Sergei Mitrokhin: “The democratic project of the country’s development is closed”

Press Release, November 30, 2009

On Saturday, November 29, 2009, a meeting of YABLOKO’s Bureau took place in Moscow. The Bureau adopted decisions on working over persuading the government not to abolish indexation of unemployment benefits, return gratuitous public transport tickets for pensioners of the Moscow Region and creation of nature reserve Utrish. The Bureau also heard the reports of the Human Rights and the Gender factions of the party.

The meeting was opened by party Chair Sergei Mitrokhin who made a report on the political situation in Russia. “It has become clear after voting on October 11 that elections as a legitimate institution that could be trusted by the society is completely ruined in Russia. This means that the democratic project of the country’s development initiated in the late 1980s has been completely closed now – and not only by the ruling elite, but by the society as well,” Mitrokhin said. According to Mitrokhin, the forthcoming YABLOKO’s congress (that will take place in December 2009) has to formulate the basis of a new democratic project for Russia.

Igor Artemyev’s birthday

November 27, 2009

Dear Igor Yurievich, our dear colleague,

Please receive our hearty congratulations on your birthday. With wishes of health, success and luck,

Your colleagues in the YABLOKO party

ELDR Congress 2009
19th-20th November, Barcelona, Catalonia

ELDR organised its 30th annual Congress on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th November 2009 in Barcelona, Catalonia. ELDR member party Convergencia Democratica, were our kind hosts.

The Congress was attended by in the region of 500 delegates and guests from ELDR member parties as well as people from the wider European liberal network, including party leaders, European Commissioners and national and European parliamentarians. Participants debated key policy areas and overwhelmingly adopted the Congress theme resolution “Liberal answers for a new prosperity”.

Annemie Neyts MEP, was re-elected as President of the ELDR Party to serve her third mandate. 4 out of 7 vice presidents were also elected. Incumbent Vice President Markus Loning, FDP, Germany was re-elected. Leoluca Orlando MP, Italia dei Valori, Italy was newly elected as were Lousewies Van Der Laan D66, The Netherlands; and Marc Guerrero, CDC, Catalonia. Treasurer David Griffiths from the British Liberal Democrats was also re-appointed for a second term.

READ ALL CONGRESS RESOLUTIONS

Condolences to the relatives and next-of-kin of the victims of the Nevsky Express railroad disaster

November 28, 2009

I would like to offer here my heartfelt condolences to the relatives and next-of-kin of the victims of the Nevsky Express railroad disaster. I also hope that all the injured may make a rapid recovery.

I hope that the Russian Government will take all necessary measures to help the survivors and will also perform a complete and comprehensive investigation of the disaster.

Sergei Mitrokhin
Chairman of the YABLOKO party

Liberals to play a major role in new Commission

ALDE, Press release, November 28, 2009

Guy Verhofstadt, Liberal and Democrat group leader in the European Parliament, responded positively to the announcement today by President Barroso that Liberal commissioners will be assigned a number of key portfolios in the new Commission. As the Commission is the engine of the European Union, the Liberal group will play a key role in the policy of the Union in the next five years. This is what the ALDE Group and its leader Guy Verhofstadt aimed for.

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Liberals with high leverage in the new European Commission

ELDR, Press release, November 27, 2009

Following the presentation of the new college of Commissioners by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Friday, 27 November 2009, ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts warmly welcomed the portfolios assigned to liberals. "Eight of the Commissioners represent European Liberal Democrat values, which will ensure a liberal footprint on the agenda for change set out by Commission President Barroso in the political guidelines for the new Commission for the coming five years."

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Lecture of the Evening Party University “The History of the Party: Changes in the By-Laws and Governing Bodies. The Structure and Political Goals”

Press Release, November 26, 2009

On November 25, 2009, another lecture of the Evening Party University took place. Boris Misnik, Coordinator and member of the Political Committee of the YABLOKO party, deputy of the State Duma of the second convocation and member of YABLOKO since its formation, delivered a lecture on the history of the party, changes in its by-laws and governing bodies. The audience were members and advocates of YABLOKO...

The Evening Party University will maintain its work: on December 9 a meeting with Professor of the Higher School of Economics, member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee and Chair of the party in 1993-2008 Dr. Grigory Yavlinsky will take place.

A trial on the fraud at the electoral districts where over 1,000 votes were stuffed for the United Russia party began

Press Release, November 26, 2009

On November 24, 2009, the Perovo District Court of Moscow examined the claim submitted by the YABLOKO party on abrogation of the results of elections to the deputies of the Moscow City Duma at electoral districts No 887 and 888. According to the official results, the progovernmental United Russia party obtained 1,002 votes more at these districts than it was indicated in the signed copies of the protocols given to the observers at these polling stations.

The territorial electoral commission Veshnyaki submitted to the court its opinion on YABLOKO’s suit. In particular V.Stepanova, the Chair of the said territorial commission, stated that the protocols given to the observers can not serve written evidence, as they had been filed with violation of the rules (the date and time of signing were missing).

However, YABLOKO’s lawyers noted that the liability for violation of the rules of filing protocols lies on the official who signs the protocol...

Three members of the YABLOKO party are elected co-chairmen of the human rights organisation

Press Release, November 25, 2009

Alexander Goncharenko, Valery Borschyov and Andrei Babushkin became co-chairs of the new human rights organisation – the Association of Independent Observers. The foundation conference of the human right organisation which elected five chairpersons took place in Kirov.

Thus, the heads of the Association will be Ludmila Alexeyeva, Chair of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Lev Ponomaryov, head of the For the Human Rights movement and three YABLOKO’s activists – Vlary Borschyov, member of the party Bureau, Andrei Babushkin, Deputy Chair of he Moscow YABLOKO and Alexander Gontcharenko, Chairman of the Altai YABLOKO branch.

United Russia determined its ideology

By Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of YABLOKO’s Political Committee
kommentarii.ru, November 25, 2009

The congress of the United Russia party resembles the congresses of the communist party of the Soviet Union of the Brezhnev’s stagnation period, the present United Russia congress lacked only young pioneers saluting their elder comrades and the statue of the Lenin. The key thing which is common between the two congresses is their absurdity, an obvious discrepancy between the declared goals and the reality. The [proclaimed] “conservative modernisation” ideologeme is something like “dry water”...

Everything except proper elections took place on a single election day October 11, 2009

Press release, November 24, 2009

On November 18, 2009, the interior of the Moscow Region initiated a round table talk “The results of elections to local self-government and municipal entities of the Moscow Region and the role of political parties and public organisations in the formation of civil society and counteraction to political extremism”.

Representatives of all political parties and a number of public organisations participated in the round table. The YABLOKO party was represented by Deputy Chair of the Moscow Region branch of the party Alexander Gunko.

Almost all the participants of the round table marked a high level of security provision at the past elections in the Moscow Region.

“All was organised well on October 11. The police ensured order. The only thing which was lacking was the elections,” Gunko said.

Nikolai Rybakov asks to conduct an audit how Governor of St.Petersburg Valentina Matviyenko could be elected to the Supreme Council of the United Russia party

Press release, November 24, 2009

Deputy Chairman of St.Petersburg YABLOKO branch Nikolai Rybakov applied to Public Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika and Minister of Justice Alexander Konovalov in connection with election of Governor of St.Petersburg Valentina Matviyenko to the Supreme Council of the United Russia party.

According to Rybakov, Valentina Matviyenko joined United Russia only on November 20, 2009, and could not be elected to the Supreme Council of this party, as in accordance with item 7.3.2 of the By-laws of this party, Council members should have party record of at least one year to be elected into the Council...

United Russia congress took place in St.Petersburg in the past weekend. The congress elected St.Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko (who had joined United Russia a day before the congress) to the Supreme Council of this party.

The leader of YABLOKO’s Gender faction made a speech at UNESCO conference

Press release, November 23, 2009

The leader of YABLOKO’s Gender faction Galina Mikhalyova who has recently become the so-called “key partner of UNESCO Bureau in Moscow, made a speech at UNESCO conference devoted to bilateral sectoral priorities and guidelines of UNESCO programme for Russia and the CIS countries for 2010-2011.

Galina Mikhalyova stressed in her speech that “Gender problems – the overpenetrating topic of the forthcoming period – should be present in all the programmes. It is very important for the Russian conditions, as can somewhat compensate for this distinct trend towards strengthening of the androcentric trends, discrimination of Russian women virtually in all the spheres of life, which is to a disadvantage of our country as compared to its CIS neighbours”.

Meeting of the Council for Consolidation of Women’s Movement in YABLOKO

Press release, November 20, 2009

A meeting of the Council for Consolidation of Women’s Movement joining together a number of important interregional and nation-wide women’s organisations took place on November 19, 2009.

The meeting discussed the events to be conducted in the short term, where the Council and most of its members will take part.

The most important events are as follows:

- Round table discussion in the Public Chamber devoted to the 30th anniversary of the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (November 25);
- Conference of the Orthodox Women “Women’s Mission in the Spiritual and Moral Development of the Fatherland” with participation of the Patriarch of Russia (December 3-4, Moscow)...

Address of the YABLOKO party to President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev

Political Committee of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO

October 9, 2009

Translation. Final Part.

Adopted by the Political Committee of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO. Resolution No 16 of September 26, 2009.

European Liberals' congress adopts urgent resolutions on Russia’s elections on October 11

Press release, November 20, 2009

Today the congress of the European Liberal Democrat and Reformers Party (ELDR) joining together European liberal parties has unanimously and without objections adopted an urgent resolution on Russia’s elections submitted by YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin.

The ELDR congress is taking place in Barcelona, Catalonia, on November 19-20. Over 600 delegates from all the European countries participate in the Congress. The YABLOKO party which has been ELDR member since 2006 is represented by Sergei Mitrokhin.

The resolution states that the elections that took place in Russia on October 11, 2009, “demonstrated an unprecedented scope of falsification of results of the voting and violations of the law confirmed by observers from all the political parties, except the ruling party, and mass media”.

ELDR Congress 2009
19th-20th November, Barcelona, Catalonia

URGENCY RESOLUTION submitted by YABLOKO

The ELDR congress convening in Barcelona on November 19-20, 2009,

Observes that:
- The elections that took place in Russia on October 11, 2009, demonstrated an unprecedented scope of falsification of results of the voting and violations of the law confirmed by observers from all the political parties, except the ruling party, and mass media.

States that:
- ELDR will closely observe the development of the situation with lawsuits and complaints on election fraud.

Calls on:
The Russian authorities to:
- conduct a full inspection of candidates and parties’ complaints, and the evidence of election fraud published by the media, and take urgent remedy measures up to declaring the elections void;
- observe democratic standards and Russia’s obligations under its membership in the OSCE and in the Council of Europe on ensuring free and fair elections;
- ensure free and equal conditions for all political parties and candidates and maximum public control over elections and voting.

READ MORE

The Constitutional Court makes removal of candidates from electoral lists more difficult for the parties

By Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of YABLOKO’s Political Committee
kommentarii.ru, November 14, 2009

The [Constitutional Court’s] decision will broaden the rights of members of our mostly authoritatively constructed parties only to a small extent… However, while it is allowed to have “locomotives” (Ed. well-known persons topping party election lists and bringing a large number of votes for the party and resigning right after the election), this decision will not be able to cardinally change the situation. The key problem lies not only in our legislation but also in the law enforcement practices. The laws on parties and on elections are abundant with excess regulations complicating performance for the parties, especially for the opposition parties, however, the laws lack a clear framework that would make the parties to abide by democratic procedures (e.g., a ban on dismissal and appointing of the governing bodies).

YABLOKO forwarded the first ten claims in connection with election fraud to courts

Press release, November 18, 2009

Moscow district courts file the first ten lawsuits in connection with YABLOKO’s claims that results of the voting at the Moscow City Duma election should be cancelled at 14 election districts.

If YABLOKO wins the cases, the courts will oblige the territorial electoral commissions to recount the votes.

YABLOKO’s claims base on discrepancies between the copies of the protocols of votings obtained by the observers and the official results of the voting.

The Moscow YABLOKO web-site has published data indicating which court will examine the exact type of falsification registered at a definite polling station.

Youth YABLOKO pickets Public Prosecutor General's office demanding to release YABLOKO’s activist

Press release, November 18, 2009

Youth YABLOKO is now picketing Public Prosecutor General's office in Moscow (at the address Bolshaya Dmitrovka, 15a) demanding to release 26 year-old Vladimir Volkov, activist of the Penza branch of the party, detained for 48 hours on suspicion of an arson of United Russia’s office in Penza.

Youth YABLOKO activists hold a placard “Free activist of the Penza branch of YABLOKO Vladimir Volkov”. The police have been checking the activists’ documents, however, have not obstructed the picket yet.

International Federation of Liberal Youth condemned elections fraud in Russia

Special for YABLOKO’s web-site by Ksenia Vakhrusheva, November 17, 2009

Alexander Gudimov, President of the St.Petersburg branch of the Youth YABLOKO and Ksenia Vakhrusheva, International Officer of the St.Petersburg branch of the Youth YABLOKO, took part in the annual General Assembly of the International Federation of Liberal Youth, held on 12-15 November in the Hague, the Netherlands. The GA joined together over130 young liberals from 35 countries, who are ready to stand for liberal values in there home countries and in the world, who shared their experience
The key points of the agenda were elections of the new executive board, voting for amendments to the Manifesto and resolutions... On the initiative of Youth Yabloko the General Assembly developed and adopted a resolution on condemning elections fraud in Russia. The resolution was approved by a majority.

YABLOKO’s activist detained for 48 hours on suspicion of arson of the United Russia office in Penza

Press release, November 17, 2009

Activist of the Youth YABLOKO Vladimir Volkov was detained for 48 hours of arson of the United Russia office in Penza. Earlier his flat had been searched.

Today on November 17, 2009, at 9.00 a.m. several persons who told that they were interior officers came to Volkov’s flat where he lives with his parents. They asked Volkov to come with them, explaining that his lawyer could come to the interior department where they all would “talk”.

However, until 2 p.m. neither his parents, nor the lawyer, nor even investigator Ye.Pluzhnikova had no information where Volkov was.

Liberal International News. Issue 160

Liberal International President expelled from Nicaragua
Full LI congress documentation now online!
LI Deputy President in Paraguay
LI Vice President Gerhardt discusses liberal cooperation in Indonesia
German liberals take role in Government
ELDR holds Liberal Prime Ministers Summit 2010
LI Secretary General meets Cuban dissidents
Cambodian opposition MP Mu Sochua loses defamation

Liberal International President expelled from Nicaragua
The new President of Liberal International, Hans van Baalen, MEP, has been expelled from Nicaragua by the populist Sandinista President Daniel Ortega. Van Baalen heard of this action against him shortly after leaving the country for Costa Rica. The LI President confronted Ortega and called on him to respect the constitution which prohibits him from entering a new term as president. Van Baalen also reached an agreement with the leaders of the Liberal opposition parties BND, PLC and ALN, to combine forces against Ortega during the 2011 elections. He told Ortega: “Check out in 2011, Mr. President”. While supporters of Ortega harassed the LI delegation during a press conference, liberals outside chanted: “Van Baalen, hombre con cojones”. Van Baalen commented on the situation: "Ortega is trying to bypass this article in the constitution illegally. The violation of civil rights is not just a national matter that can be ignored." Van Baalen was in Nicaragua leading a high level delegation to several Central American countries. See coverage of the LI visit on the LI youtube-channel.

read more

The Liberal Opposition Under Authoritarianism

By Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of YABLOKO’s Political Committee
Special for YABLOKO’s web-site , November 17, 2009

The logics of the development of a "fake democracy," i.e. an authoritarian state with a formal presence of democratic institutions, relates to deconsolidation of democratic institutions and their delegitimisation in public opinion. Election results become predictable in general and are, in principle, not changeable. The ruling group creates a system of shielding mechanisms and includes a propaganda machine so that to strengthen its position. This results in reprisals of the people who represent real or potential (even insignificant) danger for the ruling system. To ensure compliance of representatives of the political and business elite, the authorities organize "staged" reprisals and create external and internal enemies to justify for such actions. Such actions are authorised by a state controlled judicial authority. At the same time, blocking legitimate ways of regime change leads to intensified latent conflicts and an increased pressure on a society and stimulates emergence of still very weak forms of resistance.

The Investigation Committee under Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the election fraud of 2007

Press release, November 16, 2009

Today YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin forwarded his statement of claim to the Investigation Committee under Public Prosecutor’s Office on the crime in connection with election fraud in 2007.

YABLOKO party has recently received 56 bulletins each labeled by a special sign (a mark) and stamped by electoral commission 128 of Tagansky District, Moscow.

“Probably these bulletins were prepared for stuffing into ballot boxes,” runs the statement.

It should be also noted that the indicated electoral district demonstrated in 2007 an abnormally high voter turn out and abnormally high percentage of votes cast for the progovernmental United Russia party.

Sergei Mitrokhin and the camera crew of the RenTV channel detained while trying to get to the Kurkino VIP village

Press release, November 16, 2009

Sergei Mitrokhin and the camera crew of the RenTV channel have been detained by the security of the Kurkino VIP village by the Valley of the Skhodnya River natural reserve. The security have detained the politician and the journalists and have called the police.

Sergei Mitorkhin and the camera crew of the RenTV channel went to the Valley of the Skhodnya River natural reserve (where an unknown VIP village was built on the permission of the ex-head of the North-Western District of Moscow Viktor Kozlov) so that to study the situation with returning of the plot unlawfully granted to General Major of the interior Anatoli Petukhov. On November 5, 2009, the Moscow City Court confirmed the decision of the Tushino District Court on abuse of authority by Kozlov. This motion envisages retrieval of this plot amounting to 3,688 sq m, also court rulings on other plots of the natural reserve unlawfully given for construction of cottages have to appear shortly.

On political persecution of human rights organisations in Moscow

Statement of the YABLOKO party, November 13, 2009

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses its concern in view of refusal of the Moscow authorities to prolong contracts on the office premises rent with the Moscow Helsinki Group and For the Human Rights Movement.

A strange coincidence of adopting such decisions on the two most renowned human rights organisations that rent offices in different places of the city is indicative of political motivation of the city heads.

Thus, a new technology has been used against civil society. Human rights organisations are simply ousted out of the offices in the streets under invented pretexts.

The 56th Congress of the Liberal International. Urgency resolution submitted by YABLOKO

The 56th Congress of the LIberal Internatioanl convening in Cairo...

Calls on:
The Russian authorities to:
- conduct a full inspection of the complaints of the actions (or negligence) of election commissions in all the Russian Federation subjects, all the evidence of fraud published by the mass media and punish all those guilty of election fraud, as well as take urgent remedy measures, if needed, declaring the elections void;
- observe Russia’s obligations under its membership in the OSCE and in the Council of
Europe on ensuring free and fair elections in the country;
- form new electoral commissions ensuring that representatives from all of Russia's political parties should have equal participation to cast a vote;
- ensure free and equal conditions for all the political parties and candidates, as well as maximum public control over elections and voting.

read more

YABLOKO: The key topic of Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly should be election fraud

Press release, November 12, 2009

According to YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin, “voting and fraud of elections of October 11 should become one of the key topics of Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly.”

“Obvious falsification of the results of the voting on October 11 showed to the Russian society and the entire world that the institute of democratic elections has been virtually demolished in the country,” Mitrokhin added.

Mitrokhin thinks that “in such a situation the President should propose the measures targeted at ensuring of honest elections.”

YABLOKO’s leader also thinks that the President should immediately introduce into the State Duma amendments containing the following provisions...

Address of the YABLOKO party to President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev

Political Committee of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO

October 9, 2009

Translation. Part 1 and Part 2

Adopted by the Political Committee of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO. Resolution No 16 of September 26, 2009.

Respected Dmitry Anatolyevich,

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO at meeting of its Political Committee taking place on September 26, 2009, adopted a decision to respond to your invitation to a discussion and address you on the problems touched upon in your article “Forward, Russia!” Our view, as well as yours, can not claim being absolutely complete and inarguable, however, our long-term experience make us express our views in an explicit from, probably, partially reiterating what we have been stating earlier.

On provocation of the United Russia against YABLOKO’s activists

Statement of the YABLOKO party, November 10, 2009

The YABLOKO party expresses its categorical protest in connection with provocations and acts of pressure and mobbing of the party branches in a number of regions.

On November 8, 2009, there was a fire in the regional branch of the United Russia party. According to preliminary information of the interior, unknown persons threw flame fluid in the window.

There events became a motive to political mobbing of activists from oppositional parties and movements by the United Russia at participation of the interior.

At night on the 8th of October unlawful searches in the homes of YABLOKO members and allies took place. Seven activists were victims of lawlessness. Notebooks, party and publicistic materials, other things having no relation to the arson were confiscated.

The YABLOKO party considers statements of the United Russia leaders and actions of the interior, as well as their accusations in the address of opposition parties in extremism as persecution of the dissenting and intimidation of politically active citizens.

Liberal International accused the Russian authorities in election fraud on October 11, 2009

LI News, Issue 159, November 11, 2009

LI Congress elects new President and Bureau
LI welcomes new member parties
Liberal International members agree on resolutions
Prominent Liberal Politicians address LI Congress
Theme Report by David Coltart: a Zimbabwean perspective
Congress delegates speak on Education at Cairo Congress
Prize for Freedom Book launch a great success
LI Human Rights Committee Meeting at Cairo Congress

At their 56th Congress, the member parties of the Liberal International agreed upon a new The World Today resolution as well as a variety of other resolutions that were tabled by the member parties. These resolutions included themes like the recent local elections in Russia, the promotion and protection of human rights, privacy, sustainable development, the global financial crisis and energy efficiency. For the resolutions refer here.

The Moscow City Court ruled that granting a plot of land to the police top official in the nature reserve park was unlawful

Press release, November 10, 2009

On November 5, 2009, the Moscow City Court left in force the decision of the Tushino District Court regarding abuse of rank by the dismissed head of the North-Western Administrative District of Moscow Viktor Kozlov, who unlawfully granted 3,688 sq.m of land in the natural preservation zone of the Valley of the Skhodnya River Park for lease to the ex-top officer of the interior General Major Anatoly Petukhov.

According to the ruling of the court, the plot of land granted on unlawful basis Petukhov has to be retrieved. The decision is final and binding.

YABLOKO asks the President to preserve the Sport television channel

Press release, November 9, 2009

Two members of the Youth Chamber at the Moscow City Duma – deputy head of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO Ivan Bolshakov and member of the Regional Council Alexander Gnezdilov – forwarded to President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev an address with a request to interfere into the situation around closing of the Sport television channel.

The All-Russia Sate Television and Radio Corporation (VGTRK) adopted a decision to close the nation-wide Sport Channel from January 2010 replacing it by a national TV channel Russiya-2.

Information Services at the Ren-TV and the Fifth television channels should be maintained

Statement of the YABLOKO party, October 23, 2009

The YABLOKO party expresses its concern with the information on liquidation of professional news services of the Ren-TV and the Fifth television channels. We consider maintenance of such services extremely important for the Russian society.

The prospects of liquidation of such services and their subordination to one of the state propaganda factories cause much concern especially in the situation of grave mass-scale election fraud on October 11. The Russian citizens were first deprived of elections and then there were announced plans to deprive them of the television news that could tell the truth about this and other events.

We assess such plans as an attempt to finally oust freedom of speech from the Russian television and introduce total censorship there.

Any references to business motives in elimination of the last independent television news services resemble the argumentation of the “dispute of the economic entities” covering the mopping up of the [independent] NTV channel in 2001.

European Parliament guarantees legal rights of Internet users

ALDE press release, November 5, 2009

Yesterday night the European Parliament and Council reached a deal on the Telecoms package. After long negotiations the Council gave in to Parliament's demands to guarantee Internet users - who are suspected of uploading or downloading illegal material - a "prior, fair and impartial procedure".

Lena EK (Centerpartiet, Sweden), ALDE Coordinator on the ITRE committee commended the outcome: "The liberal strategy was: "No prior, no package". It was a tough battle, but Parliament has shown its teeth. Member States will not be able to cut off the access to Internet without a prior and fair procedure, maintaining the presumption of innocence."

Adina VALEAN (PNL, Romania), who leads the ALDE on this dossier, said: "I am happy that Council has finally understood that Parliament would not give in. Parliament has stood up for internet access to be considered as a citizen's fundamental right."

READ MORE

ELDR Newsletter

November 4, 2009

In this issue:

Hans van Baalen elected President Liberal International
Rule of law – ELDR political activities in Turin, Italy
Estonian local elections: 35 municipalities and 6 counties to the Reform party
The Sixth Anti-Hatred march in memory of Nikolai Giryenko against racism
Lisbon treaty and 2 top jobs left: The common position of European liberals

READ MORE

Aggressive nationalism endangers Russia

Statement by the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO, November 4, 2009

The 4th of November is officially announced the Day of National Unity in Russia. However, it is this day when the streets of Russian cities turn into arena for skin-heads, Nazis and racists provoking ethnic hatred. “Russian Marches” conducted on permission of local authorities and multiple unsanctioned nationalists’ actions will take place in 16 Russian cities.

According to the analytical centre SOVA, 50 people died and 280 people were wounded due to xenophobia since January 2009.

The YABLOKO party states that provoking of ethnic hatred, as well as assistance in the organisation of nationalists’ actions, is prone of very serious consequences, including shedding of blood and disintegration of the country.

Liberals discussed the world

Sergei Mitrokhin’s blog at the Echo Moskvi web-site, November 3, 2009

The 56th Congress of the Liberal International (LI) where I took part, finished its work on Saturday night in Cairo.

The congress adopted basic resolution World Today, which, in my view is a very interesting document. It provides liberal assessment of the situation in different countries and regions of the world.

In terms of examples:

The congress approved election of Barack Obama noting that he had won under the slogans of “active civil position, tolerance, dialogue, rights of individuals, freedom and democracy”.

[The congress also noted that] Honduras had been “going through a period of serious disturbances provoked by the violation of its Constitution by the President of the Republic”.

The Sixth Anti-Hatred March took place in St.Petersburg

Press release, November 2, 2009

The Sixth Anti-Hatred March in memory of Nikolai Giryenko took place in St.Petersburg
on October 31, 2009.

Representatives from the YABLOKO and the Right Cause party, Solidarity and Oborona (Defence) movements, Soldiers’ Mothers (St.Petersburg branch), Memorial, the Social-Democratic Youth Union, St.Petersburg Council for Protection of Human Rights, activists of the Vikhod (the Way Out) organisation, anarchists and ordinary citizens concerned by the growth of xenophobia in the society participated in the march. The march joined together over 500 people.

Condolences on the death of Vladimir Baburin, Editor-in-Chief of the Svobodanews radio (Radio Liberty)

November 2, 2009

Please receive our deep condolences on the death of Vladimir Baburin. He was a real journalist, honest, professional and very decent person. This is a great loss for our journalism and a grievous loss for all who knew and loved him. We are mourning together with his family, friends and colleagues.

Liberal International accused the Russian authorities in election fraud on October 11, 2009

Press release, November 1, 2009

The 56th congress of the Liberal International, international organisation of liberals and liberal parties, finished its work yesterday night.

The congress adopted basic resolution World Today reflecting liberal assessment of situation in different countries and regions of the world.
Assessing the situation in Russia the congress noted that “the legislation which has extended the term of the Russian Presidency from four to six years, going against the basic democratic rule of governmental change and leading to the growth of bureaucratic supremacy and corruption in Russia”.

On the initiative of Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO’s delegate at the congress, the resolution also expressed concern about the ongoing trend towards abolishing of honest and fair elections, as well as curbing of human rights in Russia”.