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New items of the server - July 2010
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.

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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.

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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...

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...”

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...

“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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