Press Release, 11.06.2020

Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov sent official letters to the editors-in-chief of pro-government Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Komsomolskaya Pravda and Argumenti I Fakti (AIF) newspapers. Rybakov asked the newspapers publish in their print versions and on their websites Yabloko’s publications with alternative opinions regarding amendments to the Constitution.

Earlier, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Komsomolskaya Pravda and Argumenti I Fakti posted publications on their websites and made special print issues in support of the Vladimir Putin’s amendments to the Russian Constitution put to the vote on July 1. In his appeal, the Chairman of Yabloko recalled that Article 29 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, freedom of speech and freedom of the media, as well as the right to disseminate information in any legal way.

“We are asking you to provide the opportunity for the Yabloko party to publish its position on the pages of a special issue and the newspaper’s website, as well as opinions of independent experts in the field of constitutional law, social protection of the population, deputies of representative bodies of power of the Russian Federation, which differ from the opinions of politicians and experts who supported Vladimir Putin’s amendments,” runs Nikolai Rybakov’s address to the editors-in-chief of these newspapers.

Rybakov also asked the editors-in-chief of Rossiyskaya Gazeta and Komsomolskaya Pravda to let him know who was the customer of the special issues and on what conditions they were distributed. Yabloko Chairman emphasised that the Yabloko party was ready to provide materials and illustrations for alternative issues as soon as possible.