The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO is the oldest Russian democratic party, formed in 1993 first as an electoral bloc.
The party comprises over 28,000 members in total, has 79 regional branches, over 600 local organisations.
The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO is in favour of socially oriented market economy, equality of starting opportunities, inviolability of private property, competition in politics and economy, strengthening of democratic institutions, the rule of law, law-governed state and citizens’ control over the government.
The party has the following factions: the Green Russia, Human Rights, Women’s (Gender) Faction, Youth Faction, Socio-Democratic Faction and Entrepreneurs’ Faction. YABLOKO also cooperates with human rights and environmental organisations, free trade unions, national culture societies, new civil initiatives and public organisations for protection of human rights in the social sphere.
YABLOKO has been full member of the Liberal International since 2002 and full member of the ALDE party since 2006.
The key slogan of the party is “For Freedom and Justice!”
The party has developed a number of programmes and action plans including The Democratic Manifesto, The Road Map of the Russian Reforms (a plan for overcoming the consequences of the criminal privatisation and dismantling of the oligarchic capitalism) and Seven Steps Towards Equal Opportunities and programme Land-Houses-Roads for overcoming the economic crisis.
Party Chairman: Nikolai Rybakov (elected in December 2019).
History
YABLOKO incorporated as a party in December 2001 on the basis of All-Russia Public Political Organisation the Yabloko Association (the latter was based on the electoral bloc Yabloko formed in 1993 by democratic parties and public associations).
Yabloko had a parliamentary faction in the State Duma of 1 – 3 convocations (until 2003).
YABLOKO consistently opposed criminal Russian privatization of 1990s, loans-for-shares auctions, the wars in Chechnya and violation of human rights. YABLOKO and the Green Russia faction opposed nuclear waste imports into Russia. The party has been always active in the protection of environment.
YABLOKO founder Grigory Yavlinsky came fourth and third in presidential elections of 1996 and 2000, respectively, was not allowed to run in the presidential elections of 2012, and came fifth in 2018, when Vladimir Putin became President for the fouth time.
Yabloko Chairpersons:
Grigory Yavlinsky, a founder and Chair person until 2008;
Sergei Mitrokhin, Chairperson 2008 – 2015;
Emilia Slabunova, Chairperson from December 2015 – December 2019;
Nikolai Rybakov, Chaiperson from December 2019 up to the present.
Contacts:
Address: Pytniskaya ul 31 bldg 2, Moscow, 119017, Russia
tel.: 007 495 780 3010
fax: 007 495 780-30-12
e-mail: info@yabloko.ru