Press Release, 16.06.2017

Ekho Moskvy radio station conducted live discussion of the publication in the newspaper Kommersant which reported that YABLOKO, at the initiative of presidential candidate Grigory Yavlinsky, was launching “Time to Return Home” campaign.

The campaign is targeted at making the state abolish the military campaign in Syria in favour of engaging in the development of Russia’s economy and social sphere. Next week, the party leadership will make detailed comments on the forms and essence of this Yabloko’s campaign.

Yabloko Chair Emilia Slabunova commented on the party initiative:

“Syria is just an example which shows the priorities of our government and the President. Unfortunately, their priorities lie beyond the borders of the country.

The Syrian operation cost our country 99.5 billion roubles. At the same time, [the government] each time voiced different goals of the operation [in Syria]: either strengthening of the legal regime, or fight against terrorism. However, this money could have sufficed to build 452 kindergartens for 200 children each and cure 366,000 cancer patients.

We must allot this money to the solution of our [domestic] problems, invest in Russian children instead of a situation when citizens all together try to collect money for treatment of sick children, into education of children, into development of cities and towns that are in extremely difficult condition today.

We are certain that residents of all 38 regions where we will conduct our campaign share our point of view.”

The anchors of the radio programme offered listeners to vote if they were ready to put their signatures so that Russia would not to participate in the armed conflicts outside the country, and 89 per cent of the radio station listeners answered this question positively.