Greetings from Grigory Yavlinsky and Emilia Slabunova, 02.03.2016

My heartiest congratulations to Mikhail Gorbachev on his anniversary!

You could hear the voice of history – such a lot is cast not to each politician. And you did not just hear it, but responded to it, knowing that people can hear the voice of history in a different way, or not hear it at all. And yet, you gave people a chance. Some accepted it and will always be grateful to you for it. Others were not ready to accept freedom. But you were the first politician who gave people the choice.

Your role in the history of our country and the world is undeniable. People will refer to it at every stage of Russia’s development. All the positive, progressive and future-oriented will commence from your time. I am sure that sooner or later your time will become the time of Russia.

Sincerely,

Grigory Yavlinsky

Congratulations to Mikhail Gorbachev on his anniversary!

Russia can be really proud of the man who changed the direction of development of our country, Eastern Europe and the whole world. Mikhail Gorbachev has shown the whole world that Russia is capable of radical positive changes, that the powerful creative potential and liberated consciousness of our people may be open to the world, progress and universal values.

Mikhail Gorbachev is a very courageous man who is capable to change the country, and accept with dignity the consequences of these changes that are inevitable from the point of view of big history.

The historic scale Mikhail Gorbachev’s personality does not depend on short-term political environment – he is a great man with whom we were fortunate to be contemporaries.

Sincerely,

Emilia Slabunova,

Chair of the YABLOKO party