YABLOKO leaders Sergei Mitrokhin
and Grigory Yavlinsky spoke at a rally in Novy Arbat prospect, Moscow
Press Release
March 10, 2012
YABLOKO leaders Sergei Mitrokhin and Grigory Yavlinsky
spoke at a rally in Novy Arbat prospect, Moscow. Sergei Mitrokhin
gave his time for the speech to Alexei Sklyarov, Editor-in-Chief
the Pulse television company in Azov. It is the only independent
television company in southern Russia, however, local authorities
began pressing the company after Alexei Sklyarov headed the
League of Voters in Azov.
"We together with the League of Voters conducted monitoring
and control over voting [at elections] across the country.
And once again I would like to state that the elections of
March 4 were rigged. We are not going to make speeches today,
we would like to give the time allotted for our speeches to
a unique person - Alexei Sklyarov. He is the head of the only
free, independent television company in the southern Russia.
His television company has been attacked because he together
with YABLOKO monitored the elections," Sergei Mitrokhin
told to the protesters.
Alexei Sklyarov pointed at unprecedented pressure at the
independent television station established in 1991. "We
have a small town, and for a while we were left alone. But
now they have been pressing us with redoubled energy. The
Boa has called," that is how Sklyarov commented on the
actions of the authorities. He also said that on March 13
functioning of the company can be suspended.
"When has Putin told the truth? When he wrote his article
saying that we need public television? However, the same week
attacks against our company were launched. Putin said "want
fair elections", and we created the Voters League. However,
the attacks even intensified. When Putin spoke of civil society,
we did all that was needed so that the civil society would
emerge," Sklyarov said.
In conclusion, he noted that "the authorities are being
tested: if a week later our company is not broadcasting ,
then everything will be clear." "We demand investigation
of all the violations se spoke about. We demand freedom of
the media. Return us freedom!" Sklyarov said.
Sergei Mitrokhin also told to the protesters, "The television
company headed by Alexei Sklyarov is called the Pulse. Let
us all together say "Hands off the "Pulse! The
participants of the rally chanted this slogan.
Grigory Yavlinsky addressed the participants of the rally
with n a brief speech, "Friends, I am glad to meet you
again. It is already my sixth speech at a rally for the past
three months. I remember every word I said. We will accomplish
all this. The road is long and difficult. The victory in the
fight will not come soon, but it will come. Russia will be
free. Russia demands changes!
Photo: YABLOKO's flags
Photo: "Robocop will clean our Detroit
from swindlers and thieves"
Photo: "Transparent as elections"
Photo: the flag for Grigory Yavlinsky as presidential
candidate not allowed to run
