Press Release, June 12, 2013

The YABLOKO party took part in the manifestation “For Your and Our Freedom!” which was held in Moscow on June 12, Russia Day. This action was held in support of Russian political activists enjailed after the demonstration of May 6, 2012.

The column of party activists led by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin held a banner “Civil Society Against the Police State”. Traditionally, the column was led by Galina Mikhaleva, First Deputy Chair of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO, and activist Maya Zavyalova. The activists chanted “Freedom to Political Prisoners!”, also the participants carried portraits of YABLOKO’s political prisoners and political refugees.

In addition to the prisoners of the 6th of May 2012, YABLOKO’s activists also expressed support to Maxim Petlin, leader of the Sverdlovsk Region branch of YABLOKO and a political prisoner sentenced for a staged bribe and Krasnodar activist Suren Gazaryan accused of causing damage to the fence around a cottage of the Krasnodar Region Governor. The activists chanted “Russia will be free” and “Russia without Putin”.

Mass media and ordinary participants of the manifestation asked Sergei Mitrokhin questions about his campaign for the post of the Moscow Mayor. YABLOKO’s column supported its candidate Sergei Mitrokhin with slogans “Moscow without Sobyanin,” “Stop change Moscow in Sobyanin’s style” and “Sobyanin, go back to Tyumen”.

“Today we are celebrating the Day of Russia. On this day our country was off with the authoritarian rule. For us this is an opportunity to recall that that time Russia made a choice in favour of the rule of law and we are strongly against so that it may turn from this way,” Sergei Mitrokhin said. “The ruling regime undertakes such attempts when they try to imprison their opponents. We would like to make it clear that the state in Russia should be governed by law and be modern, rather than an authoritarian regime modeled on the Third World.

We are participating in the actions dedicated to the protection of rights and freedoms of citizens. Today, the main slogan of the manifestation is “For Our and Your Freedom”, and we also advocate that all political prisoners must be released,” said Galina Mikhaleva. “We in YABLOKO also have political prisoners. These are Maxim Petlin, Chairman of the Sverdlovsk because he had been fighting against cutting down of a park. Today we are with all those who are for freedom and against the authoritarian regime”.

Photos:

First YABLOKO’s activists began gathering well before the start of the manifestation.

YABLOKO held placards in support of the prisoners of the 6th of May…

… and in support of YABLOKO’s political prisoners.

YABLOKO’s column was as always one of the most visible.

Sergei Mitrokhin together with Galina Mikhaleva and Valery Borschyov, human rights activist, member of the Moscow Helsinki Group, led the column.

During the manifestation YABLOKO leader answered questions from the participants of the action.