Press Release, 6.05.2025

On 29 April, a meeting of the Federal Political Committee of the Yabloko party was held in Moscow. Grigory Yavlinsky, Chairman of the Federal Political Committee, delivered a report on the political situation in the country and the world. The Political Committee discussed the key challenges facing Russia and the international community, and adopted two programme documents: on the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine and on the future of Russia, as well as statements dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in World War II.

Not to miss the chance for peace after three years of tragedy

One of the central documents of the meeting was a statement on the need for an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and a transition to negotiations.

Today, when the dialogue is taking place at a high international level, and both the sides — Russia and Ukraine — declare their readiness for negotiations without preconditions, a real chance to stop the bloodshed appears.

“This is a chance that cannot be missed,” the document emphasises.

First of all, it is necessary to seek an agreement on a ceasefire and stopping of strikes between Russia and Ukraine; the creation of a reliable control mechanism and incentives for both sides to comply with it; an exchange of prisoners of war and the bodies of the dead “all for all”; an agreement on a demilitarised zone with clear border lines.

The next steps, according to the Yabloko party, are the formation of a system of mutual guarantees, the restoration of relations between Russia and the West, the reduction of weapons and the creation of a new security architecture in Europe.

“Stopping the daily killings of people is the highest justice today and a guarantee of security in the future,” the statement runs.

On the future of Russia

The Federal Political Committee presented a vision of the future of Russia after the end of the war – as part of Greater Europe, a country focused on freedom, human rights and human dignity.

When the war is over, Russia will be in an extremely difficult situation, the statement runs. In addition to the economic consequences, Russia will face the most difficult social challenges, including the return of hundreds of thousands of combat veterans who will need to heal their physical and mental injuries, find their place in the new reality and will not receive their previous incomes. “Having gone through the war, neither they nor the country as a whole will be able to simply return to their previous life,” the decision emphasises.

Particularly dangerous are the increase of repression, the escalation of fear, interethnic and interreligious conflicts, the terrorist threat, and attempts to build a “digital concentration camp” – systems of total control under the pretext of security.

The Yabloko party rejects the concept of a “civilisational state” and isolationism – this is the path to degradation and long-term backwardness of the country. Russia, according to Yabloko, should not become a satellite of China — a country with a European cultural foundation should strive for partnership with Europe:

“European integration from Lisbon to Vladivostok is not a utopia, but a real, albeit distant perspective, but a change in public sentiment, public demand and the political will of leaders are necessary so that to move towards it. Our task in Russia is to promote this idea in the public consciousness with an eye to the future.”

Yabloko believes that humanistic values ​​should become the basis for Russia’s future development, while technologies should serve people, rather than control them.

80 years of Victory in World War II: preventing another world war

The Yabloko Political Committee notes that the international order that emerged after 1945 has ended, and the world is once again on the brink of a global conflict. Fear of the use of nuclear weapons is the only thing holding back a new world war.

“The world is getting used to war, politicians see it as a means of maintaining power, businesses view the growth of military orders as an effective means of development, and social media audiences enjoy virtual unity with “friends” and war with “foes”. It is time to recognise the need to stop the somnambulistic movement of the world’s states towards what can no longer be corrected.”

Yabloko calls for making the preservation of humanity and the value of every human life a priority underlying any political action.

The Memory of Victory in World War II as the foundation for peace

The second statement, “The Memory of Victory in World War II as the Foundation of Peace,” is dedicated to the historical and moral significance of the victory over fascism for Russia.

“The victory over fascism is one of the key, meaningful events in the history of our country. We bow our heads and honor the memory of those who died in the struggle for life, for our country, against the state misanthropic ideology of fascism, the practices of physical destruction of defenceless people,” the statement runs.

The Soviet people paid a huge price for the victory, and its memory requires a careful, honest and respectful attitude:

“We state with pain that the theme of World War II is increasingly being used not to unite, but to divide people. Instead of moving towards historical truth, we are faced with the exploitation of old myths and the creation of new ones. This is disregard for the memory of those who earned Victory [over fascism] with their lives.”

The Yabloko party calls for disclosing archives, respecting facts, even if they are inconvenient from the point of view of political conjuncture, and not allowing the use of Victory in World War II so that to justify repression, Stalinism and Bolshevism.

“We appeal to Russians who remember and honour the Victory: do not give in to hatred and provocations aimed at dehumanisation, humiliation of human dignity of fellow citizens and citizens of other countries – the descendants of the creators of Victory.”

The full texts of the Federal Political Committee decisions will be published on the Yabloko’s website shortly.