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Rosbalt, February 20, 2004

Grigory Yavlinsky: Russia Lacks the Underlying Framework required for a Democratic Vote

MOSCOW, February 20. 'YABLOKO is the only party in Russia whose convention decided not to support Vladimir Putin in the presidential elections,' YABLOKO leader Grigory Yavlinsky asserted on Ekho Moskvi radio. He also noted that the party convention had officially labelled the coming elections 'dishonest, unjust and undemocratic.'

Yavlinsky said YABLOKO adopted a compromise policy with President Putin in the wake of September 11, 2001, had worked with him in seeking ways to realize what was most important for Russia. 'We especially supported the president during that most difficult time and specifically in the struggle against international terrorism. It was extremely important that Russia take the right decision and not end up left out,' Yavlinsky insisted. However, he said, 'as time went on, the area for compromise began to narrow and, in the last analysis, this led us to choose not to accept the presidential elections.'

“To have democratic elections, at least three conditions must be met: a relatively independent judicial system, in other words an independent referee for the elections. There have to be independent nationwide media organizations. And there has to be the possibility of independent sources of financing,' the YABLOKO leader said. No election can be considered democratic, if these three conditions are not met, even minimally. Not one of them is met today in Russia, Yavlinsky asserted.

 

See also:

Presidential elections 2004

Rosbalt, February 20, 2004

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