Press releases

Publications

Radiological situation in Russia should be taken under control

Statement by YABLOKO's Chairman, August 13, 2010.

The YABLOKO Party has repeatedly drawn attention to the unacceptable negligence by the Russian authorities to ensuring of environmental safety of the population. Today we once again are drawing the attention of the authorities and the citizens to the danger of possible additional radiation exposure caused by the pyrogenic spread of radionuclides. Forest fires in Russia have already reached the Bryansk forests contaminated by Chernobyl’s fallout, and the forests around the city of Ozersk in the Chelyabinsk region polluted by the plutonium productions...

Sergei Mitrokhin demands from Public Prosecutor to file a criminal case against head of the company felling trees in Khimki Forest

Press Release, August 16, 2010.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin demanded from Public Prosecutor to file a criminal case against Alexander Semchenko, head of the Teplotekhnik company felling trees in Khimki Forest. In his interview to Komsomolskaya Pravda paper Semchenko told that he had organised an attack of football fans on the defenders of the forest.

Semchenko also admitted that he had employed a group of persons for provocations against ecologists and other citizens...

15,000 prisoners can burn alive

Press Release, August 9, 2010.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin demands from Minister of Extraordinary Situations Sergei Shoigu and President of the Republic of Mordovia Nikolai Merkushkin to adopt urgent measures for evacuation of the prisoners from the Potma prison camp encircled by forest fires. At present Mitrokhin is preparing an application to the Public Prosecutor demanding to conduct an audit on liquidation of the Potma-Barashyevo railroad which connected over 20 camps, and basing on the results of the audit to file a criminal case against the heads of the Federal Service for Execution of Punishment. Due to dismantling of the railroad 15,000 prisoners can die in fires...

Yevgenia Chirikova, her aid and YABLOKO’s activist detained and taken to court

Press Release, August 5, 2010.

Leader of the Movement in Protection of the Khimki Forest Yevgenia Chirikova, her aid Yaroslav Nikienko and YABLOKO’s activist and defender of Chirikova Artur Grokhovsky have been just detained when leaving the Khimki police department where Chirikova has been interrogated and are being taken to court. According to Grokhovsky, the court of the first instance will hear the case of disobeying the police when police was dispersing the activists from ecologists’ camp on July 28. Then police accused ecologists of burning fires. The detained were escorted to the local police department where they were detained for nine hours. The following day only ecologist Elena Maksimova was summoned to court.

Press Release, August 5, 2010.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin urged Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to establish a moratorium on the felling of forests in the Khimki area "at least until the end of fires and lifting of the of the emergency situation regime in the Moscow region." The photographs attached to the letter show the signs of fire-hazardous activities in the work of woodcutters and securities protecting them, in particular, a fire they had made in their camp and cans with fuel for chainsaws simply scattered throughout the clearance.

"In spite of the order by the Moscow Region Governor Boris Gromov on limiting access of citizens to forests in the Moscow region, dozens of voluntary assistants to the Teplotekhnik company are supporting felling of the forest and their work can also contribute to fire development,” runs the statement...

Press Release, August 4, 2010.

YABLOKO’s activists Olga Ushakova and Andrei Lazaryev conducted picketing of the Interior Affairs Department of the Moscow Region where the police took today Yevgenia Chirikova for interrogation. YABLOKO’s activists demanded to release the ecologist.

After the end of a press-conference in the Independent Press Centre the police virtually kidnapped Chirikova on the eyes of journalists. Without giving any explanations three policemen from the OMON division (the riot police) twisting her arms took Chirikova to their car (strange, but the car number was ordinary, not one of the special numbers belonging to police) while journalists and ecologists were pushed off with police chains...

Press Release, August 3, 2010.

...“We have such a situation in Khimki that the smallest gathering of people is prohibited and dispersed, while the efficiency of the police work from the point of view of the law and the citizens has been falling towards zero,” YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin told in his speech at the picket. According to Mitrokhin, an attack against journalist Mikhail Beketov is still uninvestigated (editor-in-chief of and independent Khimki Pravda paper defending the Khimki Forest who was beaten virtually to death and left to die. To-date Beketov is handicapped), and none of the policemen dared to opposed the attack of hooligans against the Khimki administration. “The Khimki police is not simply exercising arbitrary rule, it is even dangerous for the society,” Mitrokhin added...

“Now we have a so-called “mini-Stalinism” in Khimki: they can detain a person on the street under faked pretexts and get him imprisoned. We had this in our history only in Stalin’s period,” the ecologist said. She also said that the ecologists were not protesting against construction of a highway in general, “We only want the highway to change its route and go past the forest”. This is especially important, she added, when we have such extremely hot summer and many forests are on fire. “We should preserve every tree,” Chirikiva said...

Press Release, August 3, 2010.

Yesterday court ruled out that Sergei Mitrokhin was guilty of disobeying police orders and organization of unsanctioned rally in defence of the Khimki Forest and sentenced to a fine RUR 500. The court’s decision stated that Sergei Mitrokhin organized an unsanctioned rally. When a policeman, according to the court’s statement, came up to him, gave his name and politely asked to leave the site of action, Mitrokhin refused to do this disobeying the police.The court included into the case a video material showing only policemen taking Mitrokhin into the police car. Moreover the video recording had been done from a long distance...

...At this moment YABLOKO is picketing by the Criminal Police Department of the Moscow Region protesting against arbitrary rule of the Khimki police. The activists are holding slogans “Heads of the Khimki police to trial!”, “Put an end to arbitrary rule by the Khimki police!”...

Press Release, August 2, 2010.

...“The second charge was fabricated right after I demanded to release me, as the first charge had already been announced,” Mitrokhin said. He also noted that the second charge may be needed so that to convoy him to court.

It should be also noted that the six activists with the same charges and detained together with Mitrokhin have been still kept in the police department for over three hours already in violation of the law.

Press Release, August 2, 2010.

...Ten minutes after the meeting of the ecologists began the police came to the site and began detaining all the men present at the meeting. YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin was one of the first detainees. Wringing his hands the policemen forced him to come into their car making him sit on the floor, virtually in the luggage compartment...

Press Release, July 31, 2010.

One of the defenders of the Khimki Forest Gennadi Rogozin was detained by police for the second time on July 31.

On July 28 the riot police (OMON) broke into the defenders’ camp. Nine ecologists were kept in the police department throughout the whole night and driven to court the following morning. However, the judge heard only one case – that of Elena Maksimova – the rest were released without issuing any notifications of summoning them to court to some other date.

On the same evening the activists reported being under police surveillance. Policemen visited the activists’ homes and questioning their next-of-kin about the whereabouts of the activists.

Police begins persecutions against the defenders of the Khimki Forest

Press Release, July 30, 2010.

Police has begun persecution of the activists from the "In defense of the Khimki Forest" movement and Euvgenia Chirikova, the movement’s leader. According to the defenders of the forest, yesterday they found out that they were under surveillance, police officers came to their homes without informing their relatives of the purpose of the visit. Also the activists did not get any official notifications from the police.

"Yesterday, shortly after we came out of the court of the Khimki town, we found our that we were under surveillance. It a stout man in a white suit. However, we managed to escape him: luckily we quickly got into a taxi and headed to Moscow", Yaroslav Nikitenko, Aid of Euvgenia Chirikova said...

Sergei Mitrokhin applied to Prime Minister Putin and Public Prosecutor General Chaika in view of unlawful cutting of the Khimki Forest

Press Release, July 30, 2010.

Today on July 30, YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin applied to Prime Minister Putin and Public Prosecutor General Chaika in view of unlawful cutting of the Khimki Forest.

According to the federal law "On Highways”, "cutting of the woods is only possible after obtaining a permission for construction of a highway. The Forestry Code requires that every user of the forests should obtain a land declaration. The normative acts of the town of Khimki require obtaining of a special cutting ticket, which should be supplied with a dendroplan and a tally sheet. According to our data, all of these documents are missing, thus cutting of the woods is unlawful,” runs Mitrokhin’s letter to Public Prosecutor General...

Sergei Mitrokhin stopped cutting of the trees in the Khimki Forest

Press Release, July 30, 2010.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin and party activists once again managed to stop cutting of the woods in the Khimki Forest.

Mitrokhin told the workers about the order of Public Prosecutor to stop all the works. After this the driver of a harvester stopped his work and was going to leave the site. However, one of the guards from the private security company tried to stop him, however, the driver refused to resume work. At the same time the other guards were calling their chiefs...

The Phobos company continues eliminating the Khimki Forest despite Public Prosecutor’s ban

Press Release, July 30, 2010.

Despite Public Prosecutor’s ban the workers of the Phobos company constructing the Moscow-St.Petersburg highway continue cutting of the Khimki forest. Vyacheslav Sorokin, whose house is located in 200 meters from the Khimki Forest, informed YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin of it today...

Ecologists and civil activists detained in the Khimki Forest are facing 15 days of arrest

Press Release, July 29, 2010.

At present YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin is in Public Prosecutor’s office in Khimki filing an application of unlawful actions by the police.

The police confiscated mobile phones of nine detained ecologists and journalists, thus depriving them of an opportunity to get in touch with lawyers and get a legal consultation.

The police officer on duty told Mitrokhin that confiscation of mobile phones was lawful, and the activists are kept in the wards. The police issued protocols of administrative violation (disobeying the police orders) against them, which can involve such punishment as 15 days of arrest. The leader of the defenders of the Khimki Forest Yevgenia Chirikova (who is one of the nine detained ecologists) managed to tell Mitrokhin that the policemen referred to an order of the Moscow Region Governor Boris Gromov who “had prohibited any persons to appear in the Forest”...

Police breaks into ecologists’ camp

Press Release, July 28, 2010.

At night of July 28 special riot police (OMON) broke into the camp of the Khimki Forest defenders made close to the cutting site. The police detained 16 persons, including the leader of the ecologist Yevgeniya Chirikova and five journalists.

However, YABLOKO and ecologists continue defending the Khimki Forest. YABLOKO’s experts state that the highway Moscow – St.Petersburg can well take one of the alternative routs without going through the Khimki Forest which is acting as the “lungs” of the region. Cutting of the woods has been held without any permits. Representatives of the construction company did not come to the scheduled meeting with the ecologists and residents of Khimki where they had promised to show “all the due permits”.

Public hearings on the Khimki Forest postponed

Press Release, July 28, 2010.

The meeting of the residents of the Khimki city, the Moscow regions, and Sergei Mitrokhin with representatives of OOO Teplotekhnik conducting cutting of the woods in the Khimki Forest is postponed for an undetermined period.

At the agreed time (June 28, 5 p.m.) the residents of the city and YABLOKO’s leader and party activists came to the meeting. However, the doors were closed and a sheet of paper notifying that the meeting is “postponed” was pinned on the doors. The notification gave no time or date of the new meeting.

YABLOKO to participate in public hearings on the Khimki Forest

Press Release, July 28, 2010.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin and party activists will participate in the meeting of the residents of the Khimki district with representatives of a contracting company eliminating the Khimki Forest. The hearings will take place at 5 p.m. in the Dom Kulturi Rodina (address: Khimki, Leninsky prospect 2, by the Khimki railway station in the Leo Tolstoy Park).

Please note that tonight despite an announced moratorium on construction works and cutting of the woods, OAO Teplotekhnik continued cutting of the trees. According to the witnesses the work was conducted under spotlights. It is expected that after public hearings the participants of the meeting will go to the place of cuttings so that to stop unlawful works.

Unlawful works in the place of destructed architectural heritage stopped

Press Release, July 26, 2010.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin stopped construction works in the place of destructed architectural heritage in Tishinsky lane, Moscow. Despite a ban of the Moscow regulator the builders began excavation works. After arrival of Sergei Mitrokhin the workers disappeared.

The building at Bolshoi Tishinsky 30/44 building 1, was built in the early 20th century by the architect Nirnzeye and was almost completely destroyed in 2008. Under the pretext of renovation the construction company left only a corner wall of the building. The residents of the area jointly with the YABLOKO party have been fighting against construction of a new building with a multi-level underground garage on the site of the destructed monument of architecture for two years. In early May 2010, head of the Moscow construction complex Vladimir Resin said that the contract with the developer - the Phobos company – was dissolved...

YABLOKO's activist detained in the Red Square

Press Release, July 26, 2010.

Today on July 26, a one-person picketing under the slogan “Medvedev, do not be a FSB puppet!” was conducted at the Red Square. YABLOKO’s Artur Grokhovsky was holding a placard picturing the “KGB men” - Felix Dzerzhinsky, Lavrenty Beria and Vladimir Putin – and a photograph of President Dmitry Medvedev tied to their fingers.

YABLOKO called the President not to sign the law broadening of the proxies of secret services. The police detained the activist who was picketing at the Red Square, broke the placard picturing the “KGB men” and their “puppet” President Medvedev. Also, allegedly a FSB (Federal Security Service) officer tried to wipe out all the records from the journalists’ cameras and recorders and also tried to break a camera...

Off with your hands from the defenders of the Khimki Forest!

Statement by the YABLOKO party, July 23, 2010.

...The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO calls the human rights community and democratic politicians to defend the constitutional rights of the Khimki activists and render them all possible assistance. This is the case, when Russia’s civil society has virtually shown itself and dared to resist the big money and the state machinery. Its support in this confrontation is far more important than hundreds of rallies in defense of democracy in general.

We also fully support the requirements of the defenders of the Khimki Forest. Destruction of a unique natural complex providing fresh air to the capital of Russia will bring to nothing all the talks about modernization and demonstrate to Russian citizens and the entire world the inability of the Russian state to modernise...

One-person picketing against broadening of the competence of secret services conducted by the Federation Council

Press Release, July 19, 2010.

One-person picketing against broadening of the competence of secret services was conducted by the Federation Council (the upper chamber of the Russian parliament) as the latter had to examine the draft law today on July 19. Artur Grokhovsky, Advisor to YABLOKO’s Chairman, was holding a huge placard (1.5 x 1 meters) picturing Felix Dzerzhinsky, the head of the KGB, Lavrenty Beria, Stalin’s closest accomplice standing behind mass-scale reprisals and Vladimir Putin with an inscription “The KGB men are for it!”...

Action in memory of Natalya Estemirova took place in Nevsky Prospect, St.Petersburg

Press Release, July 16, 2010.

An action in memory of renowned human rights activist Natalya Estemirova kidnapped and murdered a year ago in took place in Nevsky Prospect, St.Petersburg, on July 16, 2010. Activists from the YABLOKO party, Memorial and The House of Peace and Non-Violence dressed in T-shirts with a photograph of Natalya marched along the main street of the city Nevsky prospect and distributed leaflets about the killed human rights activist among passers-by. The latter asked questions about Natalya and about the news of the investigation...

Young YABLOKO activists detained for protesting against the secret services law by the parliament

Press Release, July 16, 2010.

Three activists of the Youth YABLOKO were detained by police by the State Duma (the Russian parliament) when attempting to conduct a protest action against introduction of amendments broadening the competence of secret services (FSB).

Today deputies of the State Duma are to consider the draft law in the final third reading. YABLOKO’s activists came to the State Duma disguised as prisoners with a placard, a scaling ladder and leaflets...

YABLOKO’s activists convicted for a one-person picket against the new law on secret services

Press Release, July 15, 2010.

Deputy Chairman of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO Galina Mikhalyova and young YABLOKO’s activist Igor Savyolov were found guilty of committing a misdemeanor and fined 500 rubles each. The cases of the other two activists - Maxim Kruglov and Arthur Grokhovsky - were postponed until July 23 as the policemen were late for the trial.
The decision states violation of Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences (Violation of the set order in organsing or conducting a gathering, rally, demonstration, march or picketing”).

YABLOKO’s activist had to stand before court for holding a one-person picket by the State Duma on June 11 - when the draft law for broadening of the proxies of the secret service (FSB) was examined by the Duma in the first reading. Galina Mikhalyova stood by the walls of the State Duma with a placard while of other party activists waiting for their turn at a distance. The police detained all the activists of YABLOKO despite the fact that a one-person picketing was conducted only by Galina Mikhalyova.

"The example of this particular case demonstrates that our courts are biased and not impartial. The court’s decision was not guided by fraudulent administrative violation cases provided by police rather than by Russian laws," Mikhalyova said...

Tula City Duma deputy persecuted for his criticism of the Governor’s work

Statement by the Tula branch of YABLOKO, July 15, 2010.

The Tula regional branch of the YABLOKO party expresses its deep concern with criminal prosecution of deputy of the Tula City Duma from our party Vladimir TImakov [launched under a pretext of a libel case].

Timakov gave his assessment of the Governor’s work at his post.

Actually Timakov’s statements are based on his believes, and, in our view, there are no grounds for criminal prosecution in our opinion no. The fact that the Investigation Committee with the Public Prosecutor's Office in the Tula region three times refused [the Governor] in launching a criminal case for the lack of the elements of crime [in such criticism] is one more proof of this.

In our opinion, this constitutes a demonstrative political "bashing" of a dissenting oppositional politician and journalist so that to force him stop his activities and give up his believes...

Sergei Mitrokhin: President crossed out the course towards modernisation

Press Release, July 15, 2010.

“The President’s statement crosses out the course towards modernisation he has proclaimed. Amendments proposed to the law on the Federal Security Service demonstrate that instead of building a modern state in Russia the President has been restoring the most archaic institutions of the totalitarian past,” YABLOKO’s leader said.

According to Mitrokhin no one but corrupted bureaucracy which is afraid of the people and tries to maintain at any price its power and riches accumulated with the help of this power needs these amendments.

Today President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev said at a joint press-conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the draft law “has been developed on his order”. However, the draft law was submitted to the parliament by Chair of the Government Vladimir Putin...

Judge sends the cases of young YABLOKO activists to additional investigation

Press Release, July 14, 2010.

Judge Olga Borovkova sent the cases of three activists of the Youth branch of YABLOKO (Kirill Goncharov, Vladislav Pankov and Igor Savyelov), who had chained themselves on July 9 with handcuffs to the fence of the State Duma in protest against broadening of proxies of the Russian secret service (FSB). The judge detected numerous violations in issuing the protocols. Motivated decisions will be handed to Stanislav Gorlov who defends the activists tomorrow. Hearing of the case of the fourth activist Veronica Belozerskikh has not yet been scheduled yet...

Young YABLOKO activists are facing 15 days of arrest

Press Release, July 9, 2010.

The detained activists of the Youth YABLOKO and Artur Grokhovsky, Advisor to Sergei Mitrokhin, are facing 15 days of arrest in accordance with Article 19.3 of the Administrative Violation Code “Non-obeying to the lawful police order”.
Protocols on administrative violations by the activists were made in the Tverkoye police station, Moscow. “I access this as an act of moral pressure,” Artur Grokhovsky said over the phone. YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin told that this constituted an attempt of intimidation of the activists as they had dared to oppose Vladimir Putin’s initiative...”

Activists of the Youth YABLOKO enchained themselves with handcuffs by the Russian parliament protesting against the new security service law

Press Release, July 9, 2010.

Four activists of the Youth YABLOKO were detained by police after they enchained themselves with handcuffs by the State Duma (the Russian parliament) protesting against the new security service (FSB, the former KGB) law. Artur Grokhovsky, Advisor to party Chair Sergei Mitrokhin, was also detained.
“YABLOKO has been conducting this action protesting against adoption of the draft law broadening the proxies of the FSB. Today deputies of the State Duma has to examine the draft law in the second reading. Artur Grokhovsky stood by the entrance to the parliament building with a placard picturing Byeria (Stalin’s main accomplice), Dzerzhinsky and Putin with an inscription “Amendments to the FSB law – the KGB men are for it!” with the signatures YABLOKO had collected against this law...

Investigation of Yuri Schekochikhin’s death should go on

Statement by the YABLOKO party. July 3, 2010.

July 3 marks seven years since the death of an outstanding journalist and fighter against corruption Yuri Schekochikhin.

On this day the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO considers it necessary to remind to Russia’s leadership that the circumstances of the death of Yuri Schekochikhin have not been determined.

The decision on termination of the investigation adopted by the Investigation Committee of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in 2009 demonstrates inability or lack of desire of the present Russian state to conduct a full-fledged investigation...

YABLOKO wins a case in the Constitutional Court

Press Release, June 22, 2010.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin expressed his satisfaction with the decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation on the complaint from YABLOKO’s member Andrei Malitsky.

The Constitutional Court ruled out that some provisions on the Russian Federaiton law “On the Basic Guarantees of Franchise and the Right to Referendum” connected with a ban for the citizens residing in a foreign state to be members of electoral commissions. Being a Russian citizen Malitsky obtained in 2009 a residence permit in Lithuania. Due to this fact he was expelled from a territorial electoral commission in Moscow where he represented YABLOKO’s interests...

Svetlana Kuznetsova, head of the Soldiers’ Mothers faction on amendments to the law on the military service submitted to the Russian parliament

Press Release, June 9, 2010.

Svetlana Kuznetsova, head of the Soldiers’ Mothers faction in the YABLOKO party, says that “YABLOKO is categorically against the amendments referring to a legalized “buy-out” from the army service, as they are discriminatory and targeted at commercialization of the army. The authors of the amendments say that the state does not have enough money for a contract-based army; whereas every such one million roubles [about USD 30,000 paid by a young person wishing to avoid mandatory military service] will suffice for maintenance of two contract soldiers. Since 2001 YABLOKO has been insisting that the state has enough money on a contract army and our economists can prove that”...

Action against mandatory army conscription took place by the Ministry of Defence

Press Release, June 15, 2010

Action against mandatory army conscription organised by the Youth YABLOKO took place by the Ministry of Defence on June 15. Ten YABLOKO’s activists were holding a slogan “How many of us should die so that you abolish mandatory army conscription?” and also chanted “Away with mandatory army conscription, let’s transfer to a contract conscription!”...

...The picket resumed at the Gogol Boulvalrd. The organiser of the action Kirill Gontcharov stated that incessant chain of deaths of young conscripts made YABLOKO to hold such an action. He also noted that “due to corruption only children from poor families serve in the army”. “Instead of defending our motherland our soldiers have to build country houses for generals and clean water closets,” he added. He also said that “harassment of subordinates became a symbol of the Russian army”...

YABLOKO’s activists arrested by the Russian parliament for picketing against the FSB law finally released, however, are facing a trial

Press Release, June 11, 2010.

..Major Brezhnev personally participated in detaining Grokhovsky: first he dragged Artur to the police car and then hit him in the belly. Now Anton is heading to the hospital to certify the bruises.

Grokhovsky also told that in February he had been already arrested by the same policeman for one-person picketing. Due to the video recording made by YABLOKO Grokhovsky was acquitted by the court then. Grokhovsky hopes that the court will acquit the activists this time too, as the action was also recorded...

Liberal International to discuss arbitrary actions of Moscow police in breaking YABLOKO's picket

Press Release, June 11, 2010.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin expressed his indignation with police breaking of YABLOKO’s one-person picket and arresting the activists protesting against the amendments to the law on the Federal Security Service (former KGB) by the Russian parliament building. No permission or coordination with authorities is required for conducting one-person pickets in accordance with the Russian law. Nevertheless the picket was brutally broken and the activists were arrested.

Mitrokhin said that actions by police officers who arrested the activist holding the placard, as well as three other activists who were standing by were a rude violation of the Constitution and the law “On assemblies, meetings, demonstrations and pickets”...

Action “Preventing Extremism” brutally broken by police

Press Release, June 11, 2010. Video, photos.

Action against introduction of amendments on the law on the Federal Security Service (the former KGB), which YABLOKO attempted to hold today by the building of the State Duma (the Russian Parliament) was brutally broken by police. Despite of the fact that it was a one-person picketing (four activists had to replace each other in turn) and did not require any permissions or notifications from the authorities, four YABLOKO’s activists were arrested and taken to the local police department and a placard depicting the head of KGB Felix Dzerzhinsky, the closest accomplice of Stalin in setting terror in the country Lavrenty Beria, and Vladimir Putin and bearing a the words "The KGB people vote FOR it!" was confiscated.

On June 11, at 9.30 am, half an hour before the plenary session the Russian parliament had to start, First Deputy Chair of the Moscow Yabloko Galina Mikhalyova took her place by the main entrance to the parliament building with a placard depicting Felix Dzerzhinsky, Lavrenty Beria and Vladimir Putin against a black ground and a hand voting for them. “The law on preventing extremism. The KGB people vote FOR it!" ran the slogan under the picture. The Russian parliament will discuss this draft law in the first reading today...

Journalist and YABLOKO member Yuri Schekochikhin would have turned 60 today…

Grigory Yavlinsky’s letter to Vsevolod Bogdanov, Chair of Russia’s Journalists Union, June 9, 2010.

Yuri Schekochikhin is an event in the lives of all of us, an event both in our journalism and in politics. Whatever he did - wrote play scripts, engaged in journalist investigation or worked as a Russian parliament member – all was very different from how other people did this, all had an imprint of his personality, talent and his understanding of freedom and justice.

Yuri Petrovich was not merely a politician in the ordinary sense or the word, he understood life as the one who had the ability to transform it. A special atmosphere always emerged around him, and there was place for different people by his side. And he still unites us all, we do not simply keep memories of him, but feel his presence in our life.

Yuri Schekochikhin has always been and remains our friend.

Sincerely,
Grigory Yavlinsky

Action in memory of Larissa Yudina took place by Representation of the Republic of Kalmykia in Moscow

Press Release, June 7, 2010

Today, on June 7, on the tragic anniversary of the murder of leader of Kalmyk YABLOKO and oppositional journalist Larissa Yudina took place by Representation of the Republic of Kalmykia in Moscow. The participants of the action demanded to release the names of those who ordered the murder of Larissa Yudina, who, according to YABLOKO’s data, were determined by the investigation. “We can not rule out that [President of the Republic] Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was the one who personally ordered the murder,” Sergei Mitrokhin said at the picket.

Today it is the 12th anniversary since the murder of Larissa Yudina, the leader of Kalmyk YABLOKO, editor-in-chief of Sovietskaya Kalmykia Segodnya and main opponent of the President of the Republic Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. On this day YABLOKO’s activists brought portraits of their murdered colleague and lit candles by the Representation of the Republic of Kalmykia in Moscow...

Mitrokhin promised that YABLOKO will hold the action by Representation of the Republic of Kalmykia every year until those who ordered the murder are punished.

Breaking up of rallies means professional incompetence of the Russian government

Statement by the YABLOKO party. June 1, 2010

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO consders the reaction of the authorities to the protest actions that took place in Moscow, St.Petersburg and other Russian cities yesterday be unacceptable and absurd.

A deliberately tough use of obviously superior police forces against the groups of citizens who simply expressed their opinion without endangering anyone’s security represents a proof of inability of state officials, top officials inclusive, to adequately assess the situation in the country...

YABLOKO demands raising of children’s allowances to the subsistence minimum at picketing by the Ministry of Health Care and Social Development

Press Release. June 1, 2010

Today, on the International Children’s Day, the YABLOKO party conducted a series of one-person pickets by the Ministry of Health Care and Social Development demanding raising of children’s allowances to the child’s subsistence minimum. YABLOKO’s activists demonstrated what a person can buy with child’s allowance amounting to RUR 750 (approximately USD 25 per month).

The Moscow authorities did not give their permit to conduct this action. The activists held placards “Raise the allowance to the subsistence minimum!” and “Subsistence minimum of RUR 7,006 = children’s allowance of RUR 750?”...

Ombudsman’s Report for 2009 published

Press Release. May 28, 2010

Russia’s Ombudsman and one of the founders of the YABLOKO party Vladimir Lukin published Report - 2009. The Report deals with the most acute problems of human rights in Russia, provides information on Ombudsman’s activities, including dealing with citizens’ requests, interaction with the state bodes and civil society institutes, analysis of the present law in the field of human rights, as well as proposals on its further development. The key factor determining the composition of Lukin’s Report was the dynamics of developments in the field of human rights in Russia...

Nomination of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov’s candidacy by the Russian Chess Federation to the post of FIDE President means a disgrace for Russia

Decision of YABLOKO’s Bureau from May 22, 2010. May 31, 2010

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO has already made several statements that Kirsan Ilyumzhinov’s regime in the Republic of Kalmykia is one of the ugliest developments in Russia’s political history of the past two decades representing a disgusting mixture of authoritarian rule, corruption and criminal.

Fight against this regime has in 1998 taken the life of Larissa Yudina, Chair of the Kalmyk regional branch of YABLOKO, and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov’s aid was found guilty of this murder. The political responsibility for this crime lies, in our view, completely on Kirsan Ilyumzhinov...

In support of Mezhduryechinsk miners

Statement by the YABLOKO party. May 29, 2010

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO once again conveys its condolences to the relatives and next-of-kin of the miners killed during the accident at the Raspadskaya mine. Regardless of the specific reasons leading to the accident at the mine, it is obvious that the problem is system-driven. This is confirmed by another accident at the Alexeyevskaya mine which followed the accident at Raspadskaya.

The owners of the mines set such rules and regulations which make the miners to neglect the safety requirement and risk their lives so that to get more or less adequate wages. A civilised dialogue with the employer turns out to be impossible: the owners of the mines being aware that the miners will not be able to find another job talk with them from a position of force. The possibilities of a labour dispute or a strike are restricted by law...

The General Plan of Moscow Development signed by the city authorities to be disputed in court

Press Release. May 28, 2010

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin will dispute in court the General Plan of Moscow. “Procedural violations in development and adoption of the Plan were considerable. We shall apply to court as soon as the General Plan is published,” Mitrokhin said...

Mitrokhin also offered to the Moscow residents whose interests will be affected by the Plan to apply to YABLOKO for help...

Absurd and discriminatory norms of the law “On the Basic Guarantees of Franchise…” should be abolished

Statement by the YABLOKO party, May 25, 2010

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses support to Andrei Malitsky in his litigation of the norm of the Federal Law “On the Basic Guarantees of Franchise and the Right to Participate in a Referendum”.

According to the present norm of the law, a citizen of the Russian Federation having residence permits in other states is not allowed to be member of electoral commission...

The first suit against the State Plan of Moscow Development motioned

Press Release. May 18, 2010

The YABLOKO party has motioned a suit in the first instance court demanding to oblige the Moscow authorities to provide a state expertise the State Plan of Moscow Development. “According to our information, the State Plan of Moscow Development has not received a positive conclusion from the state expertise in spite of the fact that Mosgosekspertiza (Moscow State Expertise Agency) under the Moscow Government was mandated to conduct it. As far as we know, most experts were dissatisfied with the solution of transport problems in the new plan,” runs the statement signed by YABLOKO’s Chair Sergei Mitrokhin...

Miners’ demands should be satisfied

Statement by the YABLOKO party. May 17, 2010

...This problem can be solved only via a dialogue with the workers. Russian large business treating independent trade unions like enemies will no go for such a dialogue, therefore, creation of conditions for such a dialogue should become a direct responsibility of the authorities of all levels.

Miners have the right to fight for safe working conditions and decent living. The state must make a radical revision of the labour law and change its attitude to the regulators that have to control implementation of the law.

We are calling President of Russia to create a special commission for examination of the justified claims of the miners and development of social support measures for their families from the federal budget...

The March of Changes took place in Moscow

Press Release, May 1, 2010

About 1,200 people participated in the March of Changes organised by YABLOKO on May 1.

The columns of demonstrators with YABLOKO’s flags and white balloons marched from the Maly Theatre towards the Lubyanka square. The leaders of the party, human rights activists and ecologists held a slogan “For the Changes!”

“For the Changes! For Russia! For YABLOKO! We are tired of stagnation! No to oligarchia, yes to democracy!” chanted the demonstrators. When the columns of demonstrators approached the Federal Security Service building a slogan “Away with the power of the KGB!” was heard...

Renowned human rights activists, ecologists and residents of the Rechnik village to participate in the March of Changes

Press Release, April 30, 2010

The May 1 March of Changes organised by YABLOKO will end by a rally. The head of the Moscow Helsinki Group Ludmila Alexeyeva, the leader of the movement For the Protection of the Khimki Forest Eugeniya Chirkova and leaders of the initiative group of the Rechnik village will speak at the rally.

The participants of the march will gather by the Maly Theatre at 10:30 a.m. The march towards the Lubyanka Square will begin at 11:00 a.m.
A rally by the Solobetsky Stone at the Lubyanka Square will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The participants of the action will get a budge “I what changes!” The rally will end by a concern of the Moscow rock group Sobaki Kachalova.

On the need to maintain and develop labour protection system in Russia

Statement by the YABLOKO party, April 28, 2010

...Most of violations of the labour rights are connected with non-observance of the labour protection law. Direct loss from occupational traumatism in the Russian Federation is 250 times higher than in the US and the EU countries. Also the Russian labour law has many gaps leading to mass-scale lawlessness of the workers.

For example, the Russian Labour Code does not contain a notion of labour contract. The Code does not envisage the responsibility of the employer to provide work to the employee. The owner of the company is not liable by his income or property for the company’s performance and damage to the health and life of the workers. Thus, the employers are, on one hand, often interested in bankruptcy of their companies and even prepare such bankruptcies, on the other hand, they neglect labour protection norms considering them unprofitable...

Amendments to the law on the Federal Security Service constitute a political provocation against President of Russia

Statement by the YABLOKO party, April 27, 2010

The YABLOKO party demands from the State Duma to decline the draft law envisaging broadening of competence of the Federal Security Service (FSB) connected with the so-called “special preventive measures” against extremism.

The draft law stipulating that the FSB has the right to announce to the Russian citizens official warnings for the actions that can allegedly cause extremism and arrest them for 15 days for non-obeying to the lawful demand by the FSB officer creates grounds for violation of the law by the FSB staff and is targeted against the dissenting.

Taking into account the lack of transparency and control of the Russian secret services and an extremely wide interpretation of the notion “extremist activity”, as well as systematic bans on rallies and pickets the draft law initiated by the Russian government provides unlimited prospects for security services’ arbitrary rule.

The sanction for non-obeying the warning distorts the legal liability principle, as the liability takes place in case of a definite wrongdoing. The proposed norm envisages in some cases (e.g., for participation in the actions that are not agreed upon with the authorities) even tougher liability for the same violations than envisaged in the present law...

The residents of the Rechnik village handed a letter of appreciation to Sergei Mitrokhin

Press Release, April 23, 2010

Yesterday, on April 22, the meeting of the Regional Council of the Moscow YABLOKO discussed the situation in the Rechnik village.

Ludmila Gaiduk, the leader of the initiative group of the residents of the village which had had suffered reprisals from the Moscow authorities, made a speech at the meeting. She expressed gratitude to YABLOKO for protection of the village and its residents.

Gaiduk handed to Sergei Mitrokhin a letter of appreciation. “Thanks to your speech at the State Council meeting and in the mass media, organisation of picketing in protection of property rights and multiple statements by YABLOKO’s activists we managed to get attention from the country leader to our problem and pulling down of houses was stopped,” runs the letter...

The residents of the Rechnik village to award Sergei Mitrokhin a certificate of honour

Press Release, April 21, 2010

The upcoming meeting of the Regional Council of the Moscow YABLOKO will discuss the situation in the Rechnik village. The residents of the village are going to express their gratitude to Sergei Mitrokhin for protection of their rights and are going to award him a certificate of honour.

Also the Regional Council of the Moscow YABLOKO will introduce amendments into the provisions on the Public Consultative Council of Political Parties with the Moscow City Duma. These amendments have to considerably broaden the proxies of the Council...

The Russian authorities should take up responsibility for prevention of violence in Kyrgyzstan
Statement by YABLOKO's Chairman, April 19, 2010

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses its extreme concern by the growth of havoc and violence in Kyrgyzstan, which also led to the acts of violence and robbery against Russian citizens and ethnic Russians living in Kyrgyzstan.

In the situation of abrupt weakening of the power and virtual negligence by the law enforcement, nationalistic bashing can end in multiple victims. The duty of the Russian authorities is to prevent murders of our compatriots, as well as the citizens of Kyrgyzstan and all other nations that are left without protection.

We are calling President of Russia and Prime Minister of Russia to take under their personal control the issue of preventing mass killings in Kyrgyzstan, make corresponding public statements and use all the leverages so that to influence the situation...

Arrest of scientists in St.Petersburg discredits presidential policy
Statement of the YABLOKO party, April 15, 2010

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO calls to release St.Petersburg scientists Eugeni Afanasyev and Svyatoslav Bobyshev.

Considering the “practices” of work of the Federal Security Bureau in the recent years we have all the grounds to state that the accusations set against the scientists in their alleged transfer of state secrets to China are groundless.

Any investigation that the law enforcement consider necessary can be performed without bringing the scientists in custody. We consider such measure of restraint as excessive and demonstratively repressive by nature...

YABLOKO joins the action of the Russian motorists
Statement of YABLOKO's Chairman, April 14, 2010

The YABLOKO party supports the action of the Federation of Russia’s Motorists targeted at introducing amendments into the traffic rules regulating the use of special signals on officials’ cars.

The recent developments on the Russian roads, in particular, a scandal with Presidential Advisor (the post represents virtually a kind of honourable discharge) abusing his right of preferential passage shows the importance of this action and its public importance...

The leader of Sverdlovsk branch of YABLOKO win the libel case initiated by Yekaterinburg Mayor

Press Release, April 2, 2010

Today, on April 2, Yekaterinburg district court turned down the libel claim motioned by the city Mayor Arkady Chernetsky against deputy of the city Duma and leader of the local branch of YABLOKO Maxim Petlin. The court charged the Mayor RUR 20,000 (about USD 700) for compensation of the legal costs incurred by Maxim Petlin.

Chernetsky started a legal case against Petlin after the latter said in the TV programme that Chernetsky had “sold half of kindergartens buildings”. The Mayor called this phrase a libel and motioned a libel case against Petlin. The second defender in the court was Rossiya television channel which had broadcasted Petlin’s interview and showed an item on alienation of large number of kindergartens in favour of Chernetsky’s family members...

Sergei Mitrokhin: Murderers of Chechen farmers should be punished

Press Release, April 1, 2010

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin forwarded to the head of the Investigative Committee at the Public Prosecutor’s Office Alexander Bastirkin a second address demanding to start criminal persecutions on the murder of Chechen farmers gathering herbs by the Arshty village in Ingushetia on February 11-12...

Mitrokhin’s letter based on the facts obtained during investigation of the Memorial human rights centre. Memorial proved that the versions voiced by the top officials that the militants had allegedly used the civilians as a shield and that people had been killed due to the air strikes were incorrect...

“I realise that after yesterday’s statement by Umarov [where he took the responsibility for the acts of terror in the Moscow Metro] the Investigative Committee may have psychological difficulties with the adoption of such a decision, however, this body has to be guided by lawful interests of the citizens protected by law rather than by bandits’ provocative statements,” runs Mitrokhin’s letter...

Russia’s Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin sends a letter to Public Prosecutor in defence of the Khimki forest

Press Release, March 25, 2010

Russia’s Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin asked Public Prosecutor Yury Chaika to examine whether the government’s decision to construct a highway Moscow – St.Petersburg that has to go through the Khimki forest was lawful.

In accordance with the order of the Government the lands of the Khimki forest were transferred to the category of “industrial lands”.

In his letter to Public Prosecutor Vladimir Lukin noted that the Khimki forest is a protected natural territory in accordance with the Forestry Code, thus any cuttings should be prohibited there...

Criminal persecution against three activists of the Youth YABLOKO in Omsk

Press Release. March 19, 2010

Three activists of the Omsk Youth YABLOKO organisation arrested at night of March 18 are have been still detained. The Main Interior Department informs that they are accused of vandalism, however, the local police department which is detaining the activists denies this and promises to release the activists soon.

An annual action in support of freedom of speech in Belarus has been held at night March 18 – 19. This is a part of international campaign European Youth Against the Belarus Dictatorship. The participants of the performance gag statues with banners saying “Freedom to Belarus!”

Omsk YABLOKO activists Anton Zhebrun, Mikhail Maglov and Andrei Yermilov were arrested by police when they were gaging a Dostoyevsky statue. They were escorted to the local police department Centralnoye, where they were kept the whole night without water and food. Anton Zhebrun had a heart attack, the police called an ambulance. However, the policemen did not allow the young people to make calls via their mobile phones...

Officials offer apology to YABLOKO’s ecologist

Press Release. March 10, 2010

Officials from Administration of the Lomonosovsky District of the Leningrad region offered their apology to Alexander Senotrusov, deputy head of YABLOKO’s Green faction, for their intention to dismiss him from school where he had been working as a teacher and their suspension of functioning of a children’s club where he also worked. Persecutions against YABLOKO’s activist began after his interview to the NTV television channel.

On March 7, NTV released a piece devoted to the practices of unlawful construction of cottages in the natural reserves. Alexander Senotrusov told the journalists about unlawful construction at the Lebyazhiye village situated on Gulf of Finland shore.

After this the district administration began persecutions against the teacher. Local bureaucrats were going to dismiss Alexander Senotrusov as redundant and also cut off electricity in the children’s club where he worked.

YABLOKO protests against sending schoolchildren to the barracks

Statement by the YABLOKO party. February 26, 2010

The YABLOKO party expresses its resolute protest against the plans of the Moscow government to restore the [Soviet] system of preservice military training with regular encampments of schoolchildren and introduction of the fundamentals of the military service as a subject in the school curriculum.

We think that the Concept of Preservice Training of the Young People in Moscow Until 2020 endangers life and health of the young Muscovites and is targeted at conservation of the present problems rather than reconstruction of the army, which inevitably leads to further degradation of the armed forces.

The present system of conscription to the Armed Forces of Russia serves only for justification of the existence of the Russian military bureaucracy and their deriving profits from gratuitous soldiers’ labour. Mass-scale violations of the rights of the young people of the conscription age and harassment – derision, beatings and blackmail – have become a daily reality in the army.

Liberals Give Police Tips on Reforming

The Moscow Times, February 26, 2010

By Alexander Bratersky

President Dmitry Medvedev's police reforms will turn into a sham if the public is excluded from the process and other law enforcement agencies are left untouched, opposition politicians and human rights activists said Thursday.

“It is impossible to reform the Interior Ministry without reforming the prosecutor's office and the justice system,” Yabloko party leader Sergei Mitrokhin said at a round table organized by the Moscow police to discuss the reforms with the public...

YABLOKO to organise round table “The Reform of the Interior Must Meet the Expectations of the Civil Society”

Press Release. February 24, 2010

Round table “The Reform of the Interior Must Meet the Expectations of the Civil Society” will be conducted on the initiative of Andrei Babushkin, Deputy Chair of the Moscow YABLOKO and Co-Chair of the Human Rights faction of the party in the press centre of the Moscow Interior Department, on Thursday, February 25.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin will participate in the round table. Other guest speakers are:
Ludmila Alexeyeva, the Moscow Helsinki Group,
Valery Gribakin, head of the Information and Public Relations Department of the Interior Ministry of the RF,
Alexander Zharov, Ombudsman for the Moscow Region,
Alexander Zimin, leading expert of the Moscow University of the Interior Ministry,
Svetlana Gannushkina, Grazhdanskoye Sodeistviye (Civil Support)
Vladimir Lukin, Russia’s ombudsman,
Alexander Muzikantsky, Moscow ombudsman,
Ella Pamfilova, Civil Society and Human Rights Council under the President of the RF,
Lev Ponomaryov, For the Human Rights movement,
Genry Reznik, Moscow Bar Association...

Picketing in Ufa: “Decent Pensions to the Military Pensioners!”

Press Release. March 1, 2010

Picketing for the right of the military pensioners to decent pensions took place in the centre of Ufa (Bashkiria) on February 27.

The picket was organised by the Bashkirian regional branch of the YABLOKO party. The picket was conducted under the slogan “Decent Pensions to the Military Pensioners!”

In spite of the fact that 30 activists had to participate in the action, the actual number of participants grew to 50. Citizens dissatisfied with the actions of Bashkirian government, administration of Ufa and the law enforcement also joined the picket...

Picket against discrimination of military pensioners in Blagoveschensk

Press Release. February 26, 2010

Picket against discrimination of military pensioners took place in Blagoveschensk (the Amur Region) on February 23 (Defender of the Fatherland Day).

The action was organised by the Amur Region branch of YABLOKO. The city government gave a permission to conduct the action in the center of the city...

Despite preliminary announcements of the action none of the local journalists risked to go against Governor’s order and report on the action in the media...

YABLOKO continues “Decent Pensions to the Military” campaign

Press Release. February 24, 2010

Rallies and pickets took place in different Russia’s cities within the framework of YABLOKO’s campaign “Decent Pensions to the Military” on February 23, the Defender of the Fatherland Day.

About thousand people came to the rally in Lipetsk demanding to raise scanty military pensions. Military pensioners, YABLOKO’s activists and CPRF activists held slogans “Putin to Dismissal!”, “Military Pension – a Disgrace of the Government!”...

Four pickets were organised in Novgorod: YABLOKO’s activists distributed leaflets and collected signatures under the address to the Russian President. The residents of the city even queued at one of the pickets located in the centre of the city so that to put their signatures under an address to Dmitry Medvedev demanding to change the system of calculation of military pensions...

YABLOKO’s activists leave the court protesting against collusion of the judge with OMON

Press Release. February 23, 2010

The arrested activists – YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin, General Major Anton Goretsky and Artur Grokhovsky, aid of YABLOKO’s leader, spent over an hour in the district court waiting for hearings on their case. After an hour expired they went to the courtroom to find out when the hearings were to take place. However, they saw a judge discussing something with the OMON policemen who were witnesses on the case. According to Grokhovsky, several policemen were standing by the judge’s table and one of them was even sitting on the table. However, the judge demanded to close the door and not to interfere into the discussion.

YABLOKO’s activists left the court in protest against collusion of the judge and the police, despite resistance of the policemen who brought them to the court. “I think that what has happened is a manifestation of an arbitrary rule and also a humiliation to General Goretsky who on the Day of the Defender of the Fatherland was kept in the police station for three hours and then kept in court,” Mitrokhin said. “The judge not only behaved incorrectly towards us, but even tried to make a collusion with the witnesses who were actually a party in the case,” he noted.

YABLOKO’s leader and General Major arrested for picketing in protection of military pensioners’ rights

Press Release. February 23, 2010

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin and leader of the Moscow Region YABLOKO General Major Anton Goretsky were arrested for conducting a picket in protection of the military pensioners’ rights that had not been coordinated with the authorities. The local authorities declined YABLOKO’s application to conduct picketing by the Ministry of Defence on February 23 (the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland). However, the same action had been allowed on January 20.

The participants of the picket held slogans “Scanty Military Pensions – a Disgrace to the State!” when about 15 OMON policemen arrested YABLOKO’s activists and drove them to the local police station.

YABLOKO insists that the Chair of the Investigative Committee at the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation should take under control investigation of a killing of civilians in Ingushetia

Press Release. February 17, 2010

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin asked Alexander Bastyrkin, Chair of the Investigative Committee at the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation, to take under his personal control investigation of a killing of civilians on the Chechen-Ingush border during special operation on February 11 – 12, 2010.

“The investigation conducted on February 13 – 14 by the Memorial human rights centre showed that the versions worded by the officials – that civilians had been used by the militants as a human shield and died because of the air-to-ground attack – were incorrect,” ran the letter...

At least 70 local civilians engaged in agricultural works turned out to be in the area of a special operation. The authorities had the information about their work in the area, as they had given a special permit for agricultural works to the local residents there, however, the officials did not take measures so that to evacuate people to a safe place. At least four persons were killed. According to the Memorial’s data they were gunned at a short range and possibly fired “insurance” shots afterwards.

One more provocation against Maxim Reznik, leader of St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO

Press Release. February 17, 2010

On February 17 (about 7 a.m.) Olga Galkina, deputy of the municipal council of the Morskoi district from the YABLOKO party found out leaflets on the block of flats where she lived running that police was allegedly looking for a “dangerous criminal Maxim Lvovich Reznik accused of grave crimes”... The leaflets also called the citizens to call the telephone numbers indicated in the text so that to help the police to arrest a “dangerous criminal”. The given telephone numbers turned out to be the numbers of the local police department, St.Petersburg’s YABLOKO office and the school where Maxim works as a teacher of history...

“It is obvious that this mean action has been paid for and is aiming at exerting psychological pressure on myself and my relatives. It is especially mean that these people indicated telephone number of the school where I work,” Reznik said. “After today’s provocation I can not say that the December and January incidents [when Reznik was arrested by police when he was going home from a supermarket for alleged “drinking alcohol in a public place” and attack on their family car] were a mere coincidence.”

The leader of Gelendzhik YABLOKO is forced to quit his job because of a rally

Press Release, February 12, 2010

On January 31, 2010, Gelendzhik YABLOKO conducted a meeting of protest against destruction of the Utrish relict lagoons, where the Presidential Property Management Department planned to build a “sports and recreation complex” and Administration of the Krasnodar Area – commercial buildings. Public protest action took place by the city Administration building.

And already on February 5, Sergei Buldakov, leader of the local YABLOKO branch was informed that he was transferred to another work place located in 57 km from his current place. Alexander Umitbayaev, Director General of the Vodokanal municipal state company, where Buldakov worked informed Buldakov of this transfer.

Memorial’s lectures in YABLOKO. The History of the Soviet Terror

Annoucement, February 4, 2010

We are proud to announce that we are launching lectures of Memorial heads and experts within the programme of our Evening University.
Please find below the schedule of the first lectures...

Please also note that you can see Memorial’s exhibition A History of an Execution at YABLOKO’s office...

Governor Gromov motions a libel suit against Sergei Mitrokhin

Press Release, February 1, 2010

Governor of the Moscow Region Boris Gromov motioned a libel suit against YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin who had laid blame for a physical attack on Editor-in-Chief of Khimskinskaya Pravda oppositional paper Mikhail Beketov. The official claims compensation of RUR 500,000 (about USD 16,600) for the moral damage.

Sergei Mitrokhin stated that the party had grounds to think that “Administration of the Khimki city district and personally Head of Administration Strelchenko supported by Governor Gromov are behind this crime” during an action held on November 16, 2009 one year after the attack. A video record of Sergei Mitrokhin’s speech published at YABLOKO’s web-site was used by the Governor as an evidence of libel.

On November 13, 2008, Editor-in-Chief of Khimskinskaya Pravda oppositional paper Mikhail Beketov who had been opposing the construction of a paid highway Moscow – St.Petersburg, was found unconscious in the yard of his house. Doctors stated a severe head injury, multiple factions and injuries. Despite treatment Beketov remains a handicapped – he can not take care of himself and his speech functions have not restored. The action in support of Beketov was held under the slogans “Attack on Beketov Is an Attack on the Freedom of Speech” and “Attack on Beketov Is Political Terror”.

Social orphanage Zhizn (Life) in St.Petersburg needs your support!

February 2, 2010

Social orphanage Zhizn (Life) gives shelter and normal living conditions to orphans and social orphans. The orphanage was founded over 15 years ago and helped to about 600 children. The orphanage does not get any state aid and has been financed by private donations only.

At present the orphanage has to move to a new place and its expenditures have abruptly grown. Zhizn would be grateful for any aid, as it is moving to empty flats. For bank transfers pls use the following banking details (it is important to indicate that it is charity).

Even if you do not have a possibility to help us financially, you can help to the orphanage by spreading information about it.

See also:

Youth YABLOKO organisation of St.Petersburg for the protection of an orphanage. Press Release. September 8, 2009

Picketing in favour of Rechnik took place by the building of the Russian Government

Press Release, January 29, 2010

Today on January 29, 2010, the residents of the bulldozed Rechnik village together with YABLOKO activists organised a mobile picket in the form of automobile race. Since 2-30 p.m. picketing took place by the RF Government’s building. YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitorkhin took place in the action.The participants of the picket hold a placard running “Yes to the amnesty of dachas!” and picturing President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin.

“We consider all the developments in Rechnik complete lawlessness, as not only a law on the “amnesty” of dachas but also a number of other laws make bureaucrats to file property title on land and houses in such cooperatives as Rechnik,” Mitrokhin told to journalists. “We think that this lawlessness is performed in the interests of bureaucracy and large business which would like to use this territory. The state demonstrates its cynical attitude to the people who with their own labour made money for construction of their private houses on legally purchased plots of land,” he added.

more

See also:

'Selective justice' in Moscow as houses razed overnight. Reuters. Jan.28, 2010

Brief Outline of Sergei Mitrokhin’s Report at the State Council meeting

January 22, 2010

The key problem of Russia’s political system is monopolism which manifests itself in three major ways:

1) bodies of power and parliaments of all levels demonstrate monopoly of one party representing the interests of bureaucracy and large-scale business merged with it;
2) complete dominance of the executive over the judicial authority;
3) dictate of one social class – the bureaucracy – over all other social groups.
Thus, the present political system generally reproduces the Soviet system, with its key flaw – the monopoly of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union on power.
Such monopoly led to the insensibility of the political system of the USSR to the challenges of the time. Attempts to reform the system were considerably belated and that, consequently, led to a collapse of the USSR.

Assessment of Russia’s Present Political System and the Principles of Its Development. Brief note for the State Council meeting (January 22, 2010) by Dr.Grigory Yavlinsky, member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee. January 22, 2010

...In the absence of serious attention to the raise of political culture and freedom of speech, elections in our country will become a fest of demagogues and populists killing the system.

The main problems and goals of the society and the state in the field of creation of modern political system and political reform do not represent a mere correction, they mean bringing of life and sense into Russian politics.

Only in this case it will be of interest for the people and will be worthy of their attention. To achieve this we should first of all raise the level of public consciousness and open opportunities for public participation in the power and politics.

We think that to prevent dissolution of the Russian political system in 2010 – 2012 we need to undertake the following gradual but nonetheless decisive steps...

The