedev’s tandem

Press Release, September 24, 2011

“They want to leave everything as it is for another 12 years. This means for ever. It is for people to decide whether they agree with this or not. Anyway, we have elections, whatever they are now, ahead,” such a comment on the decision of the ruling United Russia’s congress to nominate Vladimir Putin for presidency and Dmitry Medvedev for Prime Minister’s post was made by Grigory Yavlinsky, YABLOKO’s founder, in Twitter.

September 23, 2011

Silent Solidarity.All the political parties, but Yabloko, criticize United Russia, but not Vladimir Putin
Nezavisimaya Gazeta, September 23, 2011

...Yabloko’s programme will focus on three issues. "Fight against corruption, introduction of an article into the Criminal Code envisaging punishment for unlawful enrichment, and firing of all state functionaries unable or unwilling to explain their personal fortunes,” Yabloko’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin said. “Also [we are] for return to elections at all levels, public control over secret services, and transition to professional military service."

According to Mitrokhin, at present Yabloko is about to publish a large number of copies of its electoral programme, that will be delivered to the voters by party activists. And before that Yabloko had organised a number of actions and pickets, and Kirill Gontcharov, leader of Youth Yabloko, had even served several days of imprisonment in the Gelendzhik prison for the action by the centre of the Russian Orthodox Church [in Gelendzhik], also called “Patriarch’s country cottage”.

Mitrokhin said that all the political parties were Yabloko's political rivals adding that Yabloko would criticize United Russia and its leader Vladimir Putin. Yabloko’s leader was the first and the only politician who dared to criticize Vladimir Putin: “We have absolutely definite claims on Prime Minister’s performance: namely, creation of a resource-based economy, huge corruption and virtual liquidation of political competition”...

Nothing New in the East/À l’Est, rien de nouveau

Réforme, No 3430, 8 septembre, 2011

Les jeunes en Russie Russie Les 18-30 ans constituent en Russie la première génération qui a grandi dans l’après-communisme. Cette nouvelle jeunesse apporte-t-elle un vent de changement ? Rien n’est moins sûr. Rencontres. Vingt ans après la chute du régime soviétique, le parti d’opposition Iabloko (« pomme » en russe) dresse dans un rapport un bilan alarmiste du sort de la jeunesse russe : passivité civique, carriérisme égoïste, conformisme, refus de chercher la vérité, niveau d’éducation en baisse, orgueil national, impréparation totale aux défis du XXIe siècle... La situation sanitaire est tout aussi préoccupante : contamination galopante au VIH – un million de personnes touchées –, explosion du nombre de toxicomanes mineurs en dix ans, alcoolisme qui tue chaque année 40 000 jeunes.

La jeunesse moderne est la première génération née dans la nouvelle Russie…

the original publication

Boris Strugatsky, Nina Katerly and Samuel Lurier support YABLOKO

Press Release, September 23, 2011

Prominent writers Boris Strugatsky and Nina Katerly and Samuel Lurier, writer and journalist, signed up for the registration of YABLOKO’s list of candidates to the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg.

Earlier, musician Yury Shevchuk, film director Alexander Sokurov, writer Daniil Granin and well-known activists fighting for protection of St.Petersburg historic buildings and city environment historian Alexander Margolis and Julia Minutina, Coordinator of the Live City movement, put their signatures for YABLOKO’s list.

St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO has been collecting signatures for registration of its list of candidates in the election campaign to the Legislative Assembly. YABLOKO must collect 40,000 signatures to get registration in the campaign...

Sergei Mitrokhin demanded from President Medvedev to stop unlawful construction works for Olympic Games in the Sochi national park

Press Release, September 23, 2011

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin forwarded to President Medvedev a letter demanding to stop unlawful excavation works in the lime-pit the Sochi national park for construction of Olympic facilities in Sochi. In June 2011, after his meeting with environmentalists, Dmitry Medvedev ordered the Russian Government and the regional government to stop such works, however, President’s orders have been sabotaged.

YABLOKO’s activists and activists of the North Caucasus Environmental Watch detected these violations. Excavation of lime in the national park have already eliminated inhabitations of many species of the rare plants, inflicted irreparable damage to landscapes and fauna. However, this unlawful pit has been guarded by the Federal Security Service.

President Medvedev learned this during his meeting with environmentalists on June 21, 2011. He ordered Prime Minister Putin and Alexander Tkachyov, head of Administration of the Krasnodar Area, to stop excavation works at the Sochi national park by August 1...

Information technologies can improve quality of life
Press Release, ALDE, September 22, 2011

On Thursday September 22nd, ALDE MEPs Niccolo Rinaldi (IdV, Italy) and Antonyia Parvanova (NMSP, Bulgaria) organised a seminar in the European Parliament to evaluate the use of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) for improving the quality of life and healthy ageing of the population...

LibDems: Liberal voice in government loud and clear
LI News Bulletin, Issue 251, September 23, 2011

Addressing the Autumn Party Conference in Birmingham this week, the leader of the Liberal Democrats (LI full member) Nick Clegg underlined the party's achievements in government, saying that an impressive three quarters of the LibDem manifesto “is being delivered in government”. ‘In difficult times you need to know two things about your government: that it has the strength to take the decisions needed to fix the big problems; and that there are people in that government who are looking out for you... Our liberal voice is loud and clear', stated Clegg. LibDem Party President Tim Farron, said: ‘We are a radical Liberal Party putting radical liberal politics into action and blocking Tory policies every day...'

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September 22, 2011

YABLOKO begins its campaign for collecting signatures by the State Duma and the Kremlin

Press Release, September 21, 2011

YABLOKO began its campaign for collecting signatures by the State Duma and the Kremlin. Sergei Mitrokhin also participated in the action in Moscow. The activists managed to collect 150 signatures from people from over ten Russian regions within an hour. This was not an easy task as most of the people there were guests from other countries and Russian citizens were reluctant to give their passport data required by law.

The police did not interfere this time, as after the threats from the policemen to stop “an unsanctioned picket” YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin had sent a telegramme to head of the Central Electoral Commission Vladimir Churov informing the latter of such grave violation of the law by the police. Churov had to explain to police that collecting of signatures for parties registration in the parliamentary campaign does not require any permissions from the authorities.

YABLOKO has to collect 157,000 signatures (whereas the number of signatures per each region should not exceed 5,000) to get registered in the State Duma election campaign. However, YABLOKO is going to collect 200,000 signatures in 50 regions so that make sure the party is registered even if the Central Electoral Commission finds some signatures faulty...

September 21, 2011

Grigory Yavlinsky: federal budget priorities should be changed

Press Release, September 21, 2011

According to YABLOKO, draft federal budgets for 2012 and 2013-2014 published by the Russian Finance Ministry require principled changes. The draft budgets will be submitted to the parliament after they are examined by the Russian Government.

“It is obvious that it is an electoral budget aiming at maintaining high level of expenditures on the items most significant for 2012 so that to ensure a certain electoral result,” said Grigory Yavlinsky, member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee. After 2012 it is planned to abruptly and absolutely unreasonably change the federal budget priorities.

Thus, expenditure on education will be maintained at 4.6 per cent for 2012, but it will be reduced to 3.9 per cent in 2013 and 3.3 per cent in 2014. The same dynamics of federal budget expenditure is envisaged for healthcare: 4.2 per cent for 2012, 3.5 per cent for 2013 and 3.0 per cent for 2014.

The YABLOKO party considers such abrupt cuts on education and healthcare inadmissible...

Yury Shevchuk supports YABLOKO

Press Release, September 21, 2011

Leader of the DDT Group and famous musician Yury Shevchuk put his signature for YABLOKO’s candidates to St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly...

Earlier film director Alexander Sokurov and writer Daniil Granin had expressed their support to YABLOKO.

St.Petersburg YABLOKO has been collecting signatures for registration of its list of candidates to the Legislative Assembly in the election campaign.

Leaders of the Moscow branches of five political parties signed Memorandum on the Work of Cross-Party Observers at the coming parliamentary elections

Press Release, September 20, 2011

On September 20, leaders of the Moscow branches of YABLOKO, CPRF, LDPR, Just Russia and the Patriots of Russia signed Memorandum on Coordination of Actions in Organisation of Cross-Party Work of Observers at the State Duma elections in 2011. Signing of the document and a press-conference took place in the House of Journalists in Moscow...

September 19 , 2011

Leaders of the Moscow branches of four political parties to sign Memorandum on the Work of Cross-Party Observers at the coming parliamentary elections

Press Release, September 19, 2011

Tomorrow, on September 20, leaders of the Moscow branches of YABLOKO, CPRF, LDPR and Just Russia will sign Memorandum on Coordination of Actions in Organisation of Cross-Party Work of Observers at the State Duma elections in 2011. Representatives from the Patriots of Russia and the Just Cause parties are also invited to sign the memorandum.

Heads of regional branches of political parties indicate that it is necessary to join efforts so that to ensure transparent and legitimate counting of votes free from violations and fraud.

The parties state their determination to spare no efforts so that to ensure presence of their observers at absolutely all Moscow polling station. In accordance with election law, the parties are going for the first time collect evidence (including photo and video evidence) of all violations of the law...

Central Electoral Commission attested YABLOKO’s list of candidates for parliamentary elections

Interfax, September 11, 2011

The Central Electoral Commission of the Russian Federation attested YABLOKO’s list of candidates for elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation...

YABLOKO’s federal list is topped by Dr.Grigory Yavlinsky, party founder and member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, Sergei Mitorkhin, party Chairman and Alexei Yablokov, head of YABLOKO’s Green Russia faction.

“We are setting a tough goal – creation of a faction in the State Duma. This implies overcoming a seven per cent barrier, but we should do this with a higher margin. A benchmark for us is ten per cent,” Mitrokhin told journalists on Monday.

Successful liberal results
ELDR Press Release, September 16, 2011.

The stakes were high when yesterday’s Danish Parliamentary elections got underway. Following intense and good campaigning by all parties, spearheaded by leading government party and ELDR Member Party Venstre, polls close to election day showed the two blocs on almost equal figures. The stage was therefore set for a real nail-biter on election night. As the vote count got underway, it quickly became clear that this would be a good night for Danish liberals.

Not only did Venstre stand their ground very well, clearly maintaining their position as Denmark’s largest party, ELDR’s other Danish member party Det Radikale Venstre were also speeding off the blocks to substantially increase their 5,1 % share of the electorate in the last elections in 2007...

Yabloko: Abstention from elections not an option
LI News Bulletin, Issue 250, September 15, 2011

During its 16th Party Congress in Moscow, LI full member Yabloko, prominent party figures expressed their concerns regarding public calls for abstention in the parliamentary elections scheduled for December 4th. Saying that the voters need to express their opinions through voting, party founder Dr. Grigory Yavlinsky said '…today Yabloko is the only registered independent political party that will always stand in defense of liberty, equality before law and the inviolability of private property ... We are convinced that these values are consciously shared by the majority of our fellow citizens and it would be a betrayal on our part if we deprive them of chance to make their choice,” he said, adding: “Systematic discrediting of elections is as dangerous as election fraud. Because if you do not vote, then why should you fight fraud?' Yavlinsky's views were confirmed by party leader Sergei Mitrokhin, who added that “Yabloko is a responsible political force,that is why it will participate in the coming elections to the Russian parliament”.

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September 14 , 2011

Alexander Sokurov supports YABLOKO

Press Release, September 14, 2011

Alexander Sokurov, world famous film director and prize-winner of the 68th Venice International Film Festival, put his signature for YABLOKO’s list of candidates to St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly.

“Alexander Sokurov has repeatedly said kind words about the YABLOKO party noting our activities, especially in the city planning matters,” Maxim Reznik, leader of St. Petersburg YABLOKO, said. “We regard Alexander Sokurov’s support as great honor to us and an incentive to even more and better work”...

YABLOKO as a non-parliamentary party is required to collect 40,000 signatures to participate in the elections to St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly.

YABLOKO Congress
ELDR Newsletter, September 14, 2011.

Ahead of parliamentary elections in Russia, ELDR member party, YABLOKO held its 16th congress on 10-11 September. The upcoming elections set the tone for the congress with democratic development and economic policy identified as two main pillars for the campaign. “YABLOKO is a responsible political force, which is why it will participate in the coming elections to the Russian parliament. Only YABLOKO due to the specifics of its ideology and programme can challenge the monopoly of corrupted bureaucracy merged with business,” commented Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of YABLOKO...

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September 13, 2011

Grigory Yavlinsky's manifesto: Elections versus a Revolution

Press Release, Video, September 11, 2011

Grigory Yavlinsky: “Do not wean people away from elections”

Systematic discrediting of elections is as dangerous as election fraud

Dr.Grigory Yavlinsky, one of the founders of the YABLOKO party topping the party list at parliamentary elections, made a programme statement at the 16th Congress of YABLOKO. The first round of the Congress finished on Sunday in the Moscow Region.

Addressing in his final speech "colleagues, associates and opponents" of YABLOKO Grigory Yavlinsky noted that the coming elections to the Russian parliament (December 4) are "widely considered being a sham and people are called for various forms of boycotting". "We understand this position, and we respect it, as well as many other political positions, but we do not share it,” he stressed...

Yavlinsky to Run for Duma With Yabloko

The Moscow Times, September 12, 2011

Yabloko party co-founder Grigory Yavlinsky will come out of political retirement to head the party's list in the State Duma elections, the party announced Sunday at a Moscow congress. Yavlinsky, 59, handed over the reins of Yabloko, which he co-founded in 1993, to Sergei Mitrokhin in 2008 but kept a seat on the party's political committee. Now the duo will occupy the top two spots on the party's federal list in the December vote, Interfax reported.
The third spot will go to Alexei Yablokov, a noted environmentalist and corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Also running on the party ticket will be Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov; Anatoly Leirikh, a senior member of Delovaya Rossia, a business lobby group; and Andrei Rudomakha of Environment Watch North Caucasus, a nonprofit group known for reporting about a Black Sea mansion of unclear ownership dubbed "Putin's Palace"...

the original publication by The Moscow Times

September 10, 2011

YABLOKO's Congress. Sergei Mitrokhin about priorities for the YABLOKO faction in the State Duma

Press Release, September 10, 2011

The 16th Congress of the YABLOKO party began its work in the Moscow region.

YABLOKO’s congress started with a minute of silence in view of air accident taking the lives of the players of the Locomotive team.

YABLOKO’s Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin opened the congress. In his report Mitrokhin gave assessment to the present Russia’s political and economic system and marked the priorities of the work of the faction in the State Duma. According to Mitrokhin, Russia had become a hostage of inefficient state and inefficient economic system.

“YABLOKO is a responsible political force, that is why it will participate in the coming elections to the Russian parliament,” he said.

According to Mitrokhin YABLOKO’s goal at the coming elections is formation of its faction in the State Duma.

“Only YABLOKO due to the specifics of its ideology and programme can challenge the monopoly of corrupted bureaucracy merged with business,” Mitrokhin stressed. He also noted that this monopoly is supported not only by the ruling United Russia, but also by other factions of the parliament proclaiming themselves as the “opposition”...

September 9, 2011

Sergei Mitrokhin’s book "Russia Needs Changes" was launched at the Moscow Book Fair

Press Release, September 8, 2011

Presentation of the new book by YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin was held at the International Book Fair in Moscow on September 8, 2011. The book entitled "Russia Needs Changes" presents his vision of the situation in the country and contains proposals how to change it.

The book consists of three parts: "What is Happening to Russia?", "What kind of Russia We Need?" and "How to Change Russia?".

"Russia’s assets have been stolen," such an assessment Mitrokhin gives to the current political regime. "While the heads of the state and the ruling party have been trying to show that they care Russia's future and talks about the need to modernize Russia, a large army of bureaucrats and businessmen associated with these bureaucrats have been continuing getting their profit [from the federal assets]," Mitrokhin wrote.

Sergei Mitrokhin proposes to build "a modern state of the European type" in Russia. This state should be governed by law, be socially-oriented, democratic, should eliminate corruption, and protect the environment. People capitalism should replace the present oligarchic capitalism, Mitrokhin wrote. The society in such a state will be able to defend its interests and control the authorities...

Estonian growth tops Eurozone
LI News Bulletin, Issue 249, September 8, 2011

Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip (Reform Party, LI full member) announced this week that his country's GDP growth forecast is set to drastically improve this year, nearly doubling from 4% to 7%. Estonia, which adopted the Euro as recently as January this year, has with its economic growth in the first two quarters of the year outpaced all other 16 Eurozone countries, making itself the star performer of the fiscal union. Since the economic downturn in 2008, Estonia has showed remarkable public sector austerity — including a 20 % pay cut by the Prime Minister himself. Earlier this summer Estonia's credit rating was improved to double-A minus, a rare achievement in the current economic crisis. Noting the importance of trade in maintaining a high growth rate, Ansip said: 'Our growth rate is based on exports and our main export markets are Sweden and Finland. They are doing really well but you never know.' Prime Minister Andrus Ansip also emphasized that the improved growth outlook would be mirrored by slower growth rates next year.

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September 8, 2011

Grigory Yavlinsky presented programme “Land-Housing-Roads”

Press Release, September 7, 2011

...According to Yavlinsky, huge public demand in housing representing Russia’s specifics when satisfied can lead the country out of stagnation. This envisages gratuitous and mass-scale transfer of federal lands to the citizens under their housing construction and development of infrastructure (water, gas and electricity supply), as well as construction of roads at the expense of the federal budget, i.e. the reserves accumulated for the recent years due to high oil and gas prices. The programme stipulates that about 14 million of families should get about 130 sq m of housing and a plot of land (for free) up to 3,000 sq m in the European part of Russia and up to 6,000 sq m in the Asian part. The programme also envisages foundation of special state crediting institutions for provision of long-term loans (up to 50 years) to families for housing construction under low interest rates...

September 7, 2011

Condolences in connection with a plane crash taking the lives of the Locomotive hockey team

Press Release, September 7, 2011

We are expressing our deepest condolences in connection with the crash of the Yak-42 plane which took the lives of the Locomotive hockey team. This is a terrible tragedy for the families and friends of all the victims of this terrible air disaster. Also this is our common tragedy as we have lost one of our best hockey clubs – the Locomotive team. We commiserate with the fans who will always be loyal to the memory to their favourite players.

We are sharing this grief.

Sincerely,

Sergei Mitrokhin,
Chair of the YABLOKO party

YABLOKO’s founder Grigory Yavlinsky to run in the election to St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly

Press Service of St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO, September 7, 2011

St.Petersburg YABLOKO became the first political party to nominate candidates to run in the elections to St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly. The list of candidates was formed by the party conference.

According to the conference’s decision, YABLOKO’s list in St.Peterburg will be topped by one person – Dr. Grigory Yavlinsky, YABLOKO’s founder, member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee and Professor of the Higher School of Economics. In his letter to the conference Grigory Yavlinsky informed the delegates that he would be ready to work in the Legislative Assembly of St.Petersburg.

Other YABLOKO’s candidates, including leaders of the regional party branch, will run from different electoral territories (constituencies). Thus, Maxim Reznik will run at Vasiliyevsky Ostov (territory No 2), Mikhail Amosov in Kalininsky District (territory No 10 he had represented in the Legislative Assembly before), Boris Vishnevsky in the Central District (territory No 29) and Natalya Yevdokimova in Nevsky District (territory No 34 she had represented in the Legislative Assembly earlier)...

YABLOKO’s congress to take place on September 10-11

Press Release, September 7, 2011

The 16th Congress of the YABLOKO party will be held in Moscow in the coming weekend, on September 10-11. The Congress will discuss and adopt the electoral programme of the party and approve YABLOKO’s list of candidates for December parliamentary elections.

The congress will begin at 11:00... Authors of different variants of the electoral programme will present their projects from 11.00 to 14.00. Reports by YABLOKO’s political leaders Sergei Mitrokhin and Grigory Yavlinsky will take place within the framework of this discussion.

Briefing by the party leaders will be held at 14.00. Further discussion of the programme and adoption of the final document will take place after the briefing.The next issue in the agenda will be approval of the party list for December parliamentary elections...

Court classified documents on Transneft stealing federal budget funds as secret

Press Release, September 6, 2011

On September 6, 2011, Khamovniki Court of Moscow turned down YABLOKO’s inquiry to the Audit Chamber to disclose the report on the audit on the Eastern Pipe Line construction carried out by Transneft.

In 2010 Alexei Navalny published in his blog a document demonstrating that Transneft stole USD 4 bln of federal budget funds the Eastern Pipe Line construction. The document represented a report made by the new management of Transneft on the inquiry from the Audit Chamber. However, the final reports of the audit conducted by the Chamber were classified as secret and were not disclosed to the public...

September 6, 2011

Europe's financial crisis requires a federal solution
Press Release, ALDE, September 6, 2011

At the start of the new parliamentary year after a summer of crisis, Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament are calling on the European Commission to seize the initiative from the Member States to resolve the persistent financial crisis that is fast deteriorating and infecting the real economy.

ALDE group leader Guy VERHOFSTADT said:

"I appeal now for a bold and brave approach, particularly from the European Commission which has the right of initiative, to seize the initiative back from Member States and get on top of the crisis once and for all. We are returning from a summer of indecision and mixed messages that have only served to exacerbate the problems of the eurozone. Time is now running out. Member States can no longer escape the hard truths of their inaction and policy weakness in the euro area...

Launch of a new book by Grigory Yavlinsky

Press Release, September 6, 2011

Tomorrow, on September 7, a new book by Grigory Yavlinsky, founder of the YABLOKO party and member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, will be launched at the Moscow International Book Fair.

“The Federal Programme “Land-Housing-Roads” described in the new book proposes a way out of the economic deadlock Russia finds itself for the second time in its recent history.

A simple and realistic programme for getting the country out of stagnation, improving the living standards and development of Russia’s economy is described in the book in such a detail that is easy to comprehend not only to experts but to ordinary readers too. Virtually the book is a detailed guidance for the Russian government and if implemented, this will allow Russia to get a steady top position in the world economy already in 10-15 years.”

The launch will begin at 13:30
All-Russia Exhibition Centre, Pavilion No 75, Hall A (Reception Hall F5).

YABLOKO supported women in their pro-choice right concerning abortions

Press Release, September 6, 2011

On September 5 a rally against restrictions on abortions was held in the centre of Moscow. The organizers of the rally were initiative group "For Free Motherhood", the Russian Association "Population and Development", coalition “Bunch of Ashberries. The Pro-Choice”. The only political party supporting the right of women to make decisions on abortions was the YABLOKO party. The participants were holding banners "Do Not Oust Abortions into the Shadow Sector!”, "A Conscientious Choice Is Better Than Irresponsible Parenthood," "Medicine Must Be Legal" and other.

The rally was held in connection with parliament’s introduction of amendments into the draft law on protection of health of citizens in the Russian Federation, which will be examined by MPs in the second reading already in November. The document introduces a number of restrictions on abortions and also takes abortions out of the list of services of "gratuitous medicine". Also the draft law prohibits abortion without the consent of a husband, obliges doctors to give women "a seven days period for reflection", makes women to take a mandatory “psychologist’s consultation” on immorality of abortion and allows doctors to refuse from the operation on "moral grounds"...

YABLOKO conducted an action by Public Prosecutor General’s office and the Federation Council on the seventh anniversary of tragedy of hostages in Beslan school

Press Release, September 3, 2011

On September 3, on the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attack against Beslan school YABLOKO held a series of pickets in Moscow. (On September 1, 2004, terrorists held 1,100 hostages, mainly schoolchildren, in one of Beslan schools for three days: 334 people including 186 were killed and over 800 people were injured. Yet the case still remains uninvestigated and Senator Torshin, head of the Parliamentary Commission for investigation of the act of terror has been keeping silent).

Zoya Shargatova, Deputy Chair of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO and party activists Gleb Sitnikov, Zoya Gulyaeva and Ilona Korovchenko, held banners "Seven years after. Who is liable?" by Public Prosecutor General’s office and the Federation Council. Another banner “Torshin, how about the truth about Beslan?" addressed Senator Alexander Torshin, head of the Parliamentary Commission on investigation of the circumstances of the tragedy. Police officers and representatives of the Federal Security Service checked the documents of the activists and took down their passport data, however did not interfere with the picket...

A memory action devoted to the Beslan tragedy also took place in St. Petersburg. The participants of the rally lit 334 candles - one per each victim. The candles were lined in the word "Beslan." The action was held without any political symbols and slogans.

September 2 , 2011

Mitrokhin to Medvedev: “Modernise Duma through fair elections”
LI News Bulletin, Issue 248, September 2, 2011

Leader of LI Full member Yabloko, Sergei Mitrokhin has during a rare meeting with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev called for a thorough modernisation of the Russian parliament. During the meeting for all registered parties, Mitrokhin stated that the “forthcoming elections represent an opportunity to implement Russian modernisation plans”, voiced by the President earlier. “Political modernisation first of all means provision of equal possibilities for political competition. And this should take place during elections,” Mitrokhin stressed. “Today the State Duma with dominance of one political party is the most powerful anti-modernisation factor… As it is this party which controls the parliament, it cannot protect the society from bureaucrats' arbitrary rule and corruption. Therefore a corrupted system based on the laws adopted by bureaucracy and for the sake of bureaucracy has been built in the country, via the State Duma”, he added...

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Singapore presidential elections disappointing, SDP increasingly popular
FNF research on Ukraine rebuts EU membership claims
LI reminders to member parties

September 1, 2011

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin participated in the environmental rally in Volgograd

Press Release, September 1, 2011

On August 31 YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin took part in an environmental rally organised by the Volgograd branch of YABLOKO. The action was held under the slogan "Let’s Return Land and Water to People”.

According to Galina Boldyreva, Chair of the regional branch of YABLOKO, people need protection from those who grab coasts of rivers and water reservoirs. During picketing YABLOKO’s activists distributed leaflets explaining what laws were violated by raiders and also distributed postcards in protection of the Volga-Akhtuba flood from drying...

President Medvedev promised to study YABLOKO’s programme “Land-Housing-Roads”

Press Release, August 30, 2011

...“From the economic point of view, the programme is targeted at creation of conditions for unprecedented growth of domestic demand,” Mitrokhin said. This envisages gratuitous and mass-scale transfer of [federal] lands to the citizens under their housing construction and development of infrastructure (water, gas and electricity supply), as well as construction of roads at the expense of the federal budget, i.e. the reserves accumulated for the recent years due to high oil and gas prices.

“The effect from this programme can not be overestimated from both social and political aspects. A possibility to obtain a plot of land free of charge from the state, e.g. 50 hundred square meters of land and built 150 square meters of housing there for half of its cost, - this will constitute a real breakthrough from Russia’s economic stagnation,” he added. Mitrokhin also noted that, according to the estimates of party experts, implementation of such a programme will create at least 10 mln additional jobs and will ensure economic growth by at least 3.5 percentage points...

Congratulations to all the Muslims on Ramadan!

August 29, 2011

Anyone who on prophet Muhammad’s covenant has passed the spiritual test during the holy month of Ramadan acquiring real spiritual treasure which will support faithful Muslims throughout the year and further in life.
Let the deeds of mercy that Muslims must do during fasting and holidays provide support to the needy and comfort the afflicted.

On behalf of the YABLOKO party

Sergei Mitrokhin,
Chair of the YABLOKO party

 

e-mail: english@yabloko.ru