Press Release, 15.04.2014

Today YABLOKO activists held a series of one-person picketing (which does not require a special permit from the Moscow authorities) against the amendments to the law “On the General Principles of Local Self-Government” by the State Duma. The activists held a poster “MPs, leave local self-government alone!” YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin also joined the action.

According to Mitrokhin, the amendments are targeted at complete elimination of local self-governance.

“Deputies of local self-government bodies will be elected on the lowest level (for this cities will be divided into districts) and deputies that have been already been elected at the district level will delegate their representatives to the [higher level of] city self-government bodies. This is a flagrant violation of the Constitution and the European Charter of Local Self-Government, as they clearly stipulate that elections should be direct, ” Sergei Mitrokhin said.

YABLOKO leader also stated that adoption of such laws is to the benefit only those parties that can not count on public support of the population, that is, for the ruling United Russia party.

“The only way out of the situation for such parties is to cancel the elections: both mayoral elections and elections of mayor and deputies. This is the only way for them to maintain their position on the grassroots level, ” Mitrokhin noted.

The State Duma is going to consider the amendments to the law in the first reading today.

Deputy Joseph Kobzhon took interest in the banners