Grigory Yavlinsky: "The
outcome of the presidential elections is not foredoomed"
Press Release
December 19, 2011
Grigory Yavlinsky submitted to the Central Election Commission
(CEC) the documents on his nomination to run in presidential
elections in Russia in March 2012. The decision on nomination
of Grigory Yavlinsky, the founder of the YABLOKO party, was
adopted by the party congress on December 18.
Now, the CEC must within five days register authorized representatives
of the party and its candidate and give them a permission
to open the electoral account. Printing of lists for collection
of 2 mln of signatures in favour of Grigory Yavlinsky required
for his registration of a candidate in presidential campaign
will be paid from this account.
Responding to questions from journalists Grigory Yavlinsky
stressed that election the result of which is "not predetermined"
will be held for the first time in Russia for many years.
"There is something to fight for at these elections,
because the situation in the country has been changing",
Yavlinsky said.
Presidential candidate Grigory Yavlinsky is going to present
to the society a programme which will be a "political,
economic, and moral alternative to the present developments
in Russia."
"The campaign will be very difficult and tough, because
of the social tension due to the fact that Russia demands
changes," Yavlinsky added. "The society has been
living with the same political system and the same persons
for 12 years already. Profound and serious changes are needed,"
he said.
The YABLOKO party has received no mandates in the State Duma
and, therefore, as a non-parliamentary party must collect
over 2 million signatures until January 18 for registration
of its candidate in the campaign. Grigory Yavlinsky called
this "a measure bordering on reprisals." According
to Yavlinsky, the party obtained over 2 million votes in the
parliamentary elections and thus could be entitled to registration
of its candidate without collection of signatures.
"Collection of signatures is a method where you can
weed out any undesirable candidate," Yavlinsky noted.
"It is an ill-conceived measure as it destabilizes the
society," he said. Yavlinsky also advised the authorities
to "prevent such bad errors: "The legitimacy of
presidential elections will have a colossal significance for
the future of the country."
Grigory Yavlinsky also expressed regret at the removal of
writer Eduard Limonov from the presidential race on formal
grounds. "If the authorities go on perusing this way,
the tension in the society will only increase," he said.
