On visa regulations between Russia and EU countries
LDR Group Statement, Strasburg, June 23, 2003
Liberals, Democrats and Reformers' Group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe supports the idea of elimination of the visa regime between the Russian Federation and the European Union member countries which was discussed at the Russia-EU summit in St.Petersburg in May 2003.

The Liberal Group of PACE approved the idea of visa-free regime for trips of Russian citizens to EU countries
Press release, June 21, 2003
..."elimination of the visa regime between European Union and Russia will in perspective become an important step in the development of economic, political and cultural cooperation between EU and Russia which is in line with the idea of a Single Europe without any demarcation lines."

Despite the resistance of the "centrist" factions, the State Duma adopted a law to raise student grants
Press release, June 21, 2003
In accordance with the amendments introduced by the Duma to the law "On the Minimum Wage" and "On Higher and Secondary Professional Education" university student grants will be doubled (starting from September 2003) to 400 roubles, and for students of colleges to 140 roubles.

Stagnation and Profanation
By Natalia Rozhkova, Vremya Novostei, June 23, 2003
The Yabloko thinks it is possible to combine conscription with contractors for only one or two years while the reform is being carried out.

Central Electoral Commission tried to Reconcile Political Rivals
By Olga Tropkina, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, June 27, 2003
The drafting of a public accord entitled "Elections 2003", which was initiated yesterday by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) and involved the leaders of the major political parties, ran the risk of resulting in a scandal.

Voters Nabbed by Networks. Election Race Begins: Political Parties Seek Support from Virtual World
By Anna Zakatnova, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, 25 June 2003
Parties' fondness for the Internet has gone so far that Yabloko members have even proposed using the Net for public supervision of the elections.

Poll Suggests Only Four Parties Will Have Seats in New Parliament
Interfax, June 26, 2003
Grigory Yavlinsky's Yabloko party would come in third with 8% of the vote. Its position has not deteriorated since the previous poll.

On the adoption by the Duma of Act Amnesty for Chechnya
BBC, Broadcast 6 June 2003
Only those Chechens who are not implicated in crimes such as murder, kidnap, or rape may be pardoned. But first they must surrender and wait for the outcome of an investigation of their past.

Sergei Mitrokhin plans to gain access to data on the threat to Russia's ecology posed by the Highly-Enriched Uranium - Low-Enriched Uranium Agreement
Press release, June 25, 2003
"Many specialists think that this waste, also called "tails", poses a serious potential threat to the health of the personnel of dangerous sites contaminated with radiation and the local population, to say nothing of the environment."

In July St. Petersburg branch of YABLOKO will determine role of party in gubernatorial election campaign
Rosbalt, June 24, 2003
Commenting on today's statement by Valentina Matviyenko on her intention to run for governor, Chairman of St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO noted that "this was a long expected decision, and came as no surprise to anybody."

YABLOKO is ready to discuss with Valentina Matviyenko her impending election campaign
Rosbalt, June 24, 2003
Representatives from YABLOKO are ready to meet Valentina Matviyenko to discuss her impending election campaign, Deputy Chairman of the YABLOKO party Igor Artemyev said in an interview with a Rosbalt correspondent.

Gubernatorial Elections in St. Petersburg 2003 - new

Valentina Matviyenko Set to Take St Petersburg by Storm
By Ilya Zhegulev, gazeta.ru, June 25, 2003
Everything is ready for her to assume power in the city: the seat of the former governor Vladimir Yakovlev has been temporarily assigned to a loyal person, and yesterday the office of the presidential envoy snatched control of the city's leading television network, the Petersburg Channel - a key resource in the forthcoming election campaign.

RCS Sets $200M Profit Target
By Alla Startseva, The Moscow Times, June 25, 2003
It didn't officially exist before last month and won't actually start working until next month, but the nation's newest big-ticket consortium is already expecting to net a tidy profit of up to $200 million next year.

Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education and Science is satisfied with the decision of the State Duma to raise student grants
RIA Oreanda, June 21, 2003
"I am satisfied that we managed to approve an increase in students' stipends before the end of the spring session [of the Duma], said Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education and Science Alexander Shishlov (the YABLOKO faction).

Deputies of the State Duma call on Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov to sign the Bologna convention
MK-Novosti, June 21, 2003
The main tasks of the Bologna process are to create in Europe of a system of comparable education cycles, academic degrees and qualifications, increase the academic mobility of students and university teachers and finally pool the educational resources of different countries.

The State Duma supported YABLOKO's initiative to create a single education space in Europe
Press release, June 21, 2003
..."Adoption of this resolution opens the way to the participation of Russia's representatives in the the working bodies of the Bologna process and in preparations for the Berlin conference of education ministers of the European countries in autumn 2003,"...

Press Ministry Pulls the Plug on TVS
By Anna Dolgov, The Moscow Times, June 23, 2003
TVS was the last private national channel, and its closure gives the Kremlin a monopoly on the airwaves ahead of December's parliamentary elections and the March presidential vote.

Deputies Go Home With an Eye on Upcoming Elections
By Francesca Mereu, The Moscow Times, June 23, 2003
After pushing through tax bills but failing to elect a new human rights commissioner, State Duma deputies wrapped up their spring session Saturday and headed home to woo voters before reconvening in the fall with the December elections in mind.

The State Duma turned down the amendment granting tax privileges to environmental bodies
Press release, June 21, 2003
On Friday, June 20, 2003, the State Duma refused to grant a tax break on the property of organisations protecting and caring for territories with an enhanced regime of environmental protection.

More Deputies Express Their Opposition Than Had Been Predicted
Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe, June 19, 2003
According to "Vremya novostei" on 19 June, more deputies voted against the government than had been expected, and that might have been because no one from the government bothered to show up for the vote.

Yabloko And Communist Leaders Lash Out At Government
Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe, June 19, 2003
...the government is staffed with "temporary people" who are sitting on their bank accounts just waiting to leave the country.

As Expected, Government Survives Vote Of No Confidence...
Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe, June 19, 2003
As was widely predicted, the no-confidence vote held by the Duma on 18 June failed to gather enough votes to dissolve the government of Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, Russian media reported.

Silence of the Lambs
Vremya MN, June 19, 2003
In other words, the majority of the lower house voted to remove citizens of Russia and the media from the election process. No more free and democratic elections in Russia.

Monetary Policy - new

Vote Set to Ease Cash Sales for Exporters
Reuters, June 18, 2003
The new legislation would allow the Central Bank to vary the rate under the 30 percent ceiling. It is also expected to ease upward pressure on the Russian currency.

Push for Cabinet's Ouster Falls Short
By Francesca Mereu, The Moscow Times, June 19, 2003
The no-confidence motion got 172 votes in the 450-seat Duma, with 163 deputies voting against it and six abstaining. A majority of 226 votes was needed for the motion to pass and pave the way for ousting the government headed by Mikhail Kasyanov.

No-Confidence Motion in the Cabinet: After the Discussion
Commentary by Grigory Yavlinsky, Special for the web-site, June 19, 2003
It was important to say that a system of serious backwardness and demodernisation had developed in the country. It was important to say that both economy and history do not follow the Regulations of the Duma; that today we had to set the grounds for positive developments in the future.

No-Confidence Motion in the Cabinet of Mikhail Kasyanov
Roll-call voting in the State Duma, June 18, 2003, 19:01:07

One-Hour Vote
By Syuzanna Farizova, Kommersant, June 18, 2003
Yesterday the Duma council finally set the schedule: the vote will be at 5 p.m., so only an hour is available. However, even if the debate takes longer, the vote of no confidence will not pass. As leader of the Russian Regions group Oleg Morozov explained, "The vote of no confidence is nothing but an election move, a farce to which the response is another farce."

Motherland as Nobody's Granny
By Andrei Piontkovsky, Novaya Gazeta, June 16-18, 2003
It took literally years of scandals in the media before the regime finally sacked odious Yevgeny Adamov and Nikolai Aksyonenko, the ministers who transformed their departments into private businesses.

Putin's Cabinet Wins No-Confidence Vote
By Steve Gutterman, Associated Press, June 18, 2003
President Vladimir Putin's Cabinet survived a no-confidence motion Wednesday in a parliamentary vote that drew attention to dissatisfaction with the government but underlined the Kremlin's political power.

Russian government under fire despite brisk growth
AFP, June 17, 2003
Russia's parliamentary opposition Wednesday will table a motion of no confidence in a government it accuses of following a failed economic plan even as the country goes through a rare phase of brisk growth.

Kasyanov Is Staying for the Time Being
By Sergei Andreyev, Komsomolskya Pravda, June 14, 2003
It is already clear today that the Duma is unlikely to vote for the no-confidence motion. The centrist factions will not support this. However, according to YABLOKO's leaders, the no-confidence motion is a good pretext to make the Cabinet answerable and make it report to the deputies for the three years of its performance.

Campaign Against the "Russian White House" Begins
Interview with Grigory Yavlinsky by Dmitry Chernov, Vremya MN, June 11, 2003
Everybody knows that social policy is based first of all on economic policy. Government proposals on the economic policy for next year are clear to us in general, as their proposals on the budget for 2004 have been submitted to the Duma. Whatever the Cabinet promises us now, this would not correspond to the real situation, as the economic base the Cabinet is going to reflect in the budget for the coming year is such that many of their promises have already turned into mere words today.

Special Regime for Media
By Olga Redichkina and Alexei Redichkin, Gazeta, June 16, 2003
...according to the amendments, any media outlet - print or electronic media - can be shut down during an election campaign if the court finds it guilty of violating electoral legislation twice. The draft law contained no list of violations, thereby leaving it up to the court to decide each case "on the spot" every time.

Grigory Yavlinsky explains his stance on the vote of no-confidence in the Cabinet
Interview with Grigory Yavlinsky by Andrei Shariy, Radio Liberty, June 11, 2003
"...our possibilities are extremely limited. But it is our duty to realise them to the full."

Strong Ruble amid High Inflation
Interview with Mikhail Zadornov by Sergei Guk, Moskovskiye Novosti, June 11-17, 2003
First of all you must adopt a monetary policy to limit the money supply. Second, consumer price growth is also attributable to the continuing increases in the tariffs of natural monopolies and the housing and public services. Here we have been struggling within a vicious circle for several years. Only determined action will bring down inflation.

Yakovlev Gets a Top Post in Moscow
By Vladimir Kovalev, The Moscow Times, June 17, 2003
President Vladimir Putin appointed St. Petersburg Governor Vladimir Yakovlev as a deputy prime minister Monday and put him in charge of reforming the country's housing and utilities sector.

Kasyanov Defends His Cabinet's Record
Combined Reports, The Moscow Times, June 16, 2003
Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov last week defended his social and economic record before an agitated State Duma ahead of a no-confidence vote in his government Wednesday.

No-Confidence Vote - new

Voting No Confidence in What?
By Andrei Piontkovsky, The Moscow Times, June 16, 2003
On Wednesday, the State Duma is scheduled to consider a motion of no confidence in the government of Mikhail Kasyanov. Raising such a question is entirely natural, and moreover, is a necessary step to preserve the political face of our parliamentary system.

Alexander Shishlov: One of the main reasons behind YABLOKO's demand to dismiss the Cabinet is the refusal of the government to increase wages to teachers and doctors
Press release, June 11, 2003
...We cannot wait for mercy from the Cabinet and the pro-government Duma majority any more.

The Sverdlovsk branch of YABLOKO will donate 20,000 books to libraries
Rosbalt, June 7, 2003
Our Rosbalt correspondent was informed by the press service of the Sverdlovsk regional branch of YABLOKO that the final stage of the contest for the best village library, announced by the Ministry of Culture of Sverdlovsk Region, would take place there.

No-Confidence Debate Looms
The Associated Press, June 11, 2003
A no-confidence motion needs a simple majority of 226 votes in the 450-seat Duma to succeed. That is considered all but impossible because the Communists, their allies and Yabloko can gather only about 150 votes. The Duma is dominated by pro-Kremlin centrist parties.

Duma safeguards lunch, Kasyanov's future
By Roman Tushin, gazeta.ru, June 10, 2003
The State Duma has set the date when it plans to bury the controversial issue of a no-confidence vote in the government. As was expected, the vote will take place on Wednesday, June 18.

Russian parliament takes up no-confidence motion in government
AFP, June 10, 2003
Russia's lower house of parliament agreed Tuesday to vote later this month on a no-confidence motion in the government of Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov.

No-Confidence Vote
The Moscow Times, June 10, 2003
The Communist Party and the liberal Yabloko faction have gathered 103 lawmakers' signatures -- enough to put a motion of no-confidence in the Cabinet on the parliamentary agenda, Yabloko deputy head Sergei Ivanenko said Monday.

YABLOKO collects signatures to eliminate visa regime between Russia and the EU
Grani.ru, June 8, 2003
The Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO has started collecting signatures from Russian citizens demanding the elimination of the visa regime between Russia and EU member states.

Grigory Yavlinsky called for an increase in state ecological controls
Vesti Programme, RTR channel, June 5, 2003
In particular, in autumn 2003 YABLOKO is going to submit to the State Duma the Kyoto Protocol for ratification.

YABLOKO determines the directions of Russia's environmental policy and calls on the State Duma to ratify the Kyoto Protocol
Press release, June 5, 2003
In addition to the prospects of ratification and entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, the participants of the Round Table discussed a range of problems related to Russia’s environmental policy.

Grigory Yavlinsky: Peace conference on Chechnya should be conducted in Moscow
Grani.ru, June 8, 2003
...We think it absolutely necessary to conduct a peace conference on Chechnya in Moscow, it should be chaired by the President of Russia and based on the Russian Constitution and Russian laws.

Investigation of the Murder of Larissa Yudina Should Continue
Statement, June 6, 2003
The contract killers and organizers of organised the murder are still free. At the same time the investigation organised by YABLOKO and conducted by highly qualified lawyers demonstrated that the facts and witnesses' evidences are more than enough to achieve their conviction.

Deputies Initiate Vote of No Confidence in Russian Government
pravda.ru, June 7, 2003
On June 10th, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) and the Yabloko faction plan to present 90 signatures to the State Duma council. The signatures are required to include the question of a vote of no confidence on the agenda of the forthcoming session of the Russian parliament's lower house.

Russian citizens should go to Europe without visas!
Statement, June 5, 2003
We, the undersigned citizens of the RF, support the initiative of the YABLOKO party to eliminate the visa regime between Russia and EU member states.

YABLOKO starts collecting signatures to eliminate the visa regime between Russia and EU member states
Press release, June 5, 2003
"Russia is a European country and we have the right to feel that we are fully-fledged representatives of European civilization," stated the initiators of the address.

Russia parliament approves partial Chechen amnesty
By Jeremy Page, Reuters, June 6, 2003
Russia's parliament gave final approval on Friday to a limited amnesty for fighters in separatist Chechnya that the Kremlin says will help end a decade of conflict in the region.

Patching Things Up at Putin's Picnic
By Grigory Yavlinsky, The Moscow Times, June 6, 2003.
The top-level meetings held in St. Petersburg last weekend produced positive results for Russia, Europe and the entire world.

To the 50th Anniversary of Radio Free Europe - Radio Liberty
Address by Grigory Yavlinsky to the conference devoted to the 50th Anniversary of Radio Free Europe - Radio Liberty conducted in Prague, on June 6, 2003
It would not be an overstatement to say that RFE/RL is the most reliable source of objective political information about world events and, even more importantly, Russian politics.

A tactician seeking a strategy
By Andrew Jack, Financial Times (UK), May 30, 2003
And as this weekend's gathering of prime ministers and presidents, including George W. Bush, bear witness, Mr Putin has emerged from the crisis over Iraq as a more respected world leader, in Europe at least, and with strong support at home.

Russia needs $2 bln to clean up radiation-contaminated areas
Interfax, June 4, 2003
In Russia, "radio-nuclear contamination has spread over 581 square kilometers. Just 0.5 square kilometers have been cleaned up over five years due to the costliness of the operation"...

The Unity of Opposites
By Natalya Ratiani, Izvestiya, June 4, 2003
Yabloko proposes developing regulations to manage property in the regions which would make it possible to effectively influence regional economic development.

Grigory Yavlinsky on the reform of the armed forces in Russia
KM-Novosti, June 2, 2003
The Russian army should be cut by one third. This statement was made today by Grigory Yavlinsky in Rostov-Don.

YABLOKO: the Cabinet should account for its performance to the State Duma.
KM-Novosti, June 2, 2003
...the Russian government has never accounted for its performance for the past three years.

Grigory Yavlinsky: the Cabinet has never accounted for a single issue for the past three years.
RTR television channel, "Vesti", June 2, 2003
The YABLOKO party insists that the government should account for its performance to the State Duma in June.

YABLOKO's Programme to Support Small Cities - new

YABLOKO Decides to Help to Small Cities
By Sergei Andreyev, Komsomolskaya Pravda, June 4, 2003
After St. Petersburg another Russian city is preparing to celebrate its 300th anniversary. This is a small city, Belaya Kalitva, situated in Rostov region. The city was visited by Chairman of the YABLOKO party Grigory Yavlinsky during his trip to Rostov region, when he promised to help with the preparations of the celebrations.

Visit of Grigory Yavlinsky to Rostov Region
Yuzhni Region, June 2, 2003
... We are going to introduce a large programme for the development of small cities in autumn. We would like to discuss the possibility for such work in Rostov Region and the South Russia...

Yabloko contra CPRF - updated

YABLOKO: there will be no alliance with the CPRF
Lenta.ru, May 29, 2003
Lukin also called the billboards that appeared in Moscow streets and picture YABLOKO with a sickle and hammer under a slogan "We Are Together" a provocation and 'black PR'.

YABLOKO forwarded to the Central Electoral Commission and Public Prosecutor General of Moscow a petition demanding that it take to task the promotion company picturing YABLOKO with hammer and sickle
Finmarketnovosti, May 30, 2003
Deputy Chairman of YABLOKO Sergei Mitrokhin forwarded to the Central Electoral Commission and Public Prosecutor General of Moscow a petition demanding that it curb the 'black PR': placards that appeared in the metro picturing YABLOKO with hammer and sickle and a slogan "We Are Together!"

YABLOKO Against 'Black PR'
Komsomolskaya Pravda, May 31, 2003
The YABLOKO party: mass media should put barriers to dirty election technologies.

YABLOKO proposes that all political forces unite against 'black PR'
Press release, May 29, 2003
The YABLOKO party calls on all politicians and journalists to unite in the fight against 'dirty' information technologies. This statement was made by Deputy Chairman of the YABLOKO party, deputy of the State Duma Sergei Mitrokhin at a press conference at the Interfax agency on May 29, 2003.

Putin Losing Momentum on Russian Domestic Reforms
By Peter Baker, Washington Post, May 31, 2003
Even some Putin allies concede his administration has lost steam and console themselves with the prediction that he will be freer to do more in his next term should he win reelection in March, as is widely expected.

Potemkin Democracy
Editorial, Washington Post, May 30, 2003
But while Russia is a far more open society than it used to be, many of the media are still controlled, the judicial system is still corrupt and opponents of the president find it ever harder to maneuver. If the administration believes this is full democracy, then it has been fooled by a barely plausible facade.

Vladimir Lukin: "We Are Not Inferior To Others. We Have A Distinct History"
By Nairi Hovsepyan, Novoye Vremya (New Times), May 2003
You know that revolution has a dual nature. It is not only a bloody, dramatic and romantic upheaval linked with symbolic actions, often destructive. It is also a renewal of society when each cell begins to live in a new way.

May's Poll by VTsIOM
Interfax, May 30, 2003
If the elections to the State Duma were held this Sunday, the CPRF would be ahead of United Russia: these parties would get 28% and 30% respectively.

President still most popular - poll
Interfax, May 28, 2003
A survey conducted by the All Russian Center For Public Opinion Studies of 1,600 showed that 70% (3% less than in April) of Russians approved of the president's work in May and 27% (3% more than the month before) held the opposite opinion.