YABLOKO protests against sending schoolchildren to the barracks

Statement of the YABLOKO party. February 26, 2010

The YABLOKO party expresses its resolute protest against the plans of the Moscow government to restore the [Soviet] system of preservice military training with regular encampments of schoolchildren and introduction of the fundamentals of the military service as a subject in the school curriculum.

We think that the Concept of Preservice Training of the Young People in Moscow Until 2020 endangers life and health of the young Muscovites and is targeted at conservation of the present problems rather than reconstruction of the army, which inevitably leads to further degradation of the armed forces.

The present system of conscription to the Armed Forces of Russia serves only for justification of the existence of the Russian military bureaucracy and their deriving profits from gratuitous soldiers’ labour. Mass-scale violations of the rights of the young people of the conscription age and harassment – derision, beatings and blackmail – have become a daily reality in the army.

Regional Court did not let YABLOKO to participate in the election campaign to the Sverdlovsk Region parliament

Press Release. February 26, 2010

Sverdlovsk Region Court left without changed the decision of the Electoral Commission not to register YABLOKO in the election campaign to the Sverdlovsk Region parliament. The decision was adopted yesterday night.

The working group of the electoral commission basing on the graphological expertise recognised 56% of the signatures collected by YABLOKO in support of its election list invalid.

The court heard only one expert who explained that “he and his colleagues based on their experience and qualification”. However, he failed to give a detailed answer to a single question, repeating that “such was the result of the expertise”.

Liberal International. Newsletter. Issue 172

YABLOKO leader arrested following demonstration

On 23 February the leader of LI Full Member YABLOKO, Sergei Mitrokhin, and several other activists were arrested in Moscow outside the Ministry of Justice after staging a demonstration to call for the protection of military pensioners' rights. The participants of the picket held slogans “Scanty Military Pensions — a Disgrace to the State!” when about 15 OMON policemen arrested YABLOKO's activists and drove them to the local police station. The demonstration had not been coordinated with Moscow officials, as local authorities had declined YABLOKO the right to demonstrate on that date (the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland). Among the detainees was Anton Goretsky, General Major of the reserve. Commenting on the events Mitrokhin said “It is absurd that General Major of the reserve was arrested on the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland” . According to Mitrokhin, the local authorities were acting in the interests of the Ministry of Defence which did not want to see accusations in cynical attitude to the military on their holiday.

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Sergei Mitrokhin: the reform of the interior should begin from the “clean hands” operation

Press Release. February 25, 2010

Round table “The Reform of the Interior Must Meet the Expectations of the Civil Society” initiated by Deputy Chair of the Moscow YABLOKO Andrei Babushkin took place in the press centre of the Moscow Interior department on February 25.

Representatives of human rights organisations including such renowned figures as Ludmila Alexeyeva and Valery Borschyov participated in the round table. YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin also participated in the discussion. “The interior needs not simply to make staff reduction, but anti-corruption cleaning,” Mitrokhin said.

YABLOKO’s action in protection of Utrish and Baikal

Press Release. February 25, 2010

A rally in protection of the Utrish national reserve park and the Baikal Lake took place in the centre of Krasnodar on February 20. The rally was organised by YABLOKO’s activist Andrei Rudomakha.

After the rally the participants marched along the main street of the city and held a second rally at the end of the march.

About 300 – 350 people took part in the action.

20 years ago the citizens of Saratov struggled for freedom and decent life

Press Release. February 25, 2010

A series of mass manifestations against the party of power took place in Saratov 20 years ago, in February 1990.

On February 11 the first meetings of the citizens took place and public organisation The Committee of February 11 was organised. On February 24 thousands of people marched through the streets of the city, broke the police cordons and gathered on a rally at the Revolution Square (the Theatre Square at present) under the slogans “Out with Dogmatists, Bureaucrats and Conservatives!”, “The CPSU Brakes Perestroika!”, “For the Soviets without Communists!” and “The USSR Is Prison of Nations”. The citizens demanded social justice and free elections into representatives bodies of power – the Soviets of People’s Deputies – so that to break away with the political monopoly of the ruling party (the communist party then) and negligence of the bureaucrats leading the country to the collapse.

Kaluga Region Court turns down YABLOKO’s claim regarding registration of the party in the election campaign

Press Release. February 25, 2010

The Court of the Kaluga Region turned down YABLOKO’s claim regarding registration of the party in the election campaign to the regional parliament.

The experts of the regional electoral commission announced 600 signatures out of total 8,452 collected in support of YABLOKO’s list invalid (at permissible number of defective signatures amounting to 400). YABLOKO managed to prove in court that the signatures were valid only in 77 cases, however, to get registered the party had to obtain such a decision on 201 signatures.

YABLOKO’s activist and deputy of the Kaluga regional parliament Sergei Fadeyev who participated in the trial on behalf of YABLOKO, said that the electoral commission “had lied and mixed everything up wherever possible”. YABLOKO’s activists gave their reasoning for annulment of the decision not to register YABLOKO’s list, however, the court did not consider them “worthy of consideration”.

The market economy – a model for Europe

ELDR Press Release. February 25, 2010

At the latest event in the series of "Liberal breakfasts" hosted at the ELDR headquarters, Dr. Michael Wohlgemuth from the Walter Eucken Institute for economics discussed the concepts of a free or social market economy – which model for Europe.

Introduced by German liberal MEP Michael Theurer, he took the audience back to the liberal origins of what is commonly known today as the “social market economy”. He reminded the audience that the creators of what is called “Ordnungspolitik” (Constitutio in Libertate) defined the following cornerstones as the essential elements of a sound economic policy: private property, freedom of contract, liability, open markets, a stable currency and last but not least a predictable and stable economic policy.

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YABLOKO continues “Decent Pensions to the Military” campaign

Press Release. February 24, 2010

Rallies and pickets took place in different Russia’s cities within the framework of YABLOKO’s campaign “Decent Pensions to the Military” on February 23, the Defender of the Fatherland Day.

About thousand people came to the rally in Lipetsk demanding to raise scanty military pensions. Military pensioners, YABLOKO’s activists and CPRF activists held slogans “Putin to Dismissal!”, “Military Pension – a Disgrace of the Government!”...

Four pickets were organised in Novgorod: YABLOKO’s activists distributed leaflets and collected signatures under the address to the Russian President. The residents of the city even queued at one of the pickets located in the centre of the city so that to put their signatures under an address to Dmitry Medvedev demanding to change the system of calculation of military pensions...

YABLOKO to organise round table “The Reform of the Interior Must Meet the Expectations of the Civil Society”

Press Release. February 24, 2010

Round table “The Reform of the Interior Must Meet the Expectations of the Civil Society” will be conducted on the initiative of Andrei Babushkin, Deputy Chair of the Moscow YABLOKO and Co-Chair of the Human Rights faction of the party in the press centre of the Moscow Interior Department, on Thursday, February 25.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin will participate in the round table. Other guest speakers are:
Ludmila Alexeyeva, the Moscow Helsinki Group,
Valery Gribakin, head of the Information and Public Relations Department of the Interior Ministry of the RF,
Alexander Zharov, Ombudsman for the Moscow Region,
Alexander Zimin, leading expert of the Moscow University of the Interior Ministry,
Svetlana Gannushkina, Grazhdanskoye Sodeistviye (Civil Support)
Vladimir Lukin, Russia’s ombudsman,
Alexander Muzikantsky, Moscow ombudsman,
Ella Pamfilova, Civil Society and Human Rights Council under the President of the RF,
Lev Ponomaryov, For the Human Rights movement,
Genry Reznik, Moscow Bar Association...

YABLOKO’s leader supports the head of Russia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry

Press Release. February 24, 2010

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin welcomes today’s statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation on introduction of a visa-free regime between Russia and EU.

“We hope that consultations conducted by experts will reach a solution in the nearest perspective and we shall be able to speak about definite time [for implementation of the visa-free regime] then. Russia is ready to transfer to a visa-free regime with Russia already tomorrow,” Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, told the journalists after his negotiations with Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union.

YABLOKO’s activists leave the court protesting against collusion of the judge with OMON

Press Release. February 23, 2010

The arrested activists – YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin, General Major Anton Goretsky and Artur Grokhovsky, aid of YABLOKO’s leader, spent over an hour in the district court waiting for hearings on their case. After an hour expired they went to the courtroom to find out when the hearings were to take place. However, they saw a judge discussing something with the OMON policemen who were witnesses on the case. According to Grokhovsky, several policemen were standing by the judge’s table and one of them was even sitting on the table. However, the judge demanded to close the door and not to interfere into the discussion.

YABLOKO’s activists left the court in protest against collusion of the judge and the police, despite resistance of the policemen who brought them to the court. “I think that what has happened is a manifestation of an arbitrary rule and also a humiliation to General Goretsky who on the Day of the Defender of the Fatherland was kept in the police station for three hours and then kept in court,” Mitrokhin said. “The judge not only behaved incorrectly towards us, but even tried to make a collusion with the witnesses who were actually a party in the case,” he noted.

YABLOKO’s leader and General Major arrested for picketing in protection of military pensioners’ rights

Press Release. February 23, 2010

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin and leader of the Moscow Region YABLOKO General Major Anton Goretsky were arrested for conducting a picket in protection of the military pensioners’ rights that had not been coordinated with the authorities. The local authorities declined YABLOKO’s application to conduct picketing by the Ministry of Defence on February 23 (the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland). However, the same action had been allowed on January 20.

The participants of the picket held slogans “Scanty Military Pensions – a Disgrace to the State!” when about 15 OMON policemen arrested YABLOKO’s activists and drove them to the local police station.

The Pensioners’ Party joins YABLOKO

Press Release. February 20, 2010

Today, on February 20, All-Russia congress of the Elder Generation public association formed on the basis of the former Pensioners’ Party took place in YABLOKO’s office in Moscow. The congress adopted a decision of a merger with YABLOKO via creation of the Russia’s Pensioners faction in YABLOKO.

Delegates from 24 Russia’s regions participated in the congress: 22 delegates voted for the merger and 2 abstained. The Elder Generation has branches in 32 Russia’s regions.

The leader of the Elder Generation Alexei Borschenko called YABLOKO “the only party which can at present protect the interests of Russia’s pensioners”. He also reiterated that pensioners constitute about one third of Russia’s population.

YABLOKO enters litigation disputing the decision of the regional electoral commission

Press Release. February 19, 2010

Litigation initiated by the YABLOKO party disputing the refusal of the regional electoral commission to register YABLOKO’s list in the election race to the regional parliament began in the Sverdlovsk Region Court on February 18...

The leader of Sverdolovsk YABLOKO Maxim Petlin said “We have just begun our analysis of the lists of signatures rejected by the commission, as the commission have refused to give them to us until this moment, we shall work throughout all the four days-off [February 20-23] and I am sure that by [the next hearings] February 24 we shall have a lot of arguments supporting our position.”

Court refused to satisfy YABLOKO’s suit on cancellation of the results of the voting at two Moscow electoral districts

Press Release. February 18, 2010

Simonovsky District Court, Moscow, refused to satisfy YABLOKO’s suit on cancellation of the results of the voting at two Moscow electoral districts, where progovernmental United Russia obtained 231 additional votes via fraud.

The judge chose to conduct hearings in the absence of YABLOKO’s representative. She also prohibited journalist from the Kommersant-Vlast paper to take notes during the process.

YABLOKO’s arguments based on a considerable discrepancy between the protocols given to the observers on the election day October 11, 2009, and the official results of the voting. Thus 96 votes were taken LDPR, Just Russia and Patriots of Russia and added to the United Russia party. The chair of this electoral commission explained this by an error. “Provisional” protocols where figures represented a mere “guess work” were allegedly given to the observers, however, later the mistake was detected and amended. However, the chair of the commission failed to explain how this “guess work” managed to virtually coincide with the real results of the voting, especially in case of YABLOKO and CPRF.

The Pensioners’ Party to join YABLOKO

Press Release. February 19, 2010

On Saturday, February 20, the All-Russian Congress of the Elder Generation public association (formed on the basis of the former Pensioners’ Party) will take place in YABLOKO’s office in Moscow.

The congress will finalise the merger adopting a decision on formation of the Russia’s Pensioners faction within YABLOKO. A general agreement on the merger of two political organisations was reached in October 2009.

A joint briefing by YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Alexei Borschenko, the leader of the Elder Generation will begin at 3 p.m.

Portraits of Joseph Stalin have no place in the Victory Day celebrations

Statement of the Chairman of the YABLOKO party. February 18, 2010

Placards picturing Joseph Stalin that have recently appeared in Moscow represent an insult to the memory of our fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers who won a victory over fascism. This is another manifestation of hatred towards Russian people and all other nations of Russia and the former USSR that suffered from the genocide launched by Stalin.

Many years have passed since the end of the Second World War, and multiple documents and facts showing that the Victory was won despite of rather than owing to Joseph Stalin and his system have been disclosed...

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO proposes to place in Moscow streets and squares placards reproducing war-time photographs and showing the heroism of the true victors of the war.

YABLOKO urges European liberals to work out a new EU strategy for Russia

ELDR Press Release, February 17, 2010

At a meeting of the European Liberal Democrats parliamentary group in Brussels on 3rd February, Sergey Mitrokhin, Leader of ELDR member party, YABLOKO, called for a strong collaboration amongst liberals in view of the introduction of a visa-free regime between Russia and the European Union.

Mitrokhin called on the European Union to “work out a strategy for interaction with Russia based on integration rather than confrontation”. Such integration is needed both for the EU and Russia in the field of the economy (which should not be reduced to oil and gas issues only), politics and national security (e.g., creation of a joint ABM), as well as a broad spectrum of other aspects, such as integration of Russia’s rich intellectual and labour potential into the European economy. “The European Union should initiate projects that would engage Russian society and elite into the European values and approaches”. According to Mitrokhin, such a strategy can ensure Russia’s steady movement towards the European way of development. Elimination of visa barriers and free communication between the citizens of the EU and Russia will enable Russian citizens to experience the achievements of Western democracies and observe how democratic institutions should really function and apply this in their own country...
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LI Newsletter, Issue 171, February 19, 2010

Liberal Democrats “Critical Friends” of the Afghanistan mission

As NATO and its allies have stepped up their military effort in Afghanistan LI Full Member the Liberal Democrats have said that “there must be a political surge alongside the planned military surge to bring over moderate Taliban”. Thousands of US, British and Afghan soldiers are involved in the push to clear Taliban forces in Helmand province. Some success has been attained, as it was reported that a high ranking Taliban military commander was captured and intelligence suggested the Taliban were running out of ammunition and were calling in back-up to the region. However difficulties lay ahead as restoring trust for the troops and remaining in control of the cleared areas will be challenging. Liberal International Vice President on the Bureau Robert W. Browne said the LibDems are “critical friends” of the mission in Afghanistan: “We support the mission in Afghanistan but we will continue to demand that the strategy pushes for a more legitimate government, tackles corruption and involves other major players in the region.”

READ MORE

Venezuela and Iran under scrutiny by European Parliamentarians
Liberal Democrats “Critical Friends” of the Afghanistan mission
Liberal call on Armenia to Release Political Prisoners
Financial crisis will demand more action from Greece, says Rehn
YABLOKO member receives price for journalism
Freedom of Association in Middle East focus of FNF
Piñera appoints prominent liberals to his cabinet
Centre Jean Gol releases new book which seeks to define liberalism

Two Moscow district courts to adopt decisions on YABLOKO’s suits

Press Release. February 17, 2010

Tomorrow, February 18, Simonovsky District Court, Moscow, will adopt decision on YABLOKO’s suit regarding cancellation of the results of the voting at electoral districts No 1696 and 1701 on October 11 election. These districts added 231 votes to progovernmental United Russia party via fraud... The hearings will begin at 2 p.m. Address: Vostochnaya ul. 2, stoyeniye 6. Judge Titarova.

On Friday, February 19, Preobrazhensky District Court, Moscow, will make a ruling concerning the results of the voting at polling station No 1062. According to the copies of protocols given to YABLOKO’s observers, the official total of the votes cast at the polling station considerably increased the total of the votes cast for each of the parties in accordance with the protocols given to the observers. The hearings will begin at 10-30 a.m. Address: 2nd Bukhvostova ul. 4. Judge Yegorov.

YABLOKO insists that the Chair of the Investigative Committee at the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation should take under control investigation of a killing of civilians in Ingushetia

Press Release. February 17, 2010

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin asked Alexander Bastyrkin, Chair of the Investigative Committee at the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation, to take under his personal control investigation of a killing of civilians on the Chechen-Ingush border during special operation on February 11 – 12, 2010.

“The investigation conducted on February 13 – 14 by the Memorial human rights centre showed that the versions worded by the officials – that civilians had been used by the militants as a human shield and died because of the air-to-ground attack – were incorrect,” ran the letter...

At least 70 local civilians engaged in agricultural works turned out to be in the area of a special operation. The authorities had the information about their work in the area, as they had given a special permit for agricultural works to the local residents there, however, the officials did not take measures so that to evacuate people to a safe place. At least four persons were killed. According to the Memorial’s data they were gunned at a short range and possibly fired “insurance” shots afterwards.

One more provocation against Maxim Reznik, leader of St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO

Press Release. February 17, 2010

On February 17 (about 7 a.m.) Olga Galkina, deputy of the municipal council of the Morskoi district from the YABLOKO party found out leaflets on the block of flats where she lived running that police was allegedly looking for a “dangerous criminal Maxim Lvovich Reznik accused of grave crimes”... The leaflets also called the citizens to call the telephone numbers indicated in the text so that to help the police to arrest a “dangerous criminal”. The given telephone numbers turned out to be the numbers of the local police department, St.Petersburg’s YABLOKO office and the school where Maxim works as a teacher of history...

“It is obvious that this mean action has been paid for and is aiming at exerting psychological pressure on myself and my relatives. It is especially mean that these people indicated telephone number of the school where I work,” Reznik said. “After today’s provocation I can not say that the December and January incidents [when Reznik was arrested by police when he was going home from a supermarket for alleged “drinking alcohol in a public place” and attack on their family car] were a mere coincidence.”

The hearings in the Kaluga Region Court to continue on February 17, 2010

Press Release. February 17, 2010

YABLOKO’s litigation on the cancellation of the resolution of the Regional Electoral Commission turning down the registration of a of YABLOKO and Joint Democrat’s list in the election race to the regional parliament will continue on February 17.

Sverdlovsk YABLOKO demands to annul the decision of the electoral commission not to register YABLOKO in the election race

Press Release. February 16, 2010

The Sverdlovsk region branch of YABLOKO applied to the regional court demanding annul the decision of the electoral commission not to register YABLOKO in election race to the regional parliament.

YABLOKO’s activists provide a list of violations made by the Regional Electoral Commission in checking signatures collected by YABLOKO. For example, graphology experts gave contradictory conclusions concerning the same signatures: in first group of experts acknowledged the signatures valid; whereas the second group of experts found the same signatures invalid.

The leader of Gelendzhik YABLOKO is forced to quit his job because of a rally

Press Release, February 12, 2010

On January 31, 2010, Gelendzhik YABLOKO conducted a meeting of protest against destruction of the Utrish relict lagoons, where the Presidential Property Management Department planned to build a “sports and recreation complex” and Administration of the Krasnodar Area – commercial buildings. Public protest action took place by the city Administration building.

And already on February 5, Sergei Buldakov, leader of the local YABLOKO branch was informed that he was transferred to another work place located in 57 km from his current place. Alexander Umitbayaev, Director General of the Vodokanal municipal state company, where Buldakov worked informed Buldakov of this transfer.

Boris Vishnevsky receives Russia’s Golden Pen award

Press Release, February 13, 2010

One of the most brilliant Russia’s journalists and member of YABLOKO Boris Vishnevsky has become laureate of the highest award of the Union of Journalists of Russia.

On February 12, 2010, journalist of Novaya Gazeta Boris Vishnevsky was announced to win Russia’s Golden Pen award. He has become the first journalist from St.Petersburg who was awarded the prize. Chairman of the Union of Journalists Vsevolod Bogdanov handed Vishnevsky the award for “a series of publications in the federal and regional papers on the building of the [scandalous] Gazprom’s skyscraper in St.Petersburg”.

“I am very glad to receive this award for my publications against building of the Okhta-Centre,” Vishnevsky told to his colleagues journalists. “I shall be happy if my and many other publications will help to stop building of this skyscraper. We shall not allow them to spoil St.Petersburg! If we hit this goal, this would mean that all that I’ve been doing has not passed in vain,” he said.

Northern Irish Liberals tipped for government

Liberal International News. Issue 170

LI full member, the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, has set out its conditions for taking the post of Justice Minister in Northern Ireland's power sharing government. The transfer of policing and justice powers from London to Belfast, one of the last major sticking points in Northern Ireland's lengthy peace process, is now slated for 12 April following recent all-party negotiations. Alliance, the only significant party in Northern Ireland which draws support from both main sectors of the community, is tipped for the Justice Minister post after the largest pro-British and pro-Irish parties made it clear that they would block nominations from parties with support from only one part of Northern Ireland's divided society. Alliance Leader David Ford comments: “I have always been clear that any nomination of an Alliance member for Minister of Justice would be based around agreeing policies across the power sharing government, and putting in place a strategy on breaking down segregation and sectarianism in Northern Ireland...Alliance is not interested in personality politics or ministerial office for the perks. Alliance is ambitious to serve in government to make a real difference and promote Alliance's liberal values and policies”.

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Sergei Mitrokhin spoke at the rally for protection of Baikal

Press Release. February 13, 2010

About 700 people participated despite sever frosts in the rally for protection of Baikal in Irkutsk. Members of ecological organisations, members and supporters of YABLOKO, residents of Irkutsk and Baikalsk and CPRF members spoke against resuming of functioning of the Baikal Pulp Plant.

The rally organised by the ecological organisation The Baikal Wave and the Baikal movement was held under the slogans “To close the Baikal Pulp Plant!”, “To provide alternative jobs to the residents of Baikalsk!” and “Stop budget financing of oligarch Deripaska!”

Press Conference Why Opposition Is Not Allowed to Participate in the Elections

Announcement. February 15, 2010

Press conference Why Opposition Is Not Allowed to Participate in the Elections will take place in Interfax tomorrow, on February 16, at 2 p.m.

Speakers:
Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO’s leader
Maxim Petlin, Chair of the Sverdlovsk branch of YABLOKO and deputy of Ekaterinburg City Duma
Sergei Lazaryev, deputy of the Sverdlovsk Region Duma, number two in YABLOKO’s list at the regional elections.
Vladislav Morozov, Chair of the Kaluga branch of YABLOKO, deputy of the Kaluga Region Duma.

Accreditation at tel. 7-495-250-88-32 (until 1 p.m. on February 16). Journalists should show their credentials.
Address: Pervaya Tverskaya-Yamskaya, 2 (Mayakovskaya metro station).

Congratulations to Arseny Roginsky on the award!

February 12, 2010

On behalf of the YABLOKO party I am pleased to express our heartiest congratulations to Arseny Roginsky on the case of his receiving the Officer Cross award of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Arseny Roginsky is a renowned Russian human rights activist and historian studying the political terror period. His large contribution into protection of human rights is difficult to overestimate...

Arseny Roginsky will also deliver a lecture The Anatomy and Scopes of Stalin’s Terror within the framework of YABLOKO’s lectures.

The Embrace of Stalinism

By Arseny Roginsky, 16 December 2008

Why is Russia romanticising the memory of Stalinism, enquires Memorial's founder Arseny Roginsky, when its defining feature was the use of terror?
The memory of Stalinism in contemporary Russia raises problems which are painful and sensitive. There is a vast amount of pro-Stalinist literature on the bookstalls: fiction, journalism and pseudo-history. In sociological surveys, Stalin invariably features among the first three "most prominent figures of all times". In the new school history textbooks, Stalinist policy is interpreted in a spirit of justification.
There are also hundreds of crucial volumes of documents, scholarly articles and monographs on Stalinism. The achievements of these historians and archivists is unquestionable. But if they do have any influence on the mass consciousness, it is too weak. The means of disseminating the information have not been there, and nor in recent years has the political will. However, the deepest problem lies in the current state of our national historical memory of Stalinism.

A shaking hand of the United Russia party

Press Release. February 10, 2010

“When they are ousting us from the election race this means that they are afraid of us!” said YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin. On February 9, 2010, the Sverdlovsk Region Electoral Commission with multiple violations of the law refused to register YABLOKO in the election race to the regional parliament.

The working group of the Electoral Commission gave a conclusion based on a graphologic expertise that 56% of the signatures collected by the party and required for registration in the race were “void”. However, the experts conducting the handwriting comparison gave contradictory answers virtually on all the lists. “Thus, the experts acknowledged 2,000 signatures void on a pretext that they had been made by a “shaking hand”, stressed Maxim Petlin, Chair of the Sverdlovsk regional branch of YABLOKO.

“Refusing to register YABLOKO’s list in the Sverdlovsk region after a refusal to register YABLOKO in the Kaluga region the authorities once again confirm that there is no evolution of Russia’ political system towards democratization and political competition,” stated YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin. “We go on living under the arbitrary rule of the bureaucrats servicing the interests of their own party – United Russia.”

Forward looking approach essential for reform in Russia

ELDR Press Release. February 5, 2010

Russia can only move forward in developing a truly fair, free and democratic society if it puts to bed once and for all the ghosts of its past. This was the conclusion from a seminar organised by the European Liberal Democrat's parliamentary group about "how the Kremlin thinks and what this means for Europe" that took place last Wednesday.

Panelists, including ELDR's Russian party leaders, Sergey Mitrokhin, Yaboloko, and Mikhail Kasyanov, People's Democratic Union, agreed that the specter of Stalin's Russia is still hanging over modern day society and is preventing the country from initiating the reforms that are needed to facilitate its development, including strengthening its ties with the European Union.

Sergey Mitrokhin spoke about telling Russian President Medvedev the importance of publically acknowledging that Stalinism is in the past. Mitrokhin referred to what he called a "hankering for former times" that is pervading the thoughts of Russian citizens as the present government fails to deliver the reforms that are necessary for the country to proposer in the 21st century.

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Chair of Sverdlovsk Electoral Commission Mostovschikov to dismissal!

Statement by the YABLOKO party. February 5, 2010

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses its categorical protest in connection with the actions of the Chair of the Sverdlovsk Electoral Commission V.D.Mostovschikov.

Mostovschikov made multiple statements in the mass media on alleged violations of law in proposing the list of candidates to the election, the documents submitted to the electoral commission, including signatures submitted for enrollment in the race, prior to adoption of decisions by the electoral commission. We assess the actions of the Chair of the Sverdlovsk Electoral Commission as unlawful, biased and virtually representing propaganda in favour of other parties participation in the election, first of all progovernmental United Russia.

The authorities chose to support of oligarchs’ interests and reprisals against public organisations rather than protection of the Lake Baikal

Statement of the Bureau of the YABLOKO party, February 1, 2010

On January 28, 2010 the police of the Irkutsk region without any rulings of the court or public prosecutor blocked the work of the largest public organisation engaged in protection of the Lake Baikal – The Baikal Ecological Wave – confiscating their computers under the pretext of a check whether this organisation had been using licensed software. However, the representatives of the interior refused even to look at the certificates of the software submitted to them. The ecologists who tried to disobey confiscation of their computers were threatened with legal persecution in view of “attacking the police”.

The YABLOKO party expresses its resolute protest in view of such actions of the interior and considers them as a awkward attempt to shut down the wave of public discontent in view of the adoption by the Government of the RF of a resolution allowing to resume functioning of the Baikal Cellulose Paper Plant that have been polluting Baikal with its waste, as well as stored, buried and burnt hazardous waste on the banks of the lake. Such governmental decision was adopted in satisfaction of short-term interests of the owner of the plant – a definite tycoon, and contradicts Russia’s interests.

Memorial’s lectures in YABLOKO. The History of the Soviet Terror

Annoucement, February 4, 2010

We are proud to announce that we are launching lectures of Memorial heads and experts within the programme of our Evening University.
Please find below the schedule of the first lectures...

Please also note that you can see Memorial’s exhibition A History of an Execution at YABLOKO’s office...

European liberals welcome Russia to the European Union

Press Release. February 3, 2010

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin called to the activisation of efforts in the introduction of a visa-free regime between Russia and the European Union at the meeting of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) taking place in Brussels today. ALDE is the third largest faction in the European Parliament holding the balance between the right and the left.

Sergei Mitrokhin told in his speech that “the European Union should work out a strategy for interaction with Russia based on integration rather than confrontation”. “The European Union should initiate the projects that would involve and initiate the Russian society and elite into the European values and approaches,” he said. According to Mitrokhin, such a strategy can ensure Russia’s movement along the European way of development...

According to Mitrokhin, the idea of abolishing visas between Russia and the EU was proposed as early as in 1995 by the YABLOKO faction in the Russian parliament. “We specially invited then Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Igor Ivanov and persuaded him that this initiative was not a fantasy,” Mitrokhin said. He also noted that in 2003 Ivanov shared these ideas with his Italian counterpart.

A number of MPs of the European Parliament supported the idea of development of a new European strategy in relations with Russia and agreed with Mitrokhin that the European Union had not developed such a strategy yet. Some MPs also supported the proposals on the earliest introduction of a visa-free regime and also stated that they would welcome Russia’s perspective joining the European Union...

Governor Gromov motions a libel suit against Sergei Mitrokhin

Press Release, February 1, 2010

Governor of the Moscow Region Boris Gromov motioned a libel suit against YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin who had laid blame for a physical attack on Editor-in-Chief of Khimskinskaya Pravda oppositional paper Mikhail Beketov. The official claims compensation of RUR 500,000 (about USD 16,600) for the moral damage.

Sergei Mitrokhin stated that the party had grounds to think that “Administration of the Khimki city district and personally Head of Administration Strelchenko supported by Governor Gromov are behind this crime” during an action held on November 16, 2009 one year after the attack. A video record of Sergei Mitrokhin’s speech published at YABLOKO’s web-site was used by the Governor as an evidence of libel.

On November 13, 2008, Editor-in-Chief of Khimskinskaya Pravda oppositional paper Mikhail Beketov who had been opposing the construction of a paid highway Moscow – St.Petersburg, was found unconscious in the yard of his house. Doctors stated a severe head injury, multiple factions and injuries. Despite treatment Beketov remains a handicapped – he can not take care of himself and his speech functions have not restored. The action in support of Beketov was held under the slogans “Attack on Beketov Is an Attack on the Freedom of Speech” and “Attack on Beketov Is Political Terror”.

Overcoming the Totalitarian Past: Foreign Experience and Russian Problems by Galina Mikhaleva. Research Centre for the East European Studies, Bremen, February 2010. Feburary, 2010

Russia’s leaders are looking to the country’s history to find ways to justify renewed imperial ambitions. While a study of foreign experience shows that there are numerous ways to for a country to deal with its totalitarian past, the problem is complicated in the post-Communist context because politicians seek to use history as a tool for their own purposes. The YABLOKO party recently adopted a resolution dealing with the uses of history to stimulate democratic transition, but it so far has had no impact on Russian society.

Social orphanage Zhizn (Life) in St.Petersburg needs your support!

February 2, 2010

Social orphanage Zhizn (Life) gives shelter and normal living conditions to orphans and social orphans. The orphanage was founded over 15 years ago and helped to about 600 children. The orphanage does not get any state aid and has been financed by private donations only.

At present the orphanage has to move to a new place and its expenditures have abruptly grown. Zhizn would be grateful for any aid, as it is moving to empty flats. For bank transfers pls use the following banking details (it is important to indicate that it is charity).

Even if you do not have a possibility to help us financially, you can help to the orphanage by spreading information about it.

See also:

Youth YABLOKO organisation of St.Petersburg for the protection of an orphanage. Press Release. September 8, 2009

Assessment of Russia’s Present Political System and the Principles of Its Development. Brief note for the State Council meeting (January 22, 2010) by Dr.Grigory Yavlinsky, member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee. January 22, 2010

...In the absence of serious attention to the raise of political culture and freedom of speech, elections in our country will become a fest of demagogues and populists killing the system.

The main problems and goals of the society and the state in the field of creation of modern political system and political reform do not represent a mere correction, they mean bringing of life and sense into Russian politics.

Only in this case it will be of interest for the people and will be worthy of their attention. To achieve this we should first of all raise the level of public consciousness and open opportunities for public participation in the power and politics.

We think that to prevent dissolution of the Russian political system in 2010 – 2012 we need to undertake the following gradual but nonetheless decisive steps...

On elimination of visa regime between Russia and the EU

Statement by the Party Chairman. February 1, 2010

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO considers abolishing of the visa barrier separating the European Union and Russia be the most important and a very necessary step towards RF-EU integration.
The advantages that both the sides will get in solving this problem considerably overweight the bureaucratic problems that may seem insurmountable today.

We are certain that the issue of elimination the visa barrier between Russia and Europe should be examined and solved by politicians rather than bureaucrats. A political will towards strategic decision-making will enable us to find constructive ways out in such issues as, for example, the readmission problem.

We would like to specially stress that freedom of movement within Great Europe is not reduced for the Russian citizens to facilitation of their business, study or tourist trips (albeit this is also very important). This means their normal life within a single European civilization on the basis of shared principles. And this issue has become especially acute when a visa barrier separated us from our closest Eastern European neighbours as close interaction with them has always been and continue to be very important when we speak about European trends in Russia.