Press Release, 16.04.2022

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

The 21the Congress of the Yabloko party adopted the final block of amendments to the Yabloko Charter. It was the forth stage of the Congress and it took place on 16 April. The key changes concerned the procedure for joining the party and responsibility of party members.

Here comes the list of the key changes:

– The following categories are from now on fixed in the Charter: party members, candidate members of the party and party supporters (instead of registered and unregistered party members). A candidate’s  term shall be two years. Party members not registered by the time of the adoption of amendments to the Charter lose their party member status and become Yabloko supporters.

– A party member will have an opportunity to temporarily suspend his/her membership in the party if he/she cannot fulfill his/her obligations to the party for good reasons (previously, such a procedure was envisaged only in case of holding a public office that was incompatible with party membership).

– The rule on dual membership is specified in more detail. A party member may be a member of other public associations (except for political parties), whereas the activities of such organisations must not contradict the goals and objectives, interests, principles and values ​​enshrined in the Charter and programme documents of the party. Previously, the decision of the Congress of 2008 was in effect, which prohibited dual membership in the organisations that have a political programme or participate in elections.

– Possibilities for intra-party associations are broadened: regional branches of intra-party factions are from now on created by the decisions of the factions (previously they were created by the decisions of the regional branches of the party). In addition to factions, professional and industry associations can be also formed within the party.

– The terms of office for chairpersons of the regional branches of the party are from now on limited: the leaders of the regional branches will be able to hold office for a total of no more than eight years (the countdown will begin from the moment of introduction of such amendments to the Charter).

– All party members undertake to be guided in their social and political activities by the principles and values ​​​​of the party, observe the rules of intra-party discussions and publicly adhere to the general party stance.

– A gradation of party responsibility is introduced, the following measures are envisaged for violation of the Charter, failure to fulfill one’s obligations, causing political and reputational damage to the party:

a warning;

an obligation to make a public apology;

an obligation to refute information or news;

temporary suspension of the right to speak at meetings;

temporary suspension of the powers of a member of the governing or other body of the party;

expelling from the party (as a last-ditch measure of responsibility).

Previously one could only be expelled from the party for violations of the Charter or causing damage.

– The structure of the governing bodies of the party is specified: instead of the Executive Committee of the Federal Bureau, there will be the Presidium of the Federal Bureau. For the transitional period, it will include only the Chairman of the party and his deputies ex officio; in the future, the Congress may elect other members to the Presidium from among the elected members of the Federal Bureau.

– In addition, for the first time, the Charter spells out the key values, principles and the stance of the party. In particular, it is recognised that “nationalism and Stalinism, populism and violence are unacceptable” for Yabloko, the party “is part of the global liberal family”, and “the means to achieve political goals are as important as the goals themselves”.

The reform of the party began at the second stage of the 21st Congress in April 2021. At that time, the Charter contained provisions on a general party vote in determining candidates for the post of Chairman of the party (mandatory) and regional branches (optional); the possibility of holding primaries for candidates at elections of all levels and some other norms.

The political statements adopted at the Congress, including those concerning the assessment of the events in Ukraine, will be published in the coming days after the finalisation of the texts, taking into account the changes and additions made by the delegates.