On the historical risks of Russia’s artificial estrangement from European civilisation
Decision by the Yabloko Federal Political Committee of 24 March 2023
Published on 27.04.2023
Photo by Vladimir Sergeyev, RIA Novosti
The Statute of the Council of Europe, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the European Social Charter, the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption, the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism and other international legal acts of the Council of Europe have ceased functioning in Russia.
Expulsion of Russia from the Council of Europe and the legal break with the community of European countries represents a consequence of the decision to launch a special military operation.
The denunciation of the European treaties and [abrogation] of Russia’s obligations will result in the changes in the [Russian] federal constitutional laws “On the State of Emergency” and “On the Martial Law” that are relevant in the current situation. The denunciation of European treaties virtually relieves the Russian authorities of their international obligations and responsibility for any restrictions and violations of the rights and freedoms of citizens during martial law and a state of emergency.
These decisions legally formalise a new forcible civilisational anti-European choice of the country with centuries-old European history.
They reflect the intention of the current Russian authorities to eradicate all the political and legal European roots of Russia, and break the natural European ties of Russia as an integral part of Europe.
This is the essence of President Putin’s policy denying the priority of the fundamental human rights and liberties and the constitutional duty of the authorities to protect these rights. Essentially, this means a fundamental rejection of the democratic foundations of the modern Russian state.
The anti-European choice comes into conflict with the 1,000 years of Russian history starting from the early Middle Ages.
The Rurik dynasty had direct European roots, the Romanov dynasty had multiple dynastic, that is, direct blood ties with European dynasties.
The Russian language belongs to the East Slavic language group, the languages of which are deeply rooted and widespread on the territory of the European continent.
The highest achievements of the Russian culture in music, literature, fine arts, architecture and sculpture are an important part of the European culture.
The Russian legal system bases on the principles of the Romano-Germanic, that is, European, legal system.
Actually, the denial of the European roots of Russia means the denial of the value of the entire previous history of the country, the achievements of Russian statesmen, public figures and cultural figures, and leads to the distortion of history in favour of the misinterpreted momentary political interests and maintenance of personal power at any cost.
Before the Bolshevik coup of 1917, Russia tried to put into practice European achievements in state building and public policy: freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, democratic elections, local self-government, parliament, and independent justice. Moreover, modern European public law has also some Russian roots dating back to the Pskov Judicial Charter (late 14th – mid-15th century) and the Novgorod Judicial Charter (15th century).
Anti-European policies [of the Russian authorities] represent a civilisational U-turn leading the country to a historical dead end, which will take many years, perhaps decades, to overcome.
The policy of breaking up with European traditions and rejecting European humanistic values contradicts not only the history of Russia, but, first and foremost, the strategic interests of Russian society and the state. It poses a direct threat to the rights and interests of the majority of Russian citizens.
Unfortunately, the policies of artificial tearing Russia away from Europe is not unilateral. The decisions of a number of European countries to restrict the right of Russian citizens to freely move around Europe, the severing of ties between educational, academic and cultural organisations, non-governmental organisations, and other similar actions against ordinary citizens, carried out on the basis of citizenship, only increase isolation.
The Federal Political Committee of the Yabloko Party states the following:
- The artificial political, economic, cultural and civilisational separation of Russia from modern Europe represents a strategic mistake.
- The integration of European states on the basis of liberal democratic values made it possible to stop bloody wars on the European continent, despite the sharp and long-term contradictions between the nations. We should use this successful historical experience, rather than impose an anti-European choice on the country, which in the current conditions represents a road to nowhere.
- Peaceful resolution of value-based, cultural, educational, linguistic and political contradictions that objectively existed and have been accumulating between Russia and Ukraine, is possible on the principles laid down in the foundation of the modern European community.
- Compliance with European principles ensures the growth of well-being, improves the quality of life and considerably broadens the opportunities and prospects for the majority of Russian citizens.
- Commitment to the European political principles will help Russia to preserve civil peace and prevent xenophobia, nationalism and Nazism.
- It is important in the current situation to maintain international human contacts, and pursue the people’s diplomacy policies persistently and patiently.
Grigory Yavlinsky,
Chairman of the Federal Political Committee of
the Yabloko Party
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Posted: April 28th, 2023 under Foreign policy, Governance, History, Human Rights, Political Committee Decisions, Russia-Eu relations, Russia-Ukraine relations, Без рубрики.