Press release, 19.12.2015

Opening the XVIII Congress of the party its leader Sergei Mitrokhin stated that YABLOKO can count on effective result at the elections to the State Duma. He proposed to elect a new party Chairman for one year term to decided whether he/she can manage the party following the results of his/her work.

Sergei Mitrokhin made a report on the party’s activity within three years’ term. According to Mitrokhin, the main result of his work is preserving of the party and strengthening of its positions in the conditions of the dramatic deterioration of the situation in the country.

“We have stated the central point of our strategy as preserving and strengthening the party as an independent political organisation in relation to the authorities of all levels with steadfast ideological and political principles, ready to take responsibility for ruling the country”, said Mitrokhin.

YABLOKO leader named the major strategic goals – setting the party as an alternative to Putin’s regime; active and effective participation in elections, cooperation with civil society, closer attention to the regional branches via support at the elections of all levels, providing independence of regional [party] branches from regional administrations; coalition policy which will not demand denial of the party principals and other things.

“When I was elected Chairman in 2008 I have all of you the promise to preserve the party. We all know it was not an empty phrase or a banal remark, we all know that a large number of political parties suffered such a fate at that time and the next period. At that moment such a threat appeared in the distance for us as well. I think that this promise, more likely a guarantee, was fully brought to life”, noted Sergei Mitrokhin.

“Since that time the situation in the country has deteriorated dramatically – from the point of view of political regime and its pressure on the civil society, political and party systems, but at the same time the situation within our party has improved”, he stressed.

According to Sergei Mitrokhin, it happened because YABLOKO gave an adequate response to all these outer challenges which not only helped to preserve the party but helped to strengthen and develop it.

“At this point the important thing is not only the physical and legal existence of the party but preserving its principles, it’s political face. Nearly nobody survived this challenge”.

Sergei Mitrokhin claims that the Memorandum of political alternative, which was developed last year, is a bright example of preserving the party face.

YABLOKO leader also stressed that the party essentially improved the results at the elections to the State Duma of 2011 – passed the 3 percent barrier, received budgetary financing, cancelled signature collection [to be registered to run in the elections] standing for canceling signature collection for other parties as well.

He stressed, the increase of electoral results in the regions can be observed, for example, YABLOKO’s average result at the elections in Moscow in 2014 was 12,5 percent, in 2015 eight party candidates’ lists entered the city and district parliaments in several regions of Russia.

At the moment the party has nine deputies in six Legislative Assemblies, 173 municipal deputies in 21 regions.

Sergei Mitrokhin claims that all these allows us to count on a successful result at the elections to the State Duma of 2016.

He stressed that only YABLOKO is a consequent alternative to President Vladimir Putin. Political documents, party programmes have been developed for this purpose (“7 steps to equality of opportunities”, “Land, houses, roads”), we have the candidate for President of Russia – Grigory Yavlinsky – and the team of professionals.

“Moreover, we try to maintain the reputation of a political party of the European type which thinks that our country must follow the European way of development”, he emphasized.

YABLOKO not only denies nationalism and Stalinism but fights them.

Another important course for the party is the work with the civil society by supporting it and protecting from arbitrary rule.

YABLOKO has a functional structure and works on different courses, Sergei Mitrokhin emphasized. They are human right defense, environment protection, gender equity and others.

“We promote the European values within the Russian society in the conditions when the authorities are trying to do everything possible to pull the society away from these values and discredit them via mass media and all other possible ways”, he said.

Sergei Mitrokhin named the main courses of the party’s activity – protection of democratic values, resistance to anti-Constitutional initiatives of the authorities, resistance to the law on foreign agents, adoption of the Russian orphans by foreign citizens and other.

YABLOKO protects political prisoners’ rights. The party contributed to the release of the mother of many children Svetlana Davydova, professor and public figure Mikhail Savva, now the party is struggling to release YABLOKO’s environmentalist Evgeny Vitishko.

The work with the civil society is a most important orientation of the party, says Mitrokhin.

“We managed to cut the gap between the party and civil society within this period since we always respond to the requests of help. We understand that if YABLOKO does not respond, no one will respond”, he said.

“We have an opinion that we need to promote the party line all the time. I strongly oppose it. A bicycle must have two pedals: one pedal is pure politics which is stated in our Memorandum, political statements, speeches of the party’s political leaders and so on, the other pedal must be civilly active. This way the bicycle will move towards some direction, not go round in circles. If such a pedal of “working with the civil society” does not exist than the party, sorry for the statement, will turn into a group of smattering laymen which proclaim something but, as a matter of fact, there will not be much use of them”, stated Sergei Mitrokhin.

At the same time, he mentioned that such an activity will not cause a direct electoral effect.

Sergei Mitrokhin spoke about the new ways of cooperation with civil society including public inspections when a Chairperson arrives at problem places with an inspection at the request of local residents.

Sergei Mitrokhin also emphasized the importance of the work of YABLOKO Public Commission which acts not only in Moscow but in the regions as well.

YABLOKO leader spoke about active cooperation with human rights defenders groups, resistance to corruption due to the work of Anti-corruption centre, educational activities of the party via conducting different events, organisation of schools, publications of monographs and article-books.

“The educational activity of our party is extremely important. Our task is not only to fight to het to power but to educate the Russian society, provide informational alternative, tell the truth and advocate the values common to all the human kind.

Sergei Mitrokhin also stressed another important party line – overcoming the totalitarian past, fighting Bolshivism and Stalinism.

YABLOKO is the only party which protests against the installation the monument to Joseph Stalin.

Sergei Mitrokhin also settled on party construction. The party leadership in a number of regional branches changed during this period.

The number of members reduced to 28 thousand people. But YABLOKO leader claims that qualitative changes have taken place which will lead to quantitive ones.

The attempts to put pressure on heads of regional branches on behalf of local authorities- in particular in the Bryansk and Kostroma regions, the Republic of Ingushetia and other regions.

Sergei Mitrokhin finds it essential to keep in touch with the regional branches. He made 42 working visits to different regions of Russia within three years. His visits were connected with election contains, settling conflicts and protection of YABLOKO representatives from arbitrary rule.

YABLOKO leader also spoke about the party’s activity in social networks.

He he also said that a working group on preparation for the State Duma elections had been founded. Several meetings have already taken place.

“Due to all the things that I have mentioned I think that we gained the potential to be a success at the State Duma and create a faction. Our Congress must have a mobilizing function. We must mobilise the party to win these elections”, summed up Sergei Mitrokhin.