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Press release, 24.04.2000

 

The St Petersburg branch of Yabloko and the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) have agreed on the procedure for choosing a single candidate at the gubernatorial elections

On April 24 at a joint meeting the St Petersburg branch of Yabloko and the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) agreed on the procedure for selecting single candidate at the gubernatorial elections in the northern capital of Russia.

According to Chairman of the Regional Branch of Yabloko, Deputy of the State Duma Alexander Shishlov, a corresponding statement on the terms and procedure for conducing preliminary elections and sociological surveys will be signed at the St.Petersburg "Regional Party of the Centre - Yabloko" head-quarters late at night on April 24.

At the same time he noted that "there is a real threat of provocation from those forces opposed to a union of democratic forces at the gubernatorial elections of the city and a change of power in the Smolny, who will do all they can to wreck our actions."

According to Alexandr Shishlov, over the past week-end the meeting of the Central Council of Yabloko decided to support the candidacy of Igor Artemyev at the gubernatorial elections in St Petersburg. However, stressed Alexander Shishlov, a final decision will be taken proceeding from the polls; according to members of the Yabloko Central Council, the selection process of a single candidate from the democratic forces for the post of governor must be finished by May 1, 2000.

The elections of the Governor of St.Petersburg are scheduled to take place on May 14, 2000. Nine candidates will run for the post of governor, including the present governor Vladimir Yakovlev, Deputies of the State Duma Igor Artemyev (the Yabloko faction) and Yuli Rybakov (the SPS faction).

Based on Interfax reports.

Yabloko's candidate for the post of Governor of St Petersburg Igor Artemyev believes that there will be two rounds of the elections

Yabloko's candidate for the post of the Governor of St Petersburg Igor Artemyev expressed his conviction that due to a union of the democratic forces there will be two rounds in the elections.

Igor Artemyev said that at the beginning of May the name of a single candidate from the democratic forces for the post of Governor of St Petersburg would be announced. He thinks that the union of the democrats is a "necessary and a sufficient condition" for the holding of second round in the election and determination of the victor.

"Now I am sure that there will be a second round," said Igor Artemyev in an interview broadcast live on the "Ekho Moskvi" radio station on April 21, 2000. Igor Artemyev also said that he opposed a reduction in the powers of the new Governor of St Petersburg due to the formation of a new post - Chairman of the Municipal Government.

"Our city does not need a Chairman of the Municipal Government. There should be undivided authority in the administration of the city," stressed Igor Artemyev.

Asked whether he believed that the gubernatorial elections results could be falsified, Igor Artemyev promised that Yabloko and the SPS would "ensure such a system of control which reduce to a minimum the risk of any falsifications". "I don't trust the city authorities," said Igor Artemyev.

He also said that a "significant number of the members of the city electoral commission are appointed by decision of the governor and we have observed on many occasions how they have been influenced by a desire to play up to the Smolny" (Ed. to the present governor).

Igor Artemyev also notified the press that a joint congress of the democratic organisations of Russia is scheduled for autumn 2000.

Based on Interfax reports.

Yabloko submits to the State Duma the law "On the Status of Participants in Military Operations"

"It became necessary to determine a single status for participants in military operations, both in the Great Patriotic War and other wars and operations a long time ago," said Alexei Arbatov (Yabloko), Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Defence of the state Duma and one of the authors of the new law.

The law "On the Status of Participants in Military Operations" will resolve the problems of the status of participants in military operations, irrespective of their time and place, automatically prolong the payments, privileges and grants envisaged for such participants.

At present the status of the participants and veterans of the Great Patriotic War and other wars and operations that were conducted by the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation is determined by several federal laws. Their provisions often do not agree and are even contradictory.

"The participants of the anti-terrorist operation in Chechnya have been receiving additional privileges and payments in accordance with the Presidential Decree and resolutions of the government, but may at any moment lose them," noted Arbatov. "In addition, we still do not have sufficient legal provisions for the military actions of our troops in Chechnya.

This means that bureaucrats can adopt any arbitrary decisions towards participants in military operation". The new law ensures that the veterans of military operations do not suffer any injustice. The draft contains a legal definition of a participant in a military operations and specifies payments, privileges and grants during military actions, after their termination and on the retirement of participants, as well as in the event of their death.

The new law guarantees that the state will fulfil its responsibilities towards all participants in military operations. The law also envisages the responsibility of the executive authorities. The state must, when it launches any military operation, bear in mind that it will have to sustain considerable expenditures, provide a corresponding level of welfare for participants in military operations and their family members owing to the risks and potential damage to health.

The law will be financed by the federal budget, the budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation, which already stipulate in general expenditures on veterans in accordance with other federal laws, presidential decrees and resolutions of the government. Additional expenditures are envisaged in connection with additional payments to the participants in the Great Patriotic War amounting to 1,250 mln roubles a year.

A press conference will be held on April 26 2000 in the Minor Hall of the Duma (address: 1 Okhotny Ryad) where Alexei Arbatov will introduce this draft law.

Information tel.: 292 5034, 292 9459.