| DECEMBER 2000 |
|
 Proposed
Law Could Eradicate Most Parties
St Peterburg Times , December 15, 2000
MOSCOW - The Central Elections Commission is pushing for
a new law on political parties that would slash the number
of existing political groups by over 90 percent, leaving
only a dozen or so major players and barring the rest from
participating in parliamentary elections.
UNION
OF RIGHT-WING FORCES WANTS LENIN OUT OF THE MAUSOLEUM
Moskovsky Komsomolets, December 14, 2000
Outraged over the decision to bring back the Soviet national
anthem, the Union of Right-Wing Forces Duma faction has
raised the issue of burying Lenin's body. An appeal to President
Vladimir Putin to create a memorial centre on Red Square
in Moscow was proposed at the Duma Council yesterday.
Parliament
Restores Soviet Anthem
The Moscow Times, December 9, 2000
The State Duma on Friday overwhelmingly approved President
Vladimir Putin's request to reinstate the tune of the Stalin-era
anthem and a tsarist flag and eagle as the country's state
symbols.
"UNBREAKABLE
UNION" RESTORED
Izvestia, December 9, 2000
State symbols have been adopted, but it doesn't feel like
a celebration.On December 8, the Duma passed laws on Russia's
national anthem, flag, coat of arms, and symbols for the
Armed Forces and the Navy.
Parliament
Opens Debate on State Symbols
The Moscow Times, December 8, 2000
Russia's parliament opened debate Friday on President Vladimir
Putin's proposal to give the country a mixed bag of state
symbols ranging from the tsarist eagle to the Stalin-era
Soviet anthem.
Soviet
anthem unacceptable for Russia
The Times of India, Sunday, December 3, 2000
Moscow - The old Soviet hymn is unacceptable for today's
Russia, a prominent reformist leader and lawmaker has warned,
deepening the public controversy over Russia's future anthem.
"Russia is a very different state now, based on different
principles and traditions, and it's wrong to repeat another
regime's anthem, it will rip the society apart," Grigory
Yavlinsky, head of the liberal party Yabloko, said in a
radio interview Saturday.
|
| NOVEMBER 2000 |
|
Russia
and Europe: Chances and Prospects for European and International
Cooperation
Financial Times, November 24-25, 2000
Therefore I would like to request an additional three minutes
and twenty seconds for my report about my country, which
is so big. I will speak in English, as I would like to reach
my European partners here. I want to reach them even more
than Russia’s own Minister of Foreign Affairs.
A
Marshall plan for post-communist Europe. This is something
that the West should seriously consider.
Grigory Yavlinsky,
Obschaya Gazeta No 48, November 30, 2000
Five years ago one of the leading European politicians
asked me about the global goal of the Yabloko party. I replied
that our goal is to make Russia a European country in 20-25
years. On hearing my reply, he said, lowering his voice:
"Never say this to anyone again - the bureaucrats in
Brussels would die from horror, if they heard that Russia
plans to become part of the EU." This was when I realised
that something was wrong with the integration of Europe.
Why
are we poor?
Sergei Ivanenko, Deputy Head of the Yabloko faction
“Vechernaya Moskva”, November 13, 2000
There are many people who would welcome a discussion as
to why are we clever, but not rich. They would gladly speak
about the uniqueness of Russia and its special path of development.
I believe that our poverty is attributable above all to
society's attitude to business people, who are the engines
of economic growth.
Russian
Liberal Parties Stumble In Effort to Create an Alliance
Wall Street Journal, By ALAN
CULLISON
November 21, 2000
"That will never happen," says Mr. Yavlinsky.
"We have differences in economic policy, we have differences
in politics, we have differences in
personalities."
|
| OCTOBER 2000 |
|
Russia
wants change
The Russian Journal, By Otto Latsis
April 03, 2000
Shortly before the presidential elections,
on March 23—25, the Agency for Regional Political Studies
(ARPI) carried out another routine sociological survey.
This gives us a chance to look at how reliable these types
of surveys are and ascertain what mood voters were in as
they went to the polls.
Anti-war
Yavlinsky is Russia's real patriot
The Russian Journal, By Michael
Heath
January 17, 2000
To call for a halt to a hugely popular war
in the midst of an election campaign, as liberal Yabloko
leader Grigory Yavlinsky did late last year, would normally
amount to political suicide.
Yavlinsky
sees no hope for economy before elections
The Russia Journal
August 23, 1999
Russia's economy is unlikely to improve under
new Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and will only pick up
after next year's presidential election, leading liberal
politician Grigory Yavlinsky said.
Yeltsin
to blame for country's backward slide to feudalism
By Grigory Yavlinsky
July 05, 1999
After eight years with Boris Yeltsin at its helm, Russiaremains
mired in political and economic crisis. As Yabloko leader
Grigory Yavlinsky explains, not only has Russia failed to
rebuild from the wreckage of the Soviet Union, it could
be in the first stage of its destruction as a sovereign
state.
Yabloko
bloc gets lift from alliance.
By EKATERINA LARINA , The Russia Journal
Semptember 6, 1999
The recently formed alliance of Sergei Stepashin and Grigory
Yavlinsky may be a rare case of a political compromise in
which the gains for those involved greatly outweigh the
concessions, pollsters, analysts and politicians say.
Yavlinsky,
Yabloko Gain Key Support
The St.Petersburg Times,
By Brian Whitmore Staff Writer
February 23, 2000
Liberal economist Grigory Yavlinsky, long
the odd man out in Russian politics, suddenly seems to be
picking up support among media and financial elites as well
as in the country's regions.
Russia
Today's exclusive pre-election interview with Grigory Yavlinsky
Russia Today
By Igor Semenenko Staff Writer
July 28, 2000
Five days before the runoff election, Grigory
Yavlinsky, chairman of the Yabloko Party, took time to talk
to Russia Today correspondent Tracy Dove on July 28 and
explain his views on the course of the Russian presidential
elections. Yavlinsky, who finished fourth in the first round,
is potentially a pivotal figure in the race. He has conditionally
endorsed incumbent Boris Yeltsin, but he is scheduled to
meet with the president. Speculation favors that he will
join Yeltsin's government.
Amended
PSA Law Provides Tax Option
The Moscow Times,
By Igor Semenenko, Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 30, 2000
Three major factions in the State Duma have
united efforts to pass an amendment to the law on production
sharing agreements, or PSAs, giving local companies an option
to choose between two tax schemes.
Duma
Passes Budget in 2nd Reading
The Moscow Times,
By Igor Semenenko, Staff Writer
Saturday, October 21, 2000
The draft 2001 budget sailed through the State
Duma on a second reading Friday powered by government concessions
giving the regions a larger share of the tax take.
COMMODITIES
& AGRICULTURE: Russia tries to come to terms with West:
New production sharing agreements seen as last chance to
draw foreign investment to oil and gas sector, says Anna
Sherman:
Financial Times, October 4, 2000
Today the European Commission is expected to discuss proposals
for developing a long-term strategic energy partnership
with Russia following exploratory talks about importing
oil and gas.
Last month Mikhail Kasyanov, the Russian prime minister,
visited London and tried to encourage Western oil and gas
companies to take advantage of new production sharing agreements
(PSAs)
|
| AUGUST 2000 |
|
AUTUMN
OF CHANGES?
By Alexander Romanovsky, Komsomolskaya Pravda, August
22, 2000, p. 5
Observers and commentators cannot complain that nothing
has happened on the eve of the forthcoming political autumn,
which promises to be hot. How can we assess the regime's
relations with the political elite? After all, the success
or failure of the reforms depends to a large extent on
their support.
Putin's
Year
Sergei Ivanenko, Vremya Novostei, No
99, August 9, 2000
The main thing that happened during Putin's
year is that Yeltsin's era ended first in actual fact and
then legally. A new stage of the country's development was
launched. Putin's activity is in public view: he began an
anti-terrorist operation in Dagestan which grew into a military
conflict, he is trying to implement economic reforms and
reform of the federative structure.
|
| JULY 2000 |
|
Delayed
Revolution
Alexei Mikhailov, Mikhail ZadornovVyedomosti, July
19, 2000
One of the principle changes in the tax system, which
will be discussed by the Duma today, concerns the transition
in VAT payments with CIS countries to the principle "country
of destination". What does this mean for Russia?
Alexandr
Makarov (Krasnoyarsk), Viktor Khamrayev, Deputies, Demonstrate
Solidarity with Their Former Colleague
"Vremuya Novostei", July 20, 2000, No 85,
p.3
Yesterday the Duma supported its former deputy Viktor
Gitin (Yabloko), subject to criminal proceedings by the
Public Prosecutor of Krasnoyarsk Territory since March
2000 for "accepting a large bribe".
Yabloko
is a mission. Yavlinsky's party rehearses its ability to
reach agreement on the right
Interview of Sergei Ivanenko by Sergei Miulin,"Segodnya",
No 151, July 13, 2000
Deputy Head of the Yabloko faction Sergei
Ivanenko expressed Yabloko’s views on the SPS to the correspondent
of "Segodnya" Sergei Miulin
Question: Sergei Viktorovich, what was the main conclusion
that Yabloko drew at the 8th Congress over its defeat
in the parliamentary and presidential elections?
Ivanenko: The most important result can be summed up
as follows: we have managed to keep the party intact.
Duma
Urges Ustinov to End Gitin Inquiry
The Moscow Times, July 26, 2000
The State Duma has sent an inquiry to Prosecutor
General Vladimir Ustinov calling for an end to the criminal
investigation against former legislator Viktor Gitin.
Gitin, the former deputy head of the Duma’s budget committee
and a member of the Yabloko faction, was arrested in March
on charges of getting kickbacks from a Krasnoyarsk bank
for arranging transfers of federal funds through its accounts
during his term in parliament.
Halfway
to Happiness. Yabloko proposes the election of Federation
Council members
"Segodnya", July 12, 2000
Deputy Chairman of the Yabloko faction in the State Duma
announced that it had started to collect signatures to support
the introduction of an amendment to the Constitution of
the RF on direct elections to Federation Council members.
Andrei
Stepanov Yavlinsky to breed a new type of Yabloko*
"Izvestiya", July 10, 2000, page 3
Grigory Yavlinsky said that his party Yabloko
is "ready to provide a credit of trust to the present President".
However, the congress where he made this statement
was devoted to another matter. Grigory Alexeevich, using
medical jargon, has decided to subject Yabloko to intensive
therapy: the whole party should be revived and skilfully
added to the party system built by the Kremlin.
|
| JUNE 2000 |
|
Alexei
Mikhailov (Yabloko). Tax Revolution is Clogged Up
Interview with "Vremya Novostei" newspaper No 56,
p.2 June 8, 2000
The tax reform started yesterday. A member of the Duma
Committee on Budget Alexei Mikhailov (the Yabloko faction)
shared his views on the start of the reform with a correspondent
from the "Vremya Novostei" newspaper Viktor Khmaryev.
Sergei
Ivanenko: ordinary citizens may follow Vladimir Gusinsky-s
way
from the hro.org/actions/gusinsky/ivanenko.htm
website "Vladimir Gusinsky's case"
The arrest of the head of the Media-Most holding
company, Vladimir Gusinsky, is obviously politically motivated.
|
| MAY 2000 |
|
The
U.S.-Russian divide
By Vladimir Lukin- vice chairman of the
Russian State Duma and former Russian ambassador to the
United States. May 31, 2000
Not confrontation but cooperation — that must
be the logic of relations between Russia and NATO. Both
sides have a stake in a constant, constructive dialogue.
Moscow needs it because today NATO is the most powerful
military-political organization of the Western world, a
reality that cannot be ignored.
|
| APRIL 2000 |
|
Sickly
Gitin Freed
The Moscow Times, April 25, 2000
KRASNOYARSK , Western Siberia — Former State
Duma Deputy Viktor Gitin, who was arrested three weeks ago
on charges of bribery, was released from a prison hospital
Monday, but had to sign an obligation not to leave Krasnoyarsk.
SPS
Looking Weaker Next To Yabloko
THE MOSCOW TIMES
Boris Nemtsov declared a victory Wednesday after the State
Duma installed him and Yabloko's Vladimir Lukin as deputy
speakers. He called it a defeat for the Communists, who
had helped block the nominations. "Centrist and center-right
factions in the chamber have a chance in the near future
to work constructively, without the Communists, on a range
of key laws for our country - land and tax codes, passing
a responsible and honest budget," Reuters quoted Nemtsov
as saying.
Primakov
Shared Votes with Yavlinsky
By Ivan Syetochkin The Internet
poll of “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” newspaper (NG)
The acting President, according to the readers
of our site, would lose the first round of presidential
elections to Yabloko’s leader
Although
he didn't win, he held his ground. On the results of Grigory
Yavlinsky presidential campaign
Yabloko Rossiyi No 14(106)By Sergei Mitrokhin, Deputy
of the State Duma, the Yabloko factionApril 8, 2000
Everyone I have talked to about elections noted that
this was Yabloko's best electoral campaign since its formation.
Such a campaign could not fail to generate a significant
increase votes.
Putin
will strengthen the criminal nomenclatura system
Yabloko Rossiyi No 14(106)Interview of Grigory Yavlinsky
by Francois Bonnet, "Le Monde", April 3, 2000April 8,
2000
Francois Bonnet: Do you share the opinion
of the communists that numerous falsifications occurred
during the presidential elections on March 26, where
Vladimir Putin already won in the first round?
Grigory Yavlinsky: Probably, we have also
noted many strange incidents. Our real result differs
greatly from the official figures, as everyone agrees.
Voting was unfortunately rigged, as was the case in
1993 and 1996.
|
| MARCH 2000 |
|
Yavlinsky
Campaign Reveals Personal Life
By Sarah Karush
Staff Write
The Moscow Times, March 22, 2000
The voters have known Grigory Yavlinsky
for a decade, but certain crucial facts about the Yabloko
leader are only being revealed to them now.
Few knew, for instance, that his wife had
to help him tie his tie every morning. Or about his aversion
to frankfurters (a result of eating too many in his student
days, says his wife).
Yabloko
Campaigner Flees Bashkortostan After Arrest
The Moscow Times, By Oksana Yablokova, Staff
Writer, Thursday, March 30, 2000
A Yabloko party activist has been detained by police and
held for a night behind bars in Bashkortostan in connection
with Yabloko's opposition to the regional leader, his sister
said.
Dmitry Khrustalyov is the second regional Yabloko activist
detained in the past week in what appears to be a national
campaign against the liberal opposition party.
Former
Yabloko Deputy Held On Bribe-Taking Allegations
The Moscow Times, By Oksana Yablokova, Staff
Writer, Wednesday, March 29, 2000
Viktor Gitin, a prominent member of the Yabloko party
and a former State Duma deputy, has been detained on suspicion
of taking bribes and sent to face charges in his native
Krasnoyarsk, officials said Tuesday.
Grigory
Yavlinsky: Putin is Dangerous for Russia
Corriere della Serra, by Renzo Cianfanelli,
March 24, 2000
The presidential election campaign in Russia
is coming to an end. Compared to the presidential election
campaign in 1996 which ended with the election of Boris
Yeltsin as President of the country, and to the exceedingly
aggressive and "dirty" State Duma electoral campaign, the
competition between the 11 candidates (the 12th candidate,
Evgeni Savostyanov, a long-standing liberal, decided not
to run and called on his electorate to vote for the reformer
Grigory Yavlinsky), it looks as if this campaign will finish
emotionlessly - with a more than probable victory for Vladimir
Putin.
Yavlinsky's
star rises among Russia's middle class
Financial TimesThursday, March 23, 2000
The travel agency Big Tour on Tverskoy Boulevard in the
centre of Moscow is selling package holidays to well-to-do
Russians. Between handing out glossy booklets and answering
calls about sunny resorts in the Aegean, the employees
talk politics.
Liberals
Line Up Behind Yavlinsky
By Lynn Berry, Staff Writer Moscow TimesThursday,
March 23, 2000
In a lightening quick change on the political scene
just days before the presidential election, leading
liberals from the Union of Right Forces jumped on the
bandwagon of candidate Grigory Yavlinsky late Wednesday.
|
| FEBRUARY 2000 |
|
Yavlinsky
Presses Putin on Borodin
By Oksana Yablokova,
Staff Write
The Moscow Times, February
5, 2000
Grigory Yavlinsky has called on acting President Vladimir
Putin to make his position clear on the situation involving
Pavel Borodin, a former top Kremlin official who is wanted
in Switzerland on charges of money laundering.
Putin "must finally and clearly indicate his position
regarding high-ranking officials accused of corruption,"
Yabloko's Yavlinsky said Sunday night, Interfax reported.
$10Bln
Debt Write-Off Derided as Too Little
The Moscow Times, By Igor Semenenko,
Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 15, 2000
A day after the government claimed a major triumph in
convincing Western banks to write off $10.6 billion in Soviet-era
debt, authoritative voices ranging from former finance ministers
to the Yabloko Party came out firmly against the deal.
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