YABLOKO forwarded its proposals to the Strategic Initiatives Agency

Press Release, June 29, 2011

The YABLOKO party forwarded to the Russian Government its proposals and initiatives via the Strategic Initiatives Agency. The Strategic Initiatives Agency was created by the Russian Government in May 2011. It is targeted at support of socially important projects and initiatives.

The proposals are connected with the new strategy of Russian economic polices, local self-government reform and reduction of tariffs in the housing and utilities sector. The drafts were submitted by Valery Goryachev, Executive Secretary of YABLOKO’s Bureau. “We are going to use all the possibilities for implementation of our projects,” Goryachev said...

Hans van Baalen MEP, re-elected as President of Liberal International, receives Friedrich-Naumann-Medal for freedom
Press Release, ALDE, June 29, 2011

ALDE MEP Hans van Baalen (VVD, Netherlands) has been re-elected for a second term of 18 months as President of Liberal International during the 57th Congress of LI in the Philippine capital Manila...

Journalist and human rights activist’s car exploded in Moscow

Press Release, June 29, 2011

Journalist and human rights activist Vladimir Grechaninov saw his car explode in the North-East of Moscow at 4 a.m. today. According to preliminary information, the police qualified this crime as arson, and the journalists connected this accident with his professional activities. Fortunately Grechaninov was not affected. Grechaninov connects this either with his professional activities or with the activities of his spouse Marina Verigina...

YABLOKO proposed to Presidential Commission its programme for Russia’s modernisation

Press Release, June 28, 2011

On June 28, 2011, a round table of the consultative working group of the Commission under the President of Russian Federation for modernisation and technological development of Russia’s economy was held in the Moscow region...

Four political parties presented their views of modernisation and the task of innovative development there. Ivan Bolshakov, member of YABLOKO’s Federal Council, made a speech about YABLOKO’s view of modernisation and the factors hampering this process and also answered journalists’ questions. It turned out that Bolshakov was the only representative of a political party who criticized the present Russia’s political system and called to its modernisation.

“Conducting modernisation via technological stimulation of Russia’s economy is obviously inefficient, this should include institutional transformation of the whole system, including political, economic, social and socio-cultural spheres,” Bolshakov stressed. “If this does not happen, we shall be left with the archaic authoritarian political system which puts Russia in line with backward countries and failing states,” he added...

A rally against the ruling United Russia party held in Yaroslavl

Press Release, June 25, 2011.

A rally against the ruling United Russia party was organised by the local YABLOKO branch in Yaroslavl. YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin also participated in the action...

“We ourselves are to blame that we are robbed of,” he said. “We resemble the people who have burglars in their house but do not want to catch them under the pretext that they are tired,” Mitrokhin added. He also said that if such a trend went on, the country would simply cease to exist and called everyone not to miss but vote in the coming elections...

YABLOKO’s leader disappointed that the barrier to the Russian parliament may be reduced only from 2016.

Press Release, June 24, 2011

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin expressed his disappointment with the presidential initiative to reduce the barrier for parties to the Russian parliament from 2016. “It is unclear why, if the President recognizes the present seven per cent barrier as obviously too high, why it is impossible to introduce amendments into the law already now so that to reduce the barrier for the forthcoming elections to the State Duma in December 2011,” Sergei Mitrokhin told Interfax on Thursday...

“We are pessimistic about all these public statements by the head of the state, realizing that he either does not want or can not implement his often correct words into real actions,” he stressed...

YABLOKO and Women’s Social-Democratic Congress sign partnership agreement

Press Release, June 22, 2011.

On June 24, YABLOKO and Women’s Social-Democratic Congress sign partnership agreement at the meeting of YABLOKO’s Bureau. On behalf of YABLOKO the document was signed by party leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Chair of the Gender Faction Galina Mikhalyova. On behalf of the Congress the agreement was signed by its President Tatyana Chertoritskaya.

Signing of the agreement reflects the policies of the party towards a coalition of the organisations sharing YABLOKO’s values. Earlier YABLOKO had already signed such agreements with the Green Russia and the Elder Generation that joined YABLOKO and formed their factions within the party...

Tuapse printing facility refused to print YABLOKO’s bulletin for the rally obeying the order from the authorities

Press Release, June 24, 2011.

Tuapse subsidiary of the Kuban Printing Works refused to print YABLOKO’s bulletin on environmental problems “Let Us Save the City”. YABLOKO and North Caucasus Environmental Watch planned to conduct a rally against launching of chemical shipments terminal on Sunday, June 26...

YABLOKO continues discussion of the party programme

Press Release, June 23, 2011.

On June 22 a meeting of the working group created by the Bureau of the party on behalf of the 15th Congress of YABLOKO was held. The group has to summarize proposals, comments and amendments to YABLOKO’s programme.
Opening the meeting, Boris Misnik, head of the working group, the coordinator of the Political Committee of the party, spoke about the progress in further development of the party programme and proposals made by party members. "A large number of party members and supporters were involved into such work. In total the web-site of the party received over thirty-five written proposals and critical remarks, many of them will be reflected in a draft election platform of the party," he said...

YABLOKO’s activists arrested by “Putin’s country cottage” at the Black Sea Coast

Press Release, June 25, 2011.

Kirill Gontcharov, leader of the Moscow Youth YABLOKO, and environmentalist Sergei Menzhitsky were sentenced to five days of imprisonment for alleged “physical resistance to police orders”. They were detained in Divnomorskoye village at the Black Sea.

On June 24 Kirill Gontcharov, leader of the Moscow Youth YABLOKO and environmentalists Sergei Menzhitsky and Konstantin Andramonov were detained in Divnomorskoye village at the Black Sea. YABLOKO had launched an action “All-Russia Protest Against the Stolen Black Sea Coast” protesting against unlawful and illegal construction of cottages (especially for top officials) in the national parks and turning of public beaches and territories into their private beaches and territories.

On June 25 the activists planned to conduct a rally by “Putin’s dacha” (“Putin’s country cottage”). And on June 24 they inspected the national park of the relict Pitsunda pine (as it has been detected previously that part of the relict trees were cut for construction of the Governor’s residence)...

ALDE: "No new border controls inside the EU"
Press Release, ALDE, June 23, 2011

ALDE will strongly condemn any attempt to create any additional mechanism and possibilities of making it easier for Member States to re-introduce border checks. This is one of the messages of the ALDE group to today's European Council summit due to decide over migration and the governance of the Schengen area...

Partidul Liberal wins round two of Moldovan elections
ELDR Press Release, June 22, 2011.

Last Sunday (19 June) witnessed the second round of the Moldovan local elections. The first round of the local elections, held on Sunday 5 June, were very fruitful for ELDR member Partidul Liberal (PL), as reported by ELDR on 8 June – and offered plenty of potential for the second round, with the capital Chisinau still undecided and over 100 liberal candidates still in the running around the country...

After YABLOKO and ecologists’ protests President Medvedev postponed launching of chemical terminals at the Black Sea

Press Release, June 22, 2011.

After YABLOKO’s and ecologists protests President Medvedev postponed launching of a chemical terminal at Tuapse and a masut transshipment terminal at Novorossiysk until public hearings on assessment of environmental risks of these projects. The YABLOKO party which was one of the organisers of protests against hazardous productions welcomes this decision...

The President mandated Prime Minister Putin and Governor of Krasnodar Region Alexander Tkachyov with controlling functions over finalization of the projects (by October 1) with regard to ecological expertise and public hearings...

Sergei Mitrokhin’s blog at the Echo Moskvi web-site, June 22, 2011

The issue of today’s radio programme “People Are Against” has been whether it is possible to knockdown corruption in Russia? My answer is: yes, it is, and the key condition here is the WILL OF THE TOP OFFICIAL OF THE STATE. After which the following steps can be taken...

Sergei Mitrokhin: decision by the Justice Ministry to deny registration to the People's Freedom Party means derogation of the rights of supporters of this party

Interfax, June 22, 2011.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin expressed his indignation with the decision of the Justice Ministry to deny registration to People’s Freedom Party (PNS).

“I am expressing indignation with the actions of the registrator. We do not share many of the political views of PNS, but we believe that this movement reflects the ideas of a particular part of society and has already proved being a political organisation,” he told Interfax on Wednesday.

According to Mitrokhin, “the denial to register PNS means not only a denial of rights to its members, but also to those who support them”.

“I hope that in case PNS goes to court, an objective decision will be taken and the party will be registered and be able to participate in the parliamentary elections,” Mitrokhin concluded...

YABLOKO lit 1418 candles for each day of war 1941 - 1945

Press Release, June 22, 2011.

A mourning action 1418 candles for each day of war 1941 – 1945 was held in the Victory Park, Moscow, at night June 22. YABLOKO’s activists and ordinary citizens lit 1418 candles by the memorial stone “1941” in the Victory Park at Poklonnaya Gora, Moscow. The number of candles corresponded to the 1418 days of war with fascists...

LI 57th Congress elects new Bureau
LI News Bulletin, Issue 238, June 21, 2011

The delegates assembled at the Congress in Manila had the exciting task of voting for a new Bureau in an election where 8 candidates were competing for the 6 Vice President positions. The President of Liberal International, Hans van Baalen MEP will continue for a second term in his position, as will incumbent Deputy President Juli Minoves. The Vice Presidents on the new Bureau will be: Lamine Ba (PDS, Senegal), Bi-Khim Hsiao (DPP, Taiwan), Wolfgang Gerhadt MP (FDP, Germany and President of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation), Abir Al-Sahlani (Centerpartiet, Sweden), Josep Soler (LiD, Catalonia) and Dzhevdet Chakarov MP. Former Vice President on the Bureau Robert Woodthorpe Browne (Liberal Democrats, UK) and former co-opted Bureau member Senator Art Eggleton (Liberal Party, Canada) will function as Treasurers on the new Bureau...

More

President Aquino addresses 57th LI Congress at the Presidential Palace in Manila
LI welcomes new member parties
Liberal International members agree on resolutions
Congress Theme Resolution: Human Rights and Trade
Inspiring speeches by liberal leaders at Congress
Congress panels with prominent speakers focus on Theme related issues
LI President awarded Friedrich Naumann Foundation's Medal

Condolences on the death of Yelena Bonner

June 19, 2011.

Yelena Georgievna Bonner was the person whose moral example will remain in history and influence other generations...

Yelena Bonner and Andrei Sakharov became the pride of free thinking, independence, selflessness and sacrifice.

Keeping our memory of them must be our conscious action.

We express our condolences to the family and all friends of Yelena Georgievna Bonner...

EU must insist that Russia respect the rule of law
Press Release, ALDE, June 9, 2011

On the eve of the next EU-Russia summit to be held on 9-10 June in Nizhny Novgorod, ALDE has reiterated its call for more pressure to be put on Russia to uphold her international commitments and obligations but considers that there is insufficient progress on common issues to justify continuing with two summits a year...

Italia dei Valori wins!
ELDR Press Release, June 6, 2011.

In key run-off local elections held in Italy last weekend, ELDR member Italia dei Valori and the coalition it is part of won over Prime Minister’s Berlusconi’s conservative coalition.

In Naples, ELDR MEP Luigi de Magistris won 65% of the vote in a landslide victory over Mr Berlusconi's candidate, Gianni Lettieri. Other such key cities include Milan, Mr Berlusconi and Lega Nord’s power base, run by these parties for the last 18 years, as well as Turin, Bologna, Trieste, Cagliari.

June 1, 2011

No more delays in introducing a Common European Asylum System by 2012
Press Release, ALDE, June 1, 2011

Ahead of the Polish Presidency, the Commission proposed today modifications to the Asylum Reception Conditions and Asylum Procedures Directives (tabled respectively in 2008 and 2009) to overcome the ongoing impasse and give new impetus to negotiations. ALDE welcomes that the revised proposals maintain the core purpose of the original directives and calls on the Council to avoid wasting more time...

Greece: new member in the liberal family!
ELDR Press Release, May 30, 2011.

ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck addressed the delegates of the Democratic Alliance Party in Greece at their founding Congress on 27 May 2011 in Athens, Greece. This party is led by Dora Bakoyannis, a former foreign minister and mayor of Athens who left the opposition New Democracy Party last year over differences over the economic and budgetary reforms necessary to deal with the current crisis...