Is
Modernisation in Russia Possible? Interview
with Grigory Yavlinsky and Boris Titov by Yury Pronko,
"The Real Time" programme, Radio Finam, May
12, 2010
Vitaly Zubenko, Deputy Chairman of Yabloko’s regional branch in the Stavropol Territory, Yabloko branch instructor and party member Yelena Gavrilova, and local branch Chairman Yevgeny Golovashchenko have submitted an application to the Stavropol city administration for a “Free Internet” rally.
The Kazan Executive Committee has elaborated on its refusal to approve a Yabloko rally for Internet freedom and against the blocking of the Telegram messenger. The event’s organiser — Yabloko lawyer and activist Sofya Fyodorova — received a new letter from the city administration on the evening of 24 March.
30 March would have been the 80th birthday of Arseny Roginsky, historian, dissident, former political prisoner, and head and co-founder of the Memorial Human Rights Society*.
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Russia’s complete failure to carry out the reforms of the 1990s and its descent into deep political crisis has now been compounded by the end of the era that took shape after World War II.
Disorganisation and chaos are growing in world politics. Almost everyone is discussing current events and speculating about where it will all lead: what will happen with Donald Trump, the Middle East, Europe, Ukraine and Russia, and the global economy. Nobody knows the answers, and so diametrically opposed assessments and opinions abound.
Photo: Round table on the protection of the rights of Muscovites, February 2026 / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
The Moscow branch of the Yabloko party has announced the launch of the Open Public Reception project: once a month, the regional branch’s leadership will hold meetings with Moscow residents on matters concerning the protection of the rights and interests of Muscovites.
Photo: Postcards by artist Sasha Skochilenko, a former political prisoner / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Yabloko is continuing its regular action of writing letters to political prisoners. Every month, Yabloko members and all who wish to attend the events at the party’s offices in Moscow and the regions sign postcards and write letters to people who are being held in custody on politically motivated criminal charges. According to human rights defenders, as of 20 March 2026, there are at least 1,450 political prisoners in Russia.
The Yabloko party is announcing the relaunch of the Yabloko Party University, an open lecture platform inspired by European traditions of political education and the free exchange of ideas.
Moscow Yabloko is continuing its series of round tables devoted to protecting the rights of Muscovites. On 31 March, a meeting with representatives of the education sector, politicians, and academics will be held at the Yabloko Moscow office. The theme of the round table is “Education for the 21st Century: What Skills Should Schools and Universities Provide?”
Artur Gaiduk, a Yabloko deputy in the Pskov Regional Assembly and a medical doctor, has written to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin proposing improvements to the quality of assisted reproductive technology services within the compulsory medical insurance (CMI) system.
On 18 March, Pavel Kharitonenko, an activist and Yabloko supporter, filed a lawsuit with the Kirovsky District Court of Irkutsk over the city administration’s refusal to approve a rally against the blocking of the Internet, certain messaging applications and services. Kharitonenko indicates in the lawsuit that constitutional right of the plaintiff to peaceful assembly, meetings, rallies and demonstrations, as well as the right to orgnise public events was violated
Photo: Sergei Muratov, member of the Federation Council of Russia representing the legislative (representative) body of state authority of the Kurgan Region / Photo by Dmitry Lebedev, Kommersant
Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov has sent a letter to Public Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Alexander Gutsan demanding a legal assessment of a statement made by Federation Council member Sergei Muratov. The Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Defence and Security publicly declared his intention to “mobilise the entire defence-industrial complex” to vote for the candidate from the ruling United Russia party in the upcoming State Duma elections.
The organisers of the rally “In Defence of a Free Internet” in Kazan — representatives of Yabloko — published on Wednesday the Executive Committee’s response to their notification. Officials stated that the aim of “drawing public and media attention” to the blocking of messaging applications and the Internet more broadly “did not meet the requirements” of the Law “On Rallies”.
Photo: Marina Zheleznyakova / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
On 18 March, Russia’s Fifth Court of Appeals heard the appeal of Marina Zheleznyakova, Chair of the Yabloko regional branch in the Maritime Territory, against her conviction on a charge of “rehabilitation of Nazism” and a fine of 2 million roubles. In the appeal, her lawyer Sergei Valiulin cited “significant”, “egregious” and “repeated” procedural violations by the Primorsky Regional Court, which had delivered its verdict in November 2025: the jury had included individuals who were ineligible under the law, the judge had breached the secrecy of deliberations, and the proceedings had been conducted according to a script drawn up by the prosecution. On those grounds, Marina Zheleznyakova demanded either that the conviction be quashed or that she be tried again in proceedings conducted in accordance with Russian law, rather than in flagrant disregard of it.
Photo: Alexander Shishlov / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
On 16 March, the website of the Petrogradsky District Court of St.Petersubrg informed on an administrative case against Alexander Shishlov, Coordinator of the Yabloko Federal Political Committee and head of the Yabloko faction in the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly. According to the information, the charge was filed under the article on “displaying extremist symbols” (Article 20.3, Part 1, of the Code of Administrative Offenses).
Photo: Sofya Fyodorova, lawyer and applicant for the Kazan rally / Photo by the Tatarstan branch of Yabloko
Representatives of Yabloko submitted a notification to the Kazan Executive Committee regarding a planned rally in defence of a free Internet, the Tatarstan branch of the party has announced. The stated aim of the event is to “draw the attention of the public, the media, and state authorities” to the protection of citizens’ right to freedom of information, including the freedom to seek, receive, and disseminate it. In addition to opposing the blocking and slow down of messaging across the Russian Federation, Yabloko members intend to speak out against the imposition of the state messenger MAX.
Statement by the Bureau of the Moscow Regional Branch of the Yabloko Party, 16.03.2026
Photo: The building of the Automatic Telephone Switching Centre as it stands today (left) and the proposed residential complex (right) / Photo: by @Buegvl/Yandex.Panoramas, Archi.ru
The Moscow Urban Planning and Land Commission has approved the concept for the construction of a premium residential complex at 25 Bolshaya Ordynka. The implementation of this project entails the demolition of the first Moscow Automatic Telephone Switching Centre built in 1927 to a standard design by engineer Vaclav Patek. We consider this decision to be misguided and damaging to the historic character of the [Moscow historic region of] Zamoskvorechye.
Pavel Kharitonenko, activist and organiser of the “For a Free Internet” rally in Irkutsk, has received the city administration’s response to his application to hold the event. The refusal was expected; however, the grounds given are remarkable: demands for free access to information and freedom of expression are, according to the authorities, unlawful.
Today, on 13 March, the Irkutsk branch of Yabloko has submitted another notification to the Irkutsk city administration for a rally “For a Free Internet” and in defence of Telegram. This was reported by Grigory Gribenko, Chairman of Irkutsk Yabloko and a member of the organising committee for the forthcoming event.
Since 6 March, there have been mass shutdowns of the Internet and mobile communications across Moscow, leaving residents of the capital at times completely cut off from the outside world and unable to obtain assistance or services. In addition, regional small and medium-sized businesses have been sustaining losses running into billions of roubles. The authorities, meanwhile, have not only failed to provide any explanation but have also offered no alternatives to protect Moscow residents from recurring isolation. On 13 March, the Bureau of Moscow Yabloko set out its demands: that the authorities support businesses, improve the provision of information to citizens, and explain the reasons behind the total shutdown of the Internet and mobile communications.
Statement by the Bureau of the Yabloko’s Green Russia Faction, 11.03.2026
Photo: A Yabloko party event in Petrozavodsk, Karelia, on the first anniversary of the Fukushima disaster, 2012 / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
The disaster at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant has entered the history of nuclear energy as one of the largest man-made catastrophes in human history. The explosions at three reactor units, combined with the release of radionuclides into coastal waters, contaminated vast areas with hazardous materials. An enormous number of people were exposed to radiation. The consequences of the Fukushima disaster have not been eliminated. Radioactive water continues to flow into the world’s oceans. Untreated nuclear materials remain a potential danger to the populations of South-East Asia. Radionuclides, entering the food chains of marine ecosystems, are spreading far beyond the region. The threat of internal radiation exposure persists for millions of people in Japan and other countries, including Russia.
