| May 30, 2011 |
|
The Moscow branch of YABLOKO to discuss draft programme of the party for the parliamentary election campaign
Press Release,
May 30, 2011.
The party will continue collection of proposals of YABLOKO electoral programme until June 15.
"Both the common sense and the calendar of the election campaign dictate that we have to discuss
all the proposals not only in the working group, but also in the Bureau and the Political Committee by the August congress of the party.
So after June 15 we have to gather our working group and start writing the document," - Boris Misnik, head of the working group told to Rossyiskaya Gazeta. |
| Citizens of the Korolyov city, Moscow region, demand resignation of the city administration
Press Release,
May 30, 2011.
On May 30, about 30 people -
YABLOKO's activists and citizens of Korolyov, Moscow region, -
gathered by the Moscow Region parliament so that to demand resignation of the city.
The participants of the picket said
that corrupted city administration had been allocating
even children's playing grounds such as a
single children's hockey rink under commercial construction. |
| May 26, 2011 |
| YABLOKO’s
leader detained at a permitted action
Press Release,
May 26, 2011.
YABLOKO’s leader
Sergei Mitrokhin was detained at an action in protection
of small-scale business by the building of the Ministry
for Economic Development...
YABLOKO’s action was conducted
on the Day of Russian Entrepreneur. The picketers
spoke about the problems Russian small business has
to confront. Sergei Mitrokhin noted that situation
for small-scale business had been deteriorating with
every year. Fiscal burden grew by 2.5 times in the
past two years. The picket was
held under the slogans “34 per cent of taxes
strangles honest businesses!”, “Markets
for small businesses, not the oligarchs!” and
“Down with corruption!” |
| YABLOKO’s
activist beaten at the picket for dismissal of Moscow
Region Governor
Press Release,
May 26, 2011.
An hour ago unidentified
persons attacked YABLOKO’s activists who were
taking part in the picket for of Moscow Region Governor
Boris Gromov. Gleb Sitnikov was severely injured.
He was stroke to the ground and beaten.
Nadezhda Samsonova, head of the Klin
branch of YABLOKO, told that there were ten attackers.
They began beating YABLOKO’s activists, tore
the placards and disappeared. Ambulance was called
for injured Gleb Sitnikov. Despite of the fact the
policemen were watching the picket, none of the attackers
was detained... |
| May 25, 2011 |
|
Europe's new Neighbourhood Policy :an important step
in building democracy on our doorstep
Press Release, ALDE, May 25, 2011
Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE leader called
the European Commission's Southern Mediterranean Neighbourhood
policy "an important step" today but says
the challenge now must be to get the Member States
to fully support the measures outlined as indicated
in the communication -"The ENP should be a policy
of the Union with the Member States aligning their
own bilateral efforts in support of its overall policy
objectives"...
|
| European
liberals supported Oleg Orlov, head of the Memorial
human rights centre
Press Release,
May 24, 2011.
The European Liberal
Democrat and Reform Party Council, convening in Dresden,
Germany, unanimously voted for the draft resolution
submitted by the YABLOKO party in support of Oleg
Orlov, head of the Memorial human rights centre and
winner of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize
“For the Freedom of Thought”.
European liberals expressed their
deep concern with the trials and harassments against
Oleg Orlov initiated by leader of Chechnya Ramzan
Kadyrov for the criticism of the Chechen authorities
in view of investigation of the murder in Chechnya
of renowned human rights activist Natalya Estemirova.
The resolution of ELDR Council stressed that persecution
of Oleg Orlov was “clearly politically motivated,
raised serious questions on the functioning of the
Russian judicial system, and demonstrated the desire
of the Chechen authorities to prevent Orlov voicing
his opinion”.
ELDR called the Russian authorities
to “stop trials and harassments against Oleg
Orlov and other human rights defenders”, “properly
investigate the murder of Natalya Estemirova and bring
the perpetrators to justice”... |
May 24, 2011 |
| On
Sergei Mitrokhin's birthday
Kommersant, May
20, 2011.
Today YABLOKO’s
Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin turns 48.
Eugeniya Chirikova, leader of the
movement in protection of Khimki Forest sends him
her congratulations:
— I am congratulating Sergei
Mitrokhin on his birthday! I think he is one of the
most understanding Russian politicians. He was the
first to offer help with the problems of Khimki Forest
and he was the only one who saved life to [journalist
and Editor-in-Chief of the oppositional Khimkinskaya
Pravda paper] Mikhail Beketov arranging for his hospitalization.
Sergei Mitrokhin has been helping us a lot and we
are very grateful to him for this. We are wishing
him good health, happiness and success.
|
| Representatives
of 23 Russian regions joined YABLOKO’s the Elder
Generation faction
Press Release,
May 23, 2011.
On Saturday, May 21,
a congress of interregional public organisation The
Elder Generation was held in YABLOKO’s Moscow
office. The participants of the congress - 38 delegates
from 23 Russian regions – adopted a decision
on merger of their organisations with the YABLOKO
party. They will join the Elder Generation faction
within YABLOKO.
From now on the faction will be represented
in 36 regions of Russia...
|
| Stop
Persecution of Russian Human Rights Activist
Urgency Resolution adopted by ELDR Dresden
Council
May 20, 2011, submitted by YABLOKO.
The European Liberal Democrat and
Reform Party Council, convening in Dresden, Germany
on 20 May 2011:
Notes with deep concern:
- Reports on political reprisals against
Oleg Orlov, Russian human rights activist, winner
of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize and Chair
of the "Memorial" Human Rights Centre, for
voicing criticism of Chechen authorities about the
investigation into the murder of human rights activist
Natalya Estemirova in 2009;
- That trials initiated by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov,
the latest of which is set to resume in June, are
clearly politically motivated, raise serious questions
on the functioning of the Russian judicial system,
and demonstrate the desire of the Chechen authorities
to prevent Orlov voicing his opinion.
Calls upon Russian authorities to:
- Stop trials and harassments against
Oleg Orlov and other human rights defenders and properly
investigate such attacks and trials;
- Properly investigate the murder of Natalya Estemirova
and bring the perpetrators to justice.
States that
ELDR will continue to closely monitor
events in Russia.
|
| The
situation with human rights and efforts of society
consolidation
in the Republic of Dagestan. Memorial Human Rights
Centre. March 2010 – March 2011
...This report contains the
situation analysis of human rights violations in the
RD and the authorities’ attempts to achieve
the rule of law and consolidation of the society.
The report consists of various parts...
The main points of the political programme
of Magomedov (new President of the RD since 2010)
are the following: modernization of economy, change
of the methods regarding the fight against terrorism,
rule of law. The main obstacles are: the high level
of corruption, undeveloped, subsidized economy, unemployment,
poverty, terrorism, instability in the region. New
policy is not supported and welcomed by both sides:
armed militants continue their activity, and state
defense and law enforcement agencies do not follow
the rule of law and legal order...
|
| South
African local elections: DA set to achieve its best
result yet
LI News Bulletin, Issue 233, May 20, 2011
With 95 percent of votes counted on
Friday morning, the Democratic Alliance's (LI full
member) share of the vote in South African municipal
election was an impressive 22.27%, up 6 percent from
national elections in 2009. The DA was thrilled about
winning Midvaal municipality again, the only municipality
not controlled by ruling party ANC in Gauteng, the
province where metropolitans Johannesburg and Pretoria
are located. “The results so far are unbelievable”,
party leader Premier Helen Zille said on Thursday.
The DA seems set to effortlessly take the City of
Cape Town, its traditional stronghold, where it had
won over 65 percent of the votes by Thursday night.
In the rest of the Western Cape, DA has won with an
outright majority in 19 out of 29 municipalities...
MORE
International
Day Against Homophobia celebrated worldwide
Rösler inaugurated as new leader of FDP at Rostock
Convention
LI Congress Theme Rapporteur Mar Roxas appointed to
Aquino’s cabinet
Thai PM dissolves parliament, announces elections
for 3 July
Liberal leaders call on Assad to end the suppressions
of demonstrators
Surprising result in Milan in Italian local elections
Luxembourg-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Groups
visits DPP |
May 13, 2011 |
| “Politicians
saying that we should adopt the Chinese model of development
are either naïve or dishonest”
The Epoch Times, May 10, 2011
Grigory Yavlinsky is a politician
recognised and respected by the world democratic community.
He is a regular participant of the meetings of the
International Crisis Committee, the World Economic
Forum, the Trilateral Commission, etc.
Grigory Yavlinsky has been one of
the initiators of nomination of Chinese dissident
Liu Xiaobo, a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
We began our conversation with discussion of this
event.
QUESTION: Grigory Alexeyevich, when
you decided to nominate Chinese dissident for the
[Nobel Peace] Prize, did you think about that the
reaction in the world would be controversial?..
|
May 12, 2011 |
| YABLOKO
leader detained while protesting against deforestation
LI News Bulletin, Issue 232, May 12, 2011
Party leader Sergei Mitrokhin and
YABLOKO party activists have been detained by Russian
police after protesting the planned deforestation
of Khimki Forest (a region which covers 1000 acres
in Moscow). When Mithrokin arrived on the scene to
join the peaceful protest, he witnessed activists
being herded into a van by police forces. Mithrokhin
himself was also detained and will likely be charged
with disobedience of police instruction. Witnesses
were alarmed by the fact that the police forces were
being directed by a non-uniformed individual, igniting
speculation that this was a government mandated operation.
Party officials directed criticism towards the government
and their attempt to silence a peaceful protest conducted
by a federally recognized political party just ahead
of “Victory Day”. According to Mr. Mithrokin:
“'I assess the actions of the police [to be]
a purposeful provocation of the Khimki district authorities
on the verge of Victory Day.” Yabloko is a full
member of Liberal International, first joining at
the Budapest Congress in 2002.
|
|
Schengen: Risk of end to free movement in Europe if
border control contagion spreads
Press Release, ALDE, May 12, 2011
ALDE expresses its great disappointment
as regards today's extraordinary JHA Council meeting
to discuss the Commission's communication of 4th May
on a comprehensive and sustainable migration policy.
ALDE President Guy Verhofstadt said: "Answers
to migration flows should not be about giving in to
insular reflexes and reintroducing border controls,
either for persons or for goods. It is about developing
a common border management, a common asylum system
and a common legal migration framework. What we need
is more European cooperation to tackle crime and illegal
immigration, not a weakening of one of the EU's greatest
achievements".
He added: "The Rome and Paris'
ping-pong game over 25.000 migrants has invented a
problem that did not exist. Italy and France played
with fire and now others feel emboldened to reintroduce
checks at their borders to combat cross border crime,
creating a dangerous precedent. We are concerned by
Denmark's decision to reintroduce border controls.
We fear a real sabotage of what Europe has built over
the last 61 years"...
See also: Liberals
call on Ashton to increase pressure on the Chinese
authorities
|
| May 11, 2011 |
| YABLOKO
commemorated heroes and victims of the Second World
War
Press Release,
May 9, 2011.
A solemn
ceremony was traditionally held at Preobrazhenskoye
Cemetery, the largest military burial in Moscow, on
Victory Day May 9. Participants
in the ceremony went in a mourning procession to the
memorial. YABLOKO’s leaders Sergei Mitrokhin,
Grigory Yavlinsky, Sergei Ivanenko and Alexei Arbatov
laid three wreaths to the eternal flame.
Several dozens people – YABLOKO’s
supporters and party members – brought red carnations
to the memorial. A minute's silence in memory of those
killed in World War II was held... |
| YABLOKO
laid wreath and flowers to the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier
Press Release,
May 8, 2011.
On May 8, delegation
of the YABLOKO party laid wreath and flowers to the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall.
Members of YABLOKO’s Political
Committee Alexei Arbatov, Sergei Ivanenko and Elena
Dubrovina, as well as leaders and activists of the
Moscow branch of the party participated in the ceremony.
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin could not
participate in the ceremony, as he had been detained
during police breaking of the gathering of defenders
of Khimki Forest. |
May 10, 2011 |
| Algorithms
for Opposing Gender Discrimination
By Marianne Spangenberg-Carlier,
Vice-President of D66 Women/Men/Human Rights thematic
chapter
D66 News Letter, May 10, 2011.
YABLOKO is the oldest
democratic party in Russia. One important issue at
hand during the conference concerned worries that
because of the low birthrate of Russian women, abortion
might become illegal (now allowed within 12 weeks)
or not covered by the health insurance. Another issue
brought to attention by Yabloko, is the concern of
so-called soldier-mothers about the situation of young
conscripts (one year army duty is obliged) improvement
is urgent.
Turkish MP Nursuna Memecan (AKP) mentioned
recent changes made to improve the position of women... |
| Video
of Grigory Yavlinsky's lecture for Skolkovo students
Grigory Yavlinsky, famous Russian
politician and economist met with SKOLKOVO’s
students. Mr Yavlinsky was as a guest speaker at the
MBA practical module, devoted to the projects in social
and government sectors.
|
| May 9, 2011 |
| YABLOKO’s
leader detained by police and transported to court
Press Release,
May 8, 2011.
Today, on May 8, YABLOKO’s leader
Sergei Mitrokhin and a group of party activists joined
the group of environmentalists who have been trying
to protect Khimki forest from cutting.
YABLOKO’s activists have been in the environmentalists’
camp all these days trying to stop cutting of the
woods. On May 6 unidentified young men attacked the
camp and injured Suren Gazaryan who came to Khimki
from the Krasnodar Area so that to support the environmentalists
in the Moscow region.
On May 8 environmentalists, YABLOKO’s activists
and local citizens conducted a peaceful rally, however,
the riot police (OMON) broke the rally and detained
over 20 people, including YABLOKO’s leader Sergei
Mitrokhin, head of Movement in Defence of Khimki Forest
Eugenia Chirikova, Yaroslav Nikitenko, Sergei Udaltsov
and leader of the Klin branch of YABLOKO Yuri Samsonov.
See also:
Fight
to preserve Russian forest turns violent. By William
J. Dobson. The Washington Post, May 9, 2011.
Clashes,
Camp Attacks Occur As Battle Over Russia's Khimki
Forest Heats Up. Radio Free Europe, May 6, 2011. Video,
Photos.
|
May 6, 2011 |
| Our
party is democratic and anti-oligarchic
Sergei Mitrokhin’s intrerview
to Moskovsky Komsomolets
May 3, 2011
Question: What is happening with YABLOKO,
why has it not had any success either in the regional
or the federal elections?
Sergei Mitrokhin: Do we have elections
in our country? You remember October 2009 in Moscow.
At the polling stations where Putin, Medvedev, and
Luzhkov voted, YABLOKO got 15-17%. While in places
where I voted with my family we got zero. Why? In
the places where the bosses voted, no-one dared to
falsify anything. Only islands for free elections
remain today - due to oversights, because although
we have an authoritarian regime it is not very tough.
In places where we manage to ensure a fair count of
the votes, we get what we are due. In Sebezhsky district
in Pskov Oblast - 20.6% of the vote and second place
after United Russia. In Kolchuginsky district Vladimir
Oblast - more than 20%, second place after the LDPR
(Liberal Democratic Party of Russia), but the head
of our list was elected head of the district... |
|
Russia must protect human rights defenders
Press Release, ALDE, May 6, 2011
It is with dismay we have learned
of the forthcoming criminal trial against Oleg Orlov,
head of Memorial and 2009 laureate of the European
Parliament's Sakharov Prize. This trial, scheduled
for 17 May and initiated by the Chechen leader Ramzan
Kadyrov, is clearly politically motivated and raises
serious questions on the functioning of the Russian
judicial system. |
| European
Union gains greater weight at the UN
LI News Bulletin, Issue 231, May 6, 2011
The European Union has been granted
‘super observer' status in the United Nations,
which will allow the EU High Representative for Foreign
Affairs Catherine Ashton to speak on behalf of the
EU. This elevation of the EU status was determined
by a vote in the UN General Assembly which saw 180
countries out of 192 voting in favour. Though this
does not give the EU voting rights, representatives
of the EU will be able to participate in the general
debate, present proposals and amendments and sponsor
resolutions. The ALDE group in the European Parliament
(LI full member) has expressly welcomed the vote.
Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (FDP, Germany), Deputy Leader
of the ALDE Group, said 'The clear vote in favour
of the resolution is an important diplomatic success
for the EU in a difficult political environment. The
EU will enjoy greater weight at the UN, which more
adequately reflects its importance on the world stage.
The ALDE Group congratulates Cathy Ashton on this
success.'
MORE
LI
President speaks in Cairo on democratic transitions
in the Arab World
Westerwelle launches global competition for Human
Rights logo
Time to “rebuild, retool and reconnect with
Canadians”, says LPC Senator Eggleton
United Kingdom votes on AV, Northern Ireland elects
Assembly
Sam Rainsy calls on government to step down amid border
clashes
Indonesian President warns of rising Islamist extremism
|
May 4, 2011 |
| Lies
and legitimacy
The founder of the Yabloko Party analyses the political
situation. Article by Grigory Yavlinsky on radio Svoboda.
This year marks the 20th anniversary
since Russia emerged from the ruins of the USSR. Peaceful
rejection of the previous totalitarian system represented
a historical achievement of global proportions. At
the time society was clearly ready for change and
the construction of a new life based on respect for
the individual, democratic principles and a free competitive
economy. Today we understand that this potential has
not been realized. These dreams have not come true...
...The people are organizing their
lives outside the state. The people are taking flight,
as they believe the state to be alien, and naturally
not to offer them any support. At critical moments
in the past (such as in 1917 and 1991) this led to
the state’s disappearance... |
May 3, 2011 |
| Bashkirian
YABLOKO participated in the 1st of May demonstration
and a rally
Press Release of the Bashkirian
branch of YABLOKO, May 3, 2011.
On May 1 the Bashkirian
branch of YABLOKO together with a number of public
organisations of the Republic of Bashkortastan conducted
a demonstration and a rally in protection of civil
and social rights of the citizens. Over 1,000 people
participated in the action.
The participants of the demonstration
marched along the main street of Ufa. The slogans
of the demonstration were “High Time to Change
the Authorities”, “Head of Ufa Administration
to Dismissal”, “We Are for Self-Government”,
“United Russia [party] Means Deceit, Crime and
Corruption”, etc... |
| The
1st of May Democratic March demanding dismissal of
the Governor and elections of executive authorities
took place in St.Petersburg
Press Service of St.Petersburg
YABLOKO, May 3, 2011.
The 1st of May Democratic
March demanding dismissal of Governor Valentina Matviyenko
and elections of executive authorities took place
in St.Petersburg. The participants marched along the
main streets of the city and then conducted a rally.
About 500 people came to the march. The participants
held banners “Democratic March” and “Matviyenko to
Dismissal”. A large number of police, several coaches
of riot police (OMON) and a police helicopter followed
the demonstration...
|
| Sergei
Mitrokhin: after the death of Osama bin Laden we have
to prevent possible “acts of revenge”
Interfax, May 3, 2011.
The US and other countries,
including Russia, should adopt measures so that to
prevent possible “acts of revenge” after
the death of terrorist Osama bin Laden, said Sergei
Mitrokhin, leader of the opposition party YABLOKO.
“Elimination of bin Laden is
a positive event. This is certainly a huge plus for
Barack Obama… However, now the Americans should
not only rejoice and triumph, but also prepare to
possible acts of terror which terrorists may commit
as the acts of revenge,” Mitrokhin said on Monday... |
| Human
Rights community created in the Internet on the initiative
of the Tambov branch of YABLOKO
Press Release of the Tambov
branch of YABLOKO, May 3, 2011.
A human rights community
has been created in the Live Journal (at pravotambov.livejournal.com)
on the initiative of the Tambov branch of YABLOKO.
YABLOKO is aiming to create an area for interaction
between citizens, human rights activists and human
rights organisations in Tambov and reflect their activities...
|
|
Guy Verhofstadt: the end of a decade of terror
Press Release, ALDE, April 19, 2011
After having heard the news of the
death of Osama bin Laden, Guy Verhofstadt, President
of the ALDE Group in the European Parliament, felt
relief. Verhofstadt was President of the European
Council back in 2001 when 9/11 took place. In the
name of the European Union he called these attacks
"barbaric"...
See also: One-China
policy has got no future in long term |
| European
Liberals: Dismantling Schengen dismantles an open
Europe
ELDR Press Release, April 29, 2011.
Following the unprecedented developments
in North Africa, voices have been raised for cutting
the freedoms of the Schengen agreement that allows
for free travel within Europe to combat illegal migration.
If needed, the rules of the Schengen agreement can
already be adjusted in exceptional circumstances.
European Liberals warn to open this pandora’s
box of changing treaties as it is the axe to the idea
of an open Europe, which is one of the cornerstones
of the EU... |
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