| February 28,
2011 |
| YABLOKO’s
activists get imprisonment verdicts
Press Release, February 28,
2011.
Four activists of the YABLOKO party
and Environmental Watch on the Northern Caucasus were
arrested yesterday by the dacha of Governor of the
Krasnodar Area Alexander Tkachyov...
However, soon police arrived at the scene and without
any explanation detained 19 people, including 3 journalists.
The detention was violent, one of the activists –
Suryen Gazaryan was injured (the policemen dragged
him 30 meters to the police car and also broke his
nose). All the activists were taken to the local police
department in handcuffs...
|
| Liberals
call for EU Marshall Plan for new Arab democracies
Press Release, ALDE, February
28, 2010
Following a weekend visit to Cairo,
Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE group leader), Edward McMillan-Scott
(Lib Dem, UK) and Hans Van Baalen (VVD, Netherlands
and President of Liberal International) are urging
the European Union to develop a comprehensive action
plan for support and investment in North Africa as
a concrete way to bolster support for the new democracy
movements spreading across the region... |
February 25,
2011 |
| FSB
provocation against YABLOKO’s Maxim Petlin
Press Release, February 25,
2011.
A district court in Yekaterinburg
decided to release the leader of the Sverdlovsk branch
of YABLOKO Maxim Petlin under the bail of deputies
of the regional parliament and the city parliament.
The state prosecutor demanded to apply such preventive
measure as imprisonment of Petlin before the trial...
Maxim Petlin, leader of YABLOKO’s
branch in the Sverdlovsk region was arrested on February
22 on suspicion of gouging 3 million rubles out of
construction company the Forum Group...
Regional elections will take place
in Yelaterinburg in March. YABLOKO’s candidate
Irina Skachkova was withdrawn from the race under
a pretext of “fraudulent signatures” in
favour of the candidate. The court declined her suit
despite of the face the eleven witnesses confirmed
their disputed signatures in court. The present action
against Petlin continues the line of reprisals set
by the authorities against YABLOKO’s activists.
|
| YABLOKO
welcomes European resolution on rule of law in Russia
LI News Bulletin, Issue 221, February 25, 2011
Following an initiative by ALDE, the
European Parliament last week adopted a resolution
on the rule of law in Russia. Guy Verhofstadt MEP
and Kristiina Ojuland MEP wrote an open letter to
President Putin outlining ALDE's paragraph in the
resolution, and stating: “Russia is an important
neighbour and has a duty, through its commitments
as a member of the Council of Europe, to live up to
European standards of democracy, fundamental rights
and the Rule of Law”. LI full member YABLOKO
welcomes these efforts to facilitate the establishment
of the rule of law in their country and develop partner
relations between the EU and Russia. “We have
always advocated the view that the work should be
based on universal human liberal values, rather than
Realpolitik. Only on this basis can we build a democratic
law-governed state, and create a sustainable competitive
partnership between the EU and Russia. The discussion
in the European Parliament demonstrates that increasingly
more European politicians have begun sharing this
approach”, says YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin...
More
Van
Baalen: Gadaffi no longer legitimate leader of Libya
LI President raises concern over situation in Burundi
FDP’s in success Hamburg elections grants it
re-entry to state parliament
Central American liberal leaders visit Germany
Political violence shakes Côte d’Ivoire
Wave of protests reaches Morocco
SLS’s Petrovic becomes Deputy Prime Minister
of Kosovo
|
February 24,
2011 |
| A
letter by ALDE to Russian Prime Minister Putin
February 24, 2010
Dear Prime Minister Putin,
The ALDE group secured a paragraph
in the resolution adopted by the European Parliament
last week on Russia, reminding “the Council
and the High Representative of the full array of appropriate
measures that may be used when faced with systematic
human rights abuses and failures to uphold the rule
of law”...
|
February 23,
2011 |
| ELDR
congratulates new Liberal President of Kosovo
ELDR
News, February 23, 2011
Yesterday, on Tuesday 22 February
2011, ELDR Member Party Alliance for a New Kosovo
(AKR) Party Leader Behgjet Pacolli was elected President
of the Republic of Kosovo by the newly assembled Kosovo
Parliament, following the decision by AKR to join
the coalition government led by Prime Minister Hashim
Thaci’s Democratic Party PDK. In this coalition,
AKR will also gain the posts of Deputy Prime Minister
and three Ministries: Mimoza Kusari Lila will become
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry,
Ferid Agani Minister of Health and Agim Ceku Minister
of Defence... |
| February 22,
2010 |
| Youth
YABLOKO demanded to increase students’ stipends
to subsistence minimum
Press Release, February 22,
2011.
Youth YABLOKO demanded to increase
students’ stipends to subsistence minimum. An
action under the slogan of raising stipends was held
today in Moscow.
According to Kirill Gontcharov, leader
of the Youth YABLOKO, at present an average stipend
in Moscow universities amounts to RUR 1,500 [approximately
USD 50]. YABLOKO’s activists showed what can
be bought with this money with the help of a simple
formula: "Stipend – a Moscow Travel Pass
= 1 loaf of bread per day"... |
| General
election in Ireland: "the most important in a
generation"
ELDR News, February
22, 2011
This Friday (25 February) Irish citizens
will go to the polls to elect a new parliament and
government. Ahead of the election, Micheál
Martin, leader of ELDR member Fianna Fáil,
has written an article for the ELDR Party about the
current political landscape in Ireland and what Fianna
Fail's priorities are for the next parliamentary term...
Also: Estonian
elections.
The Estonian Parliamentary elections will be held
on 6 March, and ELDR Member Parties Reformierakond
(Reform Party) and Keskerakond (Centre Party) will
be playing central roles... |
| February 21,
2010 |
| FSB
is after YABLOKO
Press Release, February 21,
2011.
In Tambov a woman-activist collecting
signatures for registration of YABLOKO in the regional
election campaign was summoned for an interview to
the Federal Security Bureau (FSB). A FAB officer made
her to write a written explanation why her signature
sheets contained signatures recognised invalid by
handwriting experts... |
| YABLOKO
protests against construction of a cement plant by
the nature reserve
Press Release, February 21,
2011.
On February 19, a picket against construction
of cement plant was held in the city of Vinyov. The
plant is owned by Elena Baturina, the wife of Moscow
ex-mayor Yuri Luzkkov. The group of local civil activists
was supported by the YABLOKO party. The picket took
place despite severe frosts and counteraction of the
local authorities.
Another archaeological and historical
monument of the 12th century Shchuchye Town is also
located at the future construction site. To date,
99 per cent of the local residents put their signatures
against the construction... |
| Candidates
from YABLOKO restored in the elections in the Khanty-Mansiysk
Autonomous Region and Saratov
Press Release, February 21,
2011.
The Khanty-Mansiysk District Court
ruled out that the Territorial Electoral Commission
must register Yuri Shagut, leader of the local branch
of the YABLOKO party, for election to the City Council
in Ugra...
In another region, in the city of
Saratov, on February 20, Saratov District Court restored
Alexander Zhurbin, one of the leaders of the Saratov
branch YABLOKO, in the election to the City Council... |
| LI
Presidential statement on the resignation of Egyptian
President Mubarak
LI Presidential Statement, February 12, 2011
Following the resignation of Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak on 11 February, LI President
Hans van Baalen MEP issued the following statement:
“Liberal International applauds
the fact that President Mubarak has resigned. It is
our steadfast hope that this change will bring about
a democratic transitional government ahead of the
upcoming elections in the autumn. Liberal International
encourages all liberals and democrats who desire an
Egypt that holds democracy and the rule of law as
paramount values to especially support Dr. Osama Harb
[leader of LI-Full member the Democratic front Party]
and Ayman Nour [leader of LI-Observer El-Ghad] and
all others who are dedicated to a free, fair and democratic
Egypt.”
MORE LI
News Bulletin No 220, February 18, 2011
|
| February 15,
2010 |
| Editor-in-Chief
of the Pskovskaya Gubernya paper and leader of the
Pskov branch of YABLOKO Lev Schlosberg became wins
the Golden Pen of Russia award
February 12, 2011.
Editor-in-Chief of the Pskovskaya
Gubernya (The Pskov Province) paper and leader of
the Pskov branch of YABLOKO Lev Schlosberg became
won the Golden Pen of Russia award - the highest professional
award of the Russian Journalists Union. It is already
the second year that members of the YABLOKO party
win this prestigious award. Last year the winner of
the award was member of the YABLOKO’s Bureau
and a columnist of the popular Novaya Gazeta paper
Boris Vishnevsky.The honorary title of the Golden
Pen of Russia is awarded to Russian journalists for
outstanding creative achievements by merit or for
individual publications demonstrating professional
excellence, civil position and personal courage of
the author... |
February 11,
2011 |
| YABLOKO’s
candidates withdrawn from regional elections
LI News
Bulletin No 219, February 11, 2011
LI full member YABLOKO is conducting
protest actions in reaction to the withdrawal of YABLOKO's
candidates from regional elections in Russia, scheduled
for March 2011... YABLOKO party leader Sergei Mitrokhin
says that recent statements by President Medvedev's
that “the political system has become more just
and there has been less criticism of the electoral
process” does not reflect the real situation...
MORE
Van
Baalen calls for liberal unity in Africa
ALDEPAC convenes in Djibouti to discuss security and
piracy
LI, FNF and FDP discuss MENA developments
57th LI Congress presented at media event in Manila
Romania’s opposition unites under liberal leadership
DA is becoming a threat to the ruling party, Helen
Zille says
¦SDP reaches fundraising goal to keep Dr Chee
Soon Juan out of prison
|
| February 10,
2010 |
| YABLOKO’s
leader Sergei Mitrokhin called European Parliament
members to abolish Realpolitik in Europe’s relations
with Russia
February 10, 2011.
On February 9, 2011, YABLOKO’s
leader Sergei Mitrokhin made a speech at the seminar
Prospects and Challenges to Russian Modernisation
organised in the European Parliament by the ALDE group.
Describing the present situation in
Russia he said that "the prospects for Russian
modernisation are vague, when challenges are real
and numerous." Mitrokhin said that the main challenges
to for Russia were its totalitarian past and oligarchic
present.
"Our totalitarian past –
the 70 years of communism –destroyed not only
Russian civil society, but even a society as such,
and eradicated the concept of property owners",
Mitrokhin noted. According to Mitrokhin the reforms
of 1990s failed to create democracy in Russia, instead
they created oligarchy and shut down the possibility
of forming a broad layer of full-fledged owners in
the country, and without such a layer democracy is
not possible... |
| YABLOKO
conducted an action against withdrawal of the party
from elections by the Central Electoral Commission
office
February 8, 2011.
An unsanctioned action against withdrawal
of YABLOKO from regional elections took place by the
Central Electoral Commission office. Activists of
the Youth YABLOKO unfolded for a few minutes a banner
"Stop withdrawing us from elections!" And
"Unfair elections mean the way to Egypt!",
after which they were arrested and sent to the local
police department. Now they are all waiting for a
trial... |
February 9,
2011 |
| Open
letter to Vladimir Vasilyev, Chair of the State Duma
Security Committee
February 9, 2011.
The recent events have clearly shown
that, despite substantial differences in the views,
all the Russian parties and public movements should
be in constant and active dialogue with each other
so that to develop common approaches addressing the
issues relevant to all citizens of the country.
The prime issue is the security of
citizens. The present formats for discussion of these
issues, both closed and public, leave much to be desired
and do not contribute to mutual understanding between
different people for development of much-needed common
approaches.
We proposed to conduct a meeting with
participation of senior representatives of the United
Russia party as the party that has the maximum impact
on political decisions and bearing ultimate responsibility
for them... |
| Russia
can never modernise without a liberal society based
on the rule of law - Verhofstadt
Press Release, ALDE, February
9, 2010
...Opening the
seminar, ALDE leader Guy Verhofstadt
said:
"Russia will always be an important neighbour
and strategic partner for the EU. But we shall not
be silent when violations of human rights and the
rule of law are common place. Our commitment is to
the Russian people, who deserve better.
"Council of Europe, OSCE or WTO membership entails
obligations. For a serious international player that
Russia aspires to be, meeting international commitments
is paramount.
"Russian authorities would be well advised to
pursue a more liberal agenda. This means introducing
true competition, guaranteeing political freedoms,
distinguishing between oligarchs and politicians,
and most importantly adhering to the rule of law.
"Modernisation of Russia will only be successful
if this liberal agenda is first put into practice.
Building on the current flawed economic and political
system will lead to nothing."
Kriistina Ojuland MEP
(ALDE, Estonian Reform Party), former Foreign Minister
of Estonia and ALDE spokesperson on EU Russian relations,
said:
"We believe that a modernisation of Russia should
not only entail economic and market reforms but also
calls for greater democracy, political freedoms, and
respect for human rights and the rule of law.
"I welcome the European Parliament's initiative
to establish an early monitoring group in order to
observe the preparations of the forthcoming parliamentary
and presidential elections.
"I would very much welcome a prompt resolution
by the European parliament on the situation regarding
the rule of law in Russia." |
February 7,
2011 |
| YABLOKO
prepares protest actions in connection with withdrawal
of the party from elections
Press Release, February 7,
2011.
YABLOKO prepares protest actions in
connection with withdrawal of YABLOKO’s candidates
from regional elections in Russia that have to take
place in March 2011.
YABLOKO’s lists were withdrawn
from elections to the Legislative Assembly of the
Tambov region and the Municipal Council of Stavropol.
YABLOKO’s candidates who had to run in single-mandate
electoral districts will not be able to run in seven
regions.
However, after YABLOKO’s leader
Sergei Mitrokhin spoke about this during a programme
broadcast by the Echo Moskvi radio station where he
criticized the President, the situation has somewhat
improved. Dmitry Medvedev’s statement that the
political system had become more just and there had
been less criticism of the electoral process did not
reflect the real situation, Mitrokhin said...
|
| Bourgoisie
against Oligarchy
How to build a modern democracy in Russia (a complete
version). Novaya Gazeta, January 20,
2011.
By Sergei Mitrokhin, Chairman of the YABLOKO party.
...Russia’s "special way"
goes past the stage of historical development, which
is in charge of forming of the great triad of Western
modernisation: the bourgeoisie – civil society
- the rule of law.
The bourgeoisie more than any other
social groups has been interested in the establishment
of such fundamental principles of the modern Western
society as equality of all before law, individual
freedom, freedom of entrepreneurship, etc., that created
the conditions for a huge leap in the development
made by the Western world... |
| YABLOKO
has been registered for regional parliamentary elections
in the Kaliningrad region
Press Release, January
30, 2011.
The Electoral Commission of the Kaliningrad
region registered the list of the YABLOKO party for
elections to the Legislative Assembly of the region.
On January 26 YABLOKO’s activists submitted the required
10,000 of signatures in favour of the party as demanded
by law for non-parliamentary parties. On January 29,
the Electoral Commission adopted the decision to register
YABLOKO in the regional election campaign...
|
February 1,
2011 |
| The
tragedy in the Noviye Aldany, Chechnya, should be
investigated on a federal level
Press Release, January
31, 2011.
The YABLOKO party has once forwarded
a letter to President Medvedev calling him to take
under his personal control the investigation of the
crimes by St.Peterburg riot police in Noviye Aldany
village, Chechnya. YABLOKO also asks the President
to transfer the case from the republic to the federal
investigators...
...On February 4 there was silence.
The residents of the village got out of the basements
and cells, began repairing their roofs, made reserves
of water and cleaned the yards. On February 5, a large
group of soldiers from St. Petersburg riot police
(OMON) entered Noviye Aldy. For several hours, they
were firing and robbing the houses, shotting the civilians
and raping women. By evening, 114 residents of the
village were killed or were missing. On the following
days the residents buried 82 corpses. Among the dead
there were no militants – all were civilians:
old people, disabled persons and women ...
On the application filed by several
of the village in the European Court of Human Rights,
the Court found the Russian Federation guilty in the
crime... |
| Printshops
in the capital of the Republic of Kalmykia refused
to print YABLOKO’s leaflets
Press Release, January
31, 2011.
In Elista, the capital of the Republic
of Kalmykia, YABLOKO had to face a new problem: print
shops refused to print YABLOKO’s leaflets and
banners the party was going to use in a picket against
raising of tariffs by the monopolies in the housing
and utilities sector. In the Logo-Pro printshop (address:
Elista, ul Khaninova 8) they boldly stated that they
would not print YABLOKO’s leaflets on “political
grounds”... |
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