| July 30, 2010 |
| 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... |
| July 29, 2010 |
| 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. |
| July 28, 2010 |
|
Sergei Mitrokhin and the residents of the Presnya
district, Moscow, will fill up the pit of an unlawful
construction site
Press Release, July 28, 2010.
...In early May 2010, head of the
Moscow construction complex Vladimir Resin said that
the contract with the developer - the Phobos company
– was dissolved. The local authority also issued
an order to stop the works. However, these orders
did not stop the Phobos construction company.
The residents of the neighbouring houses are afraid
that their houses may give cracks and, consequently
be ruined due to large-scale construction works in
the old district of the city. After the workers were
ousted by police the residents decided to fill in
the excavated pit with earth. On
Thursday, July 29, Sergei Mitrokhin will meet with
the residents of the district and also participate
in filling in the pit with earth...
|
| 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.
|
| July 27, 2010 |
|
The YABLOKO party starts litigation disputing lawfulness
of the General Plan for Moscow Development until 2025
Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July
27, 2010.
The Moscow City Court appointed hearings
of the YABLOKO party law suit disputing lawfulness
of the General Plan of Moscow Development until 2025
on August 9. The trial will be open for public. "I
have filed this lawsuit personally as a citizen, whose
rights are violated by the law. If we translate this
in short from the legal language, [the Plan] affects
the following rights: driving around the city without
traffic jams, breathing clean air, buying housing
at affordable prices and walking around historical
places of the city. All these rights were violated
by the developers of the law to fill Moscow with office
and trade premises,” Sergei Mitrokhin, leader
of the YABLOKO party, said yesterday. Mitrokhin also
explained, "This trend violates my right to a
healthy environment, not only a natural, but also
architectural and technological environment”...
|
| Bring
justice to Russian human rights defenders
Liberal International Human
Rights Newsletter, July 27, 2010.
One year after the murder of Russian
human rights activist Natalia Estemirova, her killers
have yet to be brought to justice due to an investigation
frought impartiality. “This negligent attitude on
behalf of the authorities enhances political terror
in the country. Such reprisals are targeted at intimidation
of all the dissenting with the present political course
at the Northern Caucasus, violation of human rights,
curbing of civil liberties and suppression of the
freedom of speech,” said Dr Grigory A. Yavlinsky,
founder of the YABLOKO party (LI full member), prize-winner
of the Prize for Freedom in 2004.
More
news
¦Release
of all Cuban dissident remains essential
¦Journalists in Mexico continue to be harassed and
killed
¦Lack of medical attention for Iranian prisoners
¦Aid crisis continues in DR Congo
¦Supreme Court ruling secures freedom from persecution
for gay asylum seekers
¦End of inhumane treatment and ethnic violence in
Kyrgyzstan
¦Racial violence on the rise in Europe
¦Burma junta continues to violate basic human rights
¦Singapore continues to restrict freedom of speech
|
| 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 architect Nirnzeye and was almost completely destroyed
in 2008. Under a 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...
|
| July 26, 2010 |
| A
flash game “Medvedev, do not be a puppet!”
July 26, 2010. |
| 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...
|
| The
123 Agreement will turn Russia into the world burial
of nuclear waste
Statement by the YABLOKO party,
July 24, 2010.
The YABLOKO party has always opposed
imports of nuclear waste into Russia. It was the only
parliamentary party which in 2000 jointly voted against
introduction of changes into the law allowing for
imports of radioactive waste into Russia. Even at
that time we were saying “we should not turn
Russia into an international radioactive waste dump
even for much money!” However, such changes
in the law were made under the pressure from the Russian
Atomic Agency (Rosatom), despite of the fact that
90 per cent of Russian citizens are against imports
of radioactive waste into Russia.
The 123 Agreement on cooperation with
Russia in the nuclear field has been considered by
US Congress at present. In case it is approved, Russia
will be able to import US radioactive waste from Taiwan,
Japan, South Korea and many other countries, under
a formal pretext of recycling and virtually for its
burial.
Submitting the bill into Congress
US President said, “implementation of this agreement
does not bear any risks for our security…”
Such care of US President of his country security
inspires respect, while the Russian authorities’
care of the security of their country arises much
doubt and concern... |
| July 23, 2010 |
| 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...
|
| Sergei
Mitrokhin: President should not become a secret services’
puppet
Press Release, July 23, 2010.
Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the YABLOKO
party, called Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev
not to sign the law on broadening of the proxies of
the FSB (Federal Security Service) adopted in three
readings by the State Duma (the lower chamber of the
Russian parliament) and approved by the Federation
Council (the upper chamber).
“President’s reputation
is at stake here, Sergei Mitrokhin said. – This
is the moment of truth for the President: either he
really targets at making Russia a modern law-governed
state or all his speeches about modernization is a
part of a cover operation developed within the Federal
Security Bureau”...
|
| An
action against broadening of proxies of secret services
took part by St.Petersburg Federal Security Service
building
Press Release, July 22, 2010.
An unsanctioned action against broadening
of proxies of secret services was held by Youth YABLOKO
activists in St.Petsersburg. The action was held in
front of the Big House (the Federal Security Service
building in St.Petersburg, Liteyniy 4).
Two young activists were dressed as
prisoners with inscriptions “A Victim of the Regime”
on their clothes. Three other activists acting as
KGB men shot the victims with red paint by the entrance
to the FSB building. “We have shown the pinnacle of
this amendment to the FSB law when ordinary people
will become potential prisoners as it was in 1937
[under Stalin],” Alexander Gudimov, leader of St.Petersburg
Youth YABLOKO said. “Then [in 1937] they had special
proxies, however, they used these against people and
not against criminals,” he added...
|
| July 22, 2010 |
| Action
in memory of Natalya Estemirova took place in Ekaterinburg
hro.org, July 21, 2010.
A picket organized by the regional
Memorial branch in memory of human rights activist
Memorial’s Natalya Estemirova kidnapped in Grozny,
Chechnya, and killed in Ingushetia on July 15, 2009,
took place in Ekaterinburg.
Maxim Petlin, leader of Sverdlovsk
YABLOKO, Alexander Kalkh, Chair of the Perm Memorial
branch, Tatyana Merzlyakova, Ombudsman in the Sverdlovsk
region, activists of the Movement Against Violence
(Glec Edelyev) and Interregional Centre for Human
Rights (Vladimir Shaklein) participated in the picketing.
The picket ended by a demonstration along the main
street of the city and demonstration of a documentary
“Aldy: Without Limitations Period” (a
joint production by Memorial and YABLOKO) devoted
to killings of civilians on February 5, 2000, the
Noviye Aldy village in Chechnya. The film basis on
the materials obtained by Natasha Estemirova with
a risk to her life...
|
| The
policeman who had to deal with alleged “disobeying”
by YABLOKO’s activist has given his evidence
to court
Press Release, July 22, 2010.
A Moscow court of the first instance
continues hearings on Artur Grokhovsky’s case.
Grokhovsky is accused of “disobeying a lawful
demand” of the police during the action against
broadening of secret services proxies held by the
State Duma on July 9. A policeman who detained “disobeying”
Grokhovsky has given his evidence in court today...
|
| The
judge watched the video of detention of YABLOKO’s
activist by the State Duma
Press Release, July 21, 2010.
On July 21 Judge Olga Borovkova during
the hearings of Artur Grokhovsky’s case watched
the video of detention of Artur Grokhovsky, Advisor
to YABLOKO’s Chairman. Grokhovsky is accused
of “disobeying a lawful demand” of the
police during the action against broadening of secret
services proxies held by the State Duma on July 9.
Grokhovsky is facing admoinsitrative arrest up to
15 days...
|
| July 20, 2010 |
| A
mass-scale rally for protection of the environment
took place in Tuapse
Press Release, July 19, 2010.
From 2 to 3 thousand people, according
to different estimates, gathered for a rally in protection
of environment in Tuapse (a city on the Black Sea)
on July 18. The rally was organised by an initiative
group headed by coordinator of the Environmental Watch
in the North Caucasus and member of the YABLOKO party
Andrei Rudomakha.
The participants of the rally demanded
to conduct a referendum on construction of a terminal
for the EuroChem chemical company in the Tuapse port,
as well as stop oil extraction at the Black Sea shelf.
A broad-scale campaign launched by
the local authorities and targeted at disruption of
the rally was held on the threshold of the public
action...
|
| 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...
|
| July 19, 2010 |
| 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!”...
|
| Ecologists
block the driver who attacked the leader of the Movement
in Protection of the Khimki Forest
Press Release, July 19, 2010.
The activists protecting the Khimki
forest made a camp in the place of cutting of the
woods and are now blocking a car of a stranger who
attacked Eugenia Chirikova, the leader of the Movement
in Protection of the Khimki Forest, and almost hit
her with his car.
On July 16 this man drove to the camp in a silver
KIA jeep (No B 104 YE 98). Coming out of the car the
man began hitting Eugenia on the hands trying to make
her drop her mobile phone. Then he jumped into his
car and tried to knock her down with his car, Eugenia
managed to escape only by a miracle...
|
| In
protection of the Khimki Forest and its defenders
Statement by the YABLOKO party,
July 17, 2010.
...Environmental safety of several
thousands of the residents of the Khimki area is swapped
for profit, unraparable damage to the ecological system
of the Moscow region. For the sake of profits the
authorities are covering the criminals: the bandits
who made handicapped Mikhail Bekotov, Editor-in-Chief
of the Khimki Pravda paper courageously defending
the Khimki Forest, have not been found.
Elections to the federal parliament will come soon.
We are drawing the attention of the Muscovites and
the residents of the Moscow region to the fact that
the attack against the Khimki Forest is supported
by the omnipresent [progovernmental] United Russia
party and its leader Vladimir Putin. Thus, hey once
again demonstrate that the commercial interests of
the few are more important than care of the health
and well-being of many...
|
| July 16, 2010 |
| 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...
|
| The
police finally returned impounded soft and hardware
to the Baikal Ecological Wave
Press Release, July 15, 2010.
The YABLOKO congratulates the staff
of the Baikal Ecological Wave who managed to prove
that impounding of computers and software from their
office was unlawful. The computers are returned, and
the Irkutsk police brought their apologizes to the
ecologists.
During the investigation it was confirmed
(however, this was obvious from the beginning): the
Baikal Ecological Weave used only licensed software...
|
|
LI
Deputy President “salutes the recent release
of political prisoners from Cuba”
LI News Issue 192, July 15,
2010
Cuba's decision last week, to release
52 of its political prisoners, is a welcomed step
in the right direction in the development of the human
rights situation on the island. Although a historical
decision, due to the amount of prisoners being released,
further improvements in Cuban human rights issues
are required. LI Deputy President Juli Minoves comments
on the decision saying, 'I salute the recent release
of political prisoners from Cuba. In this day and
age political prisoners should not exist. The intense
conversations between religious authorities, the Cuban
regime and international diplomacy have produced tangible
results and in this line LI will definitely work towards
the promotion of democracy and human rights in the
Island.' Last October LI Secretary General Emil Kirjas
visited the island in a mission to support freedom
and democracy. Tomorrow LI Deputy President Juli Minoves
and Emil Kirjas will speak at an event in Barcelona
focusing on future perspectives on democracy in Cuba.
More
news
1.5
million People in Barcelona support the “Catalan
nation”
Violence both “sickening and disturbing”
says NI Justice Minister Ford
"It’s a new beginning... as the main Liberal
group in Croatia”, says HSLS leader
Co-President of Italian Group of Liberal International
visits Thailand Foreign Minister
“We have to stop living in fear”, says
Cambodian MP as she faces jail for defaming Prime
Minister
Liberal MEP speaks out on worsening situation in Venezuela
RDR’s Touré comes in third – amidst
allegations of electoral fraud |
| July15, 2010 |
|
YABLOKO
Against Broadening of Proxies of Secret Services
- New topic (YABLOKO's
Views)
Modernisation
in Russia - New topic
(YABLOKO's Views) |
|
Anti-Terror
and Archives - New sections in the YABLOKO's Views
Section (Politics)
|
| 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...
|
| The
Federal Anti-Monopoly Service turns 20
July 14, 2010.
Dear friends,
Please receive our congratulations
on the 20th anniversary of your work in the federal
Anti-Monopoly Service!
Throughout the years of its functioning,
especially led by a remarkable economist and a politician
of principle and our friend, Igor Artemyev, the Federal
Anti-Monopoly Service has become playing a significant
role in the economic and political life of the country,
fight against corruption and monopolies...
|
| European
Parliament members meet with YABLOKO’s leaders
Press Release, July 26, 2010.
On June 26 YABLOKO held a meeting
with the delegation of the European Liberals, Democrats
and Reformers party (ELDR) – Mrs. Annemie Neyts,
ELDR President, Mrs.Kristiina Ojuland, MEP, Mr. Michael
Jensen, member of Danish parliament and Mr.Robert
Plummer, ELDR Political Advisor.
Opening the meeting YABLOKO’s
leader Sergei Mitrokhin proposed to discuss the prospects
of further cooperation between ELDR and ELDR full
member the YABLOKO party.
Member of YABLOKO’s Political
Committee Grigory Yavlinsky said that the EU has not
yet developed a single strategy for cooperation with
Russia, therefore development of such a strategy can
become a task of ELDR and its faction in the European
Parliament. And YABLOKO can help in development of
such a strategy. "The absence of a well-developed
European strategy as regards integration with Russia
is one of the key obstacles in development of relations
between Russia and Europe. YABLOKO’s proposals
and some provisions of our party programme could form
the basis for such a strategy," Yavlinsky said.
YABLOKO’s leaders also dwelled
upon some aspects of such a strategy. Thus, Sergei
Mitrokhin proposed to European liberals to more actively
support YABLOKO’s initiative on abolishing visas
between the EU and Russia. He called the visa regime
“a rudiment of the Iron Curtain preventing assimilation
of the European standards by the Russian citizens”...
|
| July14, 2010 |
| 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...
|
| 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...
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| July13, 2010 |
| 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...”
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| 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...
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“Clegg
announces welcome political reforms – Hughes”
LI News Issue 191, July 8,
2010
With the decision made by the Liberal
Democrat-Conservative government in the UK to hold
a referendum on adopting “Alternative Vote” , the
UK moves one step closer to adopting a form of proportional
representation. According to recently elected Deputy
Leader of the Lib Dems, Simon Hughes MP: ““The coalition
Government has decided in one move to give all voters
a much greater say in who is chosen to represent them
and to give Parliament a much greater say in the business
of Government…With an easier and more up to date electoral
register in the future, the whole of Britain will
have a much more representative democracy. We will
also end the scandal where votes have been of unequal
value and in many places of no value at all — and
where many people have scandalously not even been
allowed to vote.” The Liberal Democrats currently
serve as a coalition partner in the United Kingdom,
with leader Nick Clegg serving as Deputy Prime Minister.
Recently he met with leader of the Liberal Party of
Canada, Michael Ignatieff .
More
news |
| Verhofstadt:
Five challenges of the Belgian Presidency
Press Release, ALDE, July
7, 2010
Addressing the Belgium Prime Minister,
Yves Leterme, in a parliamentary debate in Strasbourg
today, Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Liberal and
Democrat group in the European Parliament, underlined
that the success of the Belgian Presidency would be
judged on its ability to steer through the measures
to address the financial and economic crisis.
"There is one over-riding concern
on the minds of Europe's citizens and that is how
we can quickly and efficiently emerge from the current
crisis and era of austerity and lay the foundations
for future growth and prosperity. Belgium now faces
its own stress test whether it can live up to expectations
and deliver genuine Community responses to a crisis
that transcends all frontiers..."
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