[main page][map of the server][news of the server][forums][guestbook][press-service][hot issues]

YABLOKO conducted an action “A Happy New Year – a Year of a Fat Cat”

Press Release

December 23, 2010

On December 23 YABLOKO conducted an action against raising of tariffs in the monopolized housing and utilities sector. The action took place in the center of Moscow and was conducted in a form of children’s
Christmas matinee under a slogan “A Happy New Year – a Year of a Fat Cat” (2011 is a year of the Cat according to the oriental calendar which is popular in Russia).

“We would like to draw attention to the fact that our people once again received a new year “present” from the Russian Government, the parliament and all the monopolists from Gazprom an energy sector companies to regional municipal monopolies. They raised tariffs by 20 per cent almost on all the services: on utilities, electricity, gas, water and transportation,” Sergei Mitrokhin told to journalists.

The next year will be the year of a Rabbit or a Cat in accordance with oriental calendar. That is why YABLOKO made a fat cat symbolizing the so-called “efficient managers” from monopolistic companies a protagonist of the action. Thus, Gazprom was portrayed as a severe cat on the pounce. A cat symbolizing the Teploenergo energy company was opening a bottle of champaigne and a cat symbolising the Russian Railways was smoking a cigar.

“Every year raising of tariffs [by monopolies] somehow exceeds inflation by two or three times,” Mitrokhin said. “We can not agree with this and will fight against this. Today we are launching a campaign against growth of tariffs all over the country. Next year Russia’s regions will join the campaign,” he noted.


All the photos from the action see at the Moscow YABLOKO web-site

 

See also:

Anti-Monopoly Legislation


 



Press Release

December 23, 2010