Statement by the Yabloko Bureau, 11.02.2021

Photo: Grigory Yavlinsky/Photo by the Yabloko party Press Service

The Federal Bureau of the Yabloko Party adopted a statement supporting the theses outlined in the article “Without Putinism and Populism” by Grigory Yavlinsky and noted the relevance of this article. The statement was submitted to the Bureau for consideration by Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov and all three Vice-Chairmen – Ivan Bolshakov, Sergei Ivanenko and Boris Vishnevsky. 14 members of the Bureau voted in favour of the adoption of the statement, and one abstained. There were no votes against.

STATEMENT

The Bureau of the Russian United Democratic Party Yabloko supports the theses set forth in the article of the Chairman of the Federal Political Committee Grigory Yavlinsky “Without Putinism and Populism”, and notes its relevance.

We respect people who came out to peaceful protest because of their indignation at the repressions and fatigue from the irreplaceable rule of Vladimir Putin. We regard violent actions against the protesters as a desire to intimidate society.

At the same time, we believe that a protest without clear and meaningful political demands cannot lead to positive changes.

Change of power must be achieved peacefully, through active political activity and via elections. A real change of power is not the replacement of one leader with another, but the creation of a political system in which there is no [paramount] leader.

We consider forceful suppression of peaceful protests to be absolutely unacceptable. However, the use of people as expendables, when mass detentions and arrests at protest rallies are only a means, according to the organisers [of the rallies], “to maximization of public attention” is unacceptable for us either.

We have believed and still believe that the means of achieving goals are no less important than the goals themselves. We declare that the unification of the democratic opposition should take place only on the basis of common values: freedom and dignity, respect for people, life without fear and repression, justice and equality of opportunity.

The Yabloko party was founded and have been operating basing on these principles – we will not abandon them. The democratic opposition should not be a platform for populists and radicals who incite hatred and enmity.

There have always been different opinions in our party, discussion on the most pressing issues is welcome, but it can only be conducted on the basis of mutual respect, understanding of common values ​​and goals.

We do not accept harassment, animosity and aggression that unfolded in public space in relation to Grigory Yavlinsky and the Yabloko party: to speak out and provide assessment to what is happening is our direct political responsibility.

The Russian United Democratic Party Yabloko demands:

1) the release of all political prisoners in Russia.

2) cancellation of all sentences in relation to those unreasonably detained at protest actions in 2012, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

3) international investigation into the poisoning of Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Murza, the murders of Boris Nemtsov and Timur Kuashev, as well as all political murders in modern Russia.

4) termination of forceful obstruction to peaceful protests and investigation of all cases of unjustified use of force at protest actions.

5) cancellation of anti-constitutional restrictions on the right of citizens to assemble peacefully, without weapons, hold meetings, rallies and demonstrations, processions and pickets.

We will endeavour to fulfill our requirements by all possible legal means and will exert all our efforts to this.

Nikolai Rybakov,

Yabloko Chairman