Statement by the Yabloko Bureau, 22.04.2021

Photo by Alexander Melnikov / RIA Novosti

The Bureau of the Yabloko party notes that the presidential address of Vladimir Putin to the Federal Assembly did not contain a single answer to the most pressing issues for [Russian] citizens (such as drop of incomes, price rise and stagnation of the economy), neither did it contain a clear strategy for solving these problems.

The President, as before, offered small material “gifts” to different categories of citizens, but the total cost of all these payments is only 400 billion roubles, i.e., 3% of the National Welfare Fund. At the same time, tax breaks for oil companies amounted to trillions of roubles.

This demonstrates that measures that can actually raise the living standards of [Russian] citizens are not a priority for the authorities.

At the same time, the President stated that Russia would determine in each specific case where the “red line” passes, which cannot be crossed by other countries. In essence, this was a statement on the absence of any rules in relations.

We consider the threats addressed to other countries that they will “regret it as they have never regretted it,” not only dangerous, but also irresponsible. Combined with further statements about “internal enemies” allegedly financed from abroad and preparing “coups d’état”, this means the introduction of the “Besieged Fortress” plan throughout the country and the rejection of normal dialogue with their own citizens and foreign countries.

This is the road to a historical impasse. We are categorically against this.

Yabloko offers a political alternative to the course of Vladimir Putin. The goal of our policies is to improve the well-being of citizens. This cannot be achieved without freedom, democracy, fair political and economic competition, the rule of law, separation of government from business, independent justice, freedom of the media, government responsibility to parliament, and restriction of presidential powers.

We call on citizens who share this stance to support us in the elections, endowing Yabloko with the mandate of their legal representatives defending their interests.

Nikolai Rybakov,

Yabloko Chairman