Press Release, 6.12.2025

Photo: Grigory Yavlinsky / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

At a meeting of the Yabloko Party Federal Council, Grigory Yavlinsky presented a report on the key challenges of our time and the party’s role in conditions of mounting international and domestic threats.

Yavlinsky noted that the socio-political situation in Russia and the world is becoming increasingly complex: mechanisms of global security are being destroyed, pressure on freedom and independent institutions is intensifying, and repression and censorship are growing.

“The world has entered an era of timelessness. The world order that existed for 80 years after the end of World War II is receding into the past and ceasing to function. World leaders are demonstrating an inability to make, or even discuss, the most important decisions,” he stated.

Among the most dangerous trends, the Yabloko leader highlighted the reduction of the value of human life – its displacement from world politics. He paid particular attention to artificial intelligence as a new factor affecting all spheres of life, including politics. According to Yavlinsky, AI carries the risk of excluding the human being as the central subject from the future organisation of life: “If new technologies are placed at the centre, then the human being, his freedom, and his vital interests – healthcare, education, and creativity – will be of a third-rate importance.”

Within Russia, censorship, pressure on dissenting opinion and repressive laws continue to intensify. Dialogue with society is being replaced by fear and propaganda, and any dissent is declared hostile. Particularly noticeable, Yavlinsky emphasised, is the growing pressure on Yabloko in the run-up to the 2026 elections – because of the party’s open and consistent position advocating an agreement on a ceasefire and the start of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

Despite the pressure, Yabloko has been working in extreme conditions for almost four years: helping people, attracting supporters and participating in elections at all levels. The events of recent years have fully confirmed the correctness of the party’s position on the main question today – the necessity of a ceasefire.

Yavlinsky emphasised that in the current critical situation it is necessary to return people to the centre of politics – their life, freedom, rights and dignity. The response to the challenges, he said, includes: subordinating state structures and new technologies to human interests; recognising that politics leading to loss of human life requires an immediate change of course; developing a model for the future based not on territories and not on money, but on a free and secure life.

Such a future, he noted, represents an alternative not only to the existing Russian model, but also to communist and nationalist populism.

A separate part of the speech, in the year marking 40 years since the beginning of Perestroika and 35 years since the “500 Days” programme, was devoted to historical lessons. Grigory Yavlinsky highlighted four such lessons:

Gorbachev’s experience shows: a window of opportunity will open. It is unknown when and in what form, but one must be prepared for this. The main thing is the human being, his life and freedom. An economic programme is not enough: if you hand over its implementation to others, nothing will come of it. Politicians are needed and a political party is needed. That is why Yabloko exists.

Photo: Federal Council meeting / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Speaking about the party’s current activities, the Yabloko leader emphasised that work on local problems is important, but should not obscure fundamental questions of the country’s development. The party’s activists must concentrate on initiatives that determine Russia’s prospects and its place in the world.

He again identified the strategic project “Greater Europe – Lisbon – Vladivostok” as the only realistic direction capable of ensuring Russia and Europe’s security and development in the 21st century.

Concluding his speech, the Yabloko leader said:

“Russia is our country; we respect and love it, we share in its tragedies. Yabloko is a party devoted to Russia, and everything it does is directed towards its future. Right now the main thing is a free, prosperous and bright future for Russia, in which the main thing is people and their dignity. This is the goal and task of the Yabloko Party. We know how to realistically achieve this.”