Deputy of the State Duma Alexander Shishlov forwards petition to the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation in defence of journalist Grigory Pasko
Press Release, November 25, 2002
Deputy of the State Duma and member of the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Alexander Shishlov has requested that the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation conduct a check and file a protest over the decision of the Pacific Fleet Military Court dated December 25, 2001, and the finding of the Military Board of the Supreme Court of the RF dated June 25, 2002, against journalist Grigory Pasko. The petition was forwarded on November 22, 2002 by Shishlov to the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the RF Vyacheslav Lebedev.

Chairman of the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO Grigory Yavlinsky thinks that the President of Russia Vladimir Putin "took absolutely the right decision", vetoing the amendments to the law "On the Mass Media" that imposed constraints on journalists reporting on the emergencies. "This is an independent and absolutely correct decision," said Yavlinsky.
Press Release, November 25, 2002
At the same time Yavlinsky stressed that "the issue of fighting for the freedom of speech is not over yet, and much work lies ahead." Speaking about subsequent work on amendments in the conciliatory commission, the leader of YABLOKO told journalists that "we shall do all we can to ensure that the most odious provisions are removed from the draft law."

Putin Urged to Reject Law Amendments
Assoicated Press, By Eric Engleman, November 20, 2002
MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's leading news organizations, including state television, urged President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to reject tough new restrictions on terrorism coverage adopted by parliament following the Moscow theater siege.

SPS Pins Siege Deaths to Negligence
Moscow Times, By Natalia Yefimova, November 20, 2002
After conducting its own probe into the handling of last month's hostage crisis, the Union of Right Forces party, or SPS, blamed the death of 128 captives on officials in charge of organizing the rescue effort, the party's leadership said at an extraordinary meeting Tuesday evening.

Warmer ties with NATO help quell Russia's concerns about expansion
Associated Press, By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV, November 19, 2002
MOSCOW - In what was Russia's worst nightmare just a few years ago, NATO is set to expand into former Soviet turf this week, yet the Kremlin's reaction is remarkably calm, reflecting the new, friendly relationship with the alliance.

Russia: Hostage Crisis Draws Putin And Yavlinsky Closer Together
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, By Gregory Feifer, 25 November 2002
Many expected that Moscow's hostage crisis last month would shake up politics in Russia. But few could have predicted that President Vladimir Putin would come out lavishing praise on a former political adversary, Yabloko party leader Grigory Yavlinsky, who helped negotiate with the hostage takers. The Yabloko chief had long been a major thorn in the Kremlin's side. Now, however, he appears to have joined its ranks as an informal adviser.

Why Doesn't the Budget Allocate Expenditures on War Separately?
Novaya Gazeta, November 28, 2002
Such a situation has developed since the first military campaign in Chechnya. At the time there considerable debate about the need to introduce a separate budget item on [the war in] Chechnya. Unfortunately, however, even then there were already a considerable number of opponents to such transparency. Nobody wants to disclose the exact figure for expenditures.

Yavlinsky calls untimely the Moscow conference of supporters of talks with Maskhadov
Interfax, November 9, 2002
MOSCOW. Nov 9 (Interfax) - Leader of the Yabloko party Grigory Yavlinskyhas called inappropriate the timing of the conference For the Termination of War and a Peace Settlement in the Chechen Republic, which is being held in Moscow on Saturday.

Russian Lawmakers OK Media Limits
Associated Press, By Steve Gutterman, November 13, 2002
MOSCOW (AP) - Russian lawmakers approved media law amendments Wednesday that critics charge would severely curb coverage of anti-terrorist operations and prohibit news outlets from carrying rebel statements. Presidential approval is still needed to make the changes law.

Deputy of the Duma Sergei Mitrokhin: the amendments to the law "On the Mass Media" are an instrument to be used to suppress disobedient media
Press Release, November 1, 2002
Deputy of the Duma Sergei Mitrokhin considers the adoption by the State Duma in the third reading of the amendments to the law "On the Mass Media" on November 1, 2002, represents an attempt to restrict freedom of speech. According to the new version of the law, journalist rights to report on the anti-terror operations conducted by the Russian authorities have to a large extent been curtailed.

President Putin expresses gratitude to Grigory Yavlinsky for his role in the liberation of the hostages
Press Release, October 29, 2002
President Vladimir Putin personally expressed his gratitude to Grigory Yavlinsky "for participation in the operation to liberate the hostages"

Russia's upper house of parliament approves restrictive media amendments
Associated Press, By Steve Gutterman, November 13, 2002
MOSCOW - Russia's upper house of parliament on Wednesday approved new amendments to the media law, paving the way for presidential approval of legislation that would severely curb news coverage of anti-terrorist operations and prohibit the media from carrying rebel statements.

Free-speech advocates urge Putin not to sign anti-terrorism legislation that limits media's rights
Associated Press, By Sarah Karush, November 14, 2002
MOSCOW - Anti-terrorism legislation passed by Russia's upper house of parliament this week threatens to unravel Russia's fragile democracy if it is signed into law, liberal lawmakers and free speech advocates said Thursday.

Duma Deputy Mitrokhin to Fight for Evacuation of Mayak Area
Bellona, October 25, 2002
MOSCOW - If you ask Yury Ryzhkov, press secretary for the Mayak Chemical Combine in the Urals town of Ozersk — birthplace of the Soviet atomic bomb project and home to Russia's single working radioactive waste reprocessing plant — he will tell you there are fewer better places to live.

Housing and Communal Sector Reforms Postponed by Yavlinsky
gazeta.ru, By Marina Sokolovskaya, November 19, 2002
The first reading of the draft law on the fundamentals of the federal housing policy has been postponed. The State Duma Council refused to discuss the draft at its session on Tuesday, let alone to include it in the agenda of this week's plenary session even after the president's opinion on the law became known. Thus, one of the most important issues – housing reform - has been put on hold again.

There is Such a Party - YABLOKO
Grigory Yavlinsky: Slightly Right of Centre
Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Interview with Grigory Yavlinsky, November 20, 2002
Grigory Yavlinsky is the first participant in the [“Leader”] project. Alexander Arkhangelsky (Kultura television channel), Sergey Buntman (Ekho Moskvy), Jill Doherty (CNN television network), Vitaly Dymarsky (Rossiiskaya Gazeta), and Kseniya Larina (Ekho Moskvy) talked to Yabloko's leader.

Putin Was Advised to Pardon the Press
Nezavisimaya Gazeta, By Lidia Andrusenko and Ivan Rodin, November 21, 2002
Next week Vladimir Putin must sign amendments to the law on the media passed by the Duma and approved by the Federation Council. Or veto this bill which, corrected by the deputies and senators, imposes considerable restraints on a journalist’s freedom of speech. The President has to make a difficult choice: either to appear before the public (especially Western) as the head of state who actually introduced censorship in the country, or remain a democrat in spite of everything...

Russia's military reforms
Progress amid chaos?
There are signs that the Kremlin may at last start overhauling Russia's army
The Economist (UK), November 16-22, 2002
COULD the hostage crisis in a Moscow theatre two weeks ago have produced good news? Boris Nemtsov certainly thinks so. Three days after the rescue that killed not only most of the Chechen separatists but also around 120 of their hostages, President Vladimir Putin spoke of a new role for Russia's army in the fight against terrorism. Some read that as a sign that he would step up the war in Chechnya. But Mr Nemtsov, leader of the opposition Union of Right Forces, thinks the opposite: that by drawing attention to the army's failure in Chechnya, Mr Putin will press the generals harder for a sorely-needed military reform.

Grigory Yavlinsky: Respect should become the Russian national idea
Press Release, November 19, 2002
The leader of the YABLOKO party Grigory Yavlinsky explained his view of Russia's state and national idea at the round-table meeting "St. Petersburg in the 21st Century" at the Rosbalt information agency on November 19, 2002. According to Yavlinsky,the Russian state should proclaim the following idea: "preservation of the state within the present boundaries and the dissemination of European ideas and European influence via Russia to the whole of Eurasia.”.

Grigory Yavlinsky: Stealing is pleasant and prestigious in Russia
Press Release, November 19, 2002
"Stealing is pleasant and prestigious in Russia at present," said the leader of the YABLOKO party Grigory Yavlinsky at the round-table meeting "St. Petersburg in the 21st Century" at the Rosbalt information agency on November 19, 2002.

YABLOKO holds demonstration near the Federation Council
Gazeta.ru, November 13, 2002
Existing economic mechanisms only achieve the very narrow goal of maintaining the present The The Moscow police breaks up small demonstration by YABLOKO activists against the amendments to the law on the mass media.

YABLOKO's Position on the act of terror in Moscow on October 23-26, 2002
(A speech made by Grigory Yavlinsky at a session of the the Presidium of the Bureau of YABLOKO's Federal Council, October 28, 2002. Supported by members of the Presidium).
A terrible tragedy has taken place in Moscow. The losses suffered during the events in the Moscow theatre are irreparable. We offer our condolences to everyone who lost loved ones.

The authorities are going to have to answer the most painful questions connected with the terrorist act in Moscow
Press Release, November 15, 2002
The President of the Russian Federation agreed that it is necessary to find answers to the most painful questions connected with the terrorist act in Moscow and the hostage rescue operation. Grigory Yavlinsky issued this statement to journalists on November 15, 2002. Yavlinsky also commented on the meeting of the leaders of the Duma faction with the President in the Kremlin on November 14, 2002.

Russian Lawmakers Reject Plans to Investigate Hostage Horror
New York Times, By Steven Lee Myers, November 14, 2002
MOSCOW, Nov. 13 - Russia's lower house of Parliament rejected two proposals today to set up an independent commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the 57-hour siege of a theater here last month that resulted in the death of at least 128 hostages and 41 Chechen hostage-takers.

Russian media. Opposition voice concern over reporting restrictions
AFP, November 13, 2002
Russian media and opposition members voiced concern Wednesday after the upper house approved a controversial amendment on media laws that would severely restrict the freedom of the press to cover anti-terrorist operations.

Paper Survives Threats, Murder, Success
The Moscow Times, By Natalia Yefimova, November 14, 2002
ELISTA, Kalmykia -- For a tiny opposition newspaper in an autocratic republic, Sovietskaya Kalmykia Segodnya has survived a great deal: a shutout by local printers and distributors, threats, arson and, most harrowing of all, the brutal murder in 1998 of editor Larisa Yudina.

In Russia, "Nothing Is Debated"
Interview with Grigory Yavlinsky by Paul Starobin and Catherine Belton
BusinessWeek Online, November 13, 2002
In Russia, "Nothing Is Debated". So says Grigory Yavlinsky, whose efforts to negotiate an end to the Moscow theater siege reminded him that the Soviet mindset lives on With dark rings under his eyes and a look of exhaustion on his face, it was clear Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the liberal Russian parliamentary faction Yabloko, had been through a hellish few days. An advocate of ending Russia's war in the breakaway republic of Chechnya, he was among the few allowed to negotiate with the armed Chechen terrorists who took some 800 people hostage in a Moscow theater Oct. 23 in a tense three-day siege.

Between Party and Kremlin
Of all right-wing politicians, the head of state now clearly favours Yabloko’s leader
Moscow News, By Valery Vyzhutovich, November 6-12, 2002
Early last week, the president received Grigory Yavlinsky in the Kremlin and thanked him for his role in negotiations with the hostage-takers, but most of all for not using his mission for self-promotion

Liberals Split after Ultimatum to Putin
gazeta.ru, By Yelena Rudneva and Artyom Vernidoub, November 6, 2002
Existing economic mechanisms only achieve the very narrow goal of maintaining the present The public commission formed by the Union of Right-Wing Forces for an independent inquiry into the storm of the 'Nord-Ost' musical theatre in Moscow has completed its work. It has been announced that the results of the inquiry will be made public in a week unless Vladimir Putin takes an interest in the commission's conclusions. The president has perceived that gesture as an ultimatum and his response to ultimatums is well known.

Duma Votes to Limit News Coverage
The Moscow Times, By Natalia Yefimova, November 4, 2002
MOSCOW, Sept. 27 - Energy executives and government officials from Russia and the United States will meet in Houston next week to discuss energy cooperation at a time when concerns FSB officers taking away a computer Friday from the office of Versia, which was preparing an account of the hostage crisis.

Putin hints at new action to solve Chechnya
Reuters, By Richard Balmforth, November 9, 2002
MOSCOW, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin, under international pressure to end the Chechnya conflict peacefully after a bloody hostage-seizure in Moscow, gave his backing on Saturday for new political moves in the rebel region.

Yavlinsky Describes His Role In Crisis
The Moscow Times, By Alex Nicholson, November 4, 2002
MOSCOW, Sept. 27 - Energy executives and government officials from Russia and the United States will meet in Houston next week to discuss energy cooperation at a time when concerns over the safety of world oil supplies have been heightened by the Bush administration's push for Speaking to the expat business community, Yabloko leader Grigory Yavlinsky on Friday described his frustrating efforts to negotiate with the Chechen hostage-takers on the Kremlin's behalf.

A Generation Raised With War
The Moscow Times, By Anna Politkovskaya, November 4, 2002
Abu Bakar lifts the black mask covering his face. We are staring, examining each other at close quarters, both trying to understand what's going to happen when this, yet another Russian tragedy, is over. Abu Bakar, a 29-year-old Chechen, looks 40. He is deputy commander of the terrorist group that has taken several hundred people hostage. I am a journalist who has come to the captured theater to negotiate. I am trying to understand who these people are. Who is behind them? And, more important, what comes after them?