YABLOKO’s leader visits Chelyabinsk
Press Release, September 28, 2010.

On September 29 YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin visited Chelyabinsk where he met with students of the Urals Academy of State Service and workers of the Polyot plant, as well as participated in the mourning action held in commemoration of nuclear explosion at the Mayak plant.

At the meeting with the students Mitrokhin spoke about the need to transfer to professional army and abolishment of military conscription. He also criticized the intentions of the military to increase the age for conscription from 27 to 30 years of age, and YABLOKO is going to resist these plans.

Then YABLOKO’s leader met with the workers of Polyot plant. According to Mitrokhin, this hi-tech production is in a deplorable state...

YABLOKO calls television channels to tell about family business of top officials in St.Petersburg
Zaks.ru, September 30, 2010.

St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO decided to address federal television channels calling them to make a film about family business of top officials in St.Petersburg

According to Maxim Reznik, head of St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO, the address will be forwarded to three federal television channels – NTV, RTR and ORT – that unexpectedly and simultaneously discovered the truth and began covering failures and drawbacks in the work of the Ex-Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov. “We think that television channels should be consistent and also broadcast films about St.Peterburg’s problems and the family business here too,” Reznik told to the Zaks.ru. “We would like to believe that they have finally opened their eyes and will be continuously releasing such materials, and we are ready to help them here...”

Russia should not be turned into international radioactive waste dump!
Statement by the YABLOKO party, September 29, 2010.

...In the past, during the cold war, huge territories in the Urals and Siberia were contaminated by waste from nuclear fuel recycling. Today it is not war, but purely commercial and immediate financial interests of Russian bureaucrats which lead to the same result – radioactive contamination of the Chelyabinsk region, dangerous transportation of radioactive waste via St.Petersburg and many other Russian cities, multiplication of radioactive risks in Angarsk, Seversk, Dmitrovgrad and other centres of Russia’s “nuclear archipelago”. Our position is clear and unchanged: in accordance with the international principle of equal environmental security, the country producing nuclear waste should bear responsibility for this waste, it is impossible to pay for ensuring health of population in some countries with the health and welfare of the residents of other countries.

Irkutsk YABLOKO conducted a picket against federal law 83 targeted at commercialization of education and healthcare

Press Release, September 28, 2010.

The Irkutsk branch YABLKO and Parent’ Club from Angarsk conducted a picket in Irkutsk against federal law 83 targeted at commercialization of education and healthcare...

Kalmykian YABLOKO conducted a picket against federal law 83 targeted at commercialization of education and healthcare

Press Release, September 29, 2010.

The Kalmykian branch of YABLKO conducted a picket in Elista against federal law 83 targeted at commercialization of education and healthcare. The law envisages virtual transfer to paid services in education and healthcare violating the constitutional right of the Russian citizens to free education and healthcare...

Sergei Mitrokhin to President Medvedev: The Defence Ministry does not implement the anticorruption laws

Press Release, September 29, 2010.

Sergei Mitrokhin forwarded an appeal to President Dmitry Medvedev in connection with dismissal of General Gaidukov in connection with his fraud in the income statement. YABLOKO’s leader asks the President to oblige the Ministry of Defense to fully comply with the requirements of Russia’s anti-corruption legislation. At present the Ministry's website provides no data on the income of its civil servants as required by law. "I'm not surprised that the first civil servant to be sacked was from the Defense Ministry. This Ministry has taken steps targeted at concealing the incomes of its civil servants from the civil control ", runs Mitrokhin’s letter...

The Council for Consolidation of Women’s Movement in Russia supported YABLOKO’s candidates at regional elections in the Chelyabinsk region

Press Release, September 29, 2010.

Yesterday, on September 28, a meeting of the Council for Consolidation of Women's Movement in Russia took place in Moscow. Galina Mikhalyova, Chair of YABLOKO’s Gender faction and Co-Chair of the Council, proposed a decision approved by the Council to support YABLOKO’s candidates at regional elections in the Chelyabinsk region.

It was noted that YABLOKO’s list in the Chelyabinsk region was topped by women: Natalia Mironova, a well-known environmentalist, and Fatima Kobzhasarova, Chair of women's rights movement Fatihha. The key slogans of the party campaign in the Chelyabinsk region are "Politics Is Women's Business!" and "For Women! For Protection of Environment! For YABLOKO!”...

EP special committee draws its lessons from financial crisis
Press Release, ALDE, September 29, 2010

The European Parliament's special committee on the financial, economic and social crisis (CRIS) adopted today by large majority (33+, 2-) its interim report on the lessons learned, just as EU commissioner Olli REHN presents new proposals on strengthening economic governance.

ALDE member Wolf KLINZ (FDP, Germany), chairman of the CRIS committee, comments: "For Liberals, it was of upmost importance to reach the broadest consensus possible in the Parliament on this issue, therefore I am very satisfied with today's outcome. In such a crisis it is important for Parliament to be united". MORE

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin on today’s dismissal of Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov

Based on Sergei Mitrokhin's press interviews, September 28, 2010.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin suggested that Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov may face political persecutions after his dismissal. Sergei Mitrokhin noted that the law enforcement may get interested in Luzhkov’s activities soon after his dismissal.

According to Mitrokhin, the fate of the dismissed mayor is an “unpredictable thing”. "In our country the traditions of finding a scapegoat are very strong. If one gets out of favour in politics he should be on the guard until the end,” Mitrokhin explained...

Grigory Yavlinsky visited Vladimir

TV-6 channel, Vladimir, September 23, 2010.

Grigory Yavlinsky, economist and politician of 1990s with the highest reputation arrived to the Vladimir region. Yavlinsky was Vice-Premier of the Soviet government, deputy of the State Duma of three convocations and former leader of the democratic YABLOKO party. The programme of Yavlinsky’s official visit Yavlinsky is very tense: a meeting with the Governor of the region, negotiations with the heads of the Electrocable plant in Kolchugino, a lecture in the Vladimir branch of the Academy of the State Service, press conferences and numerous interviews. Such high interest to Yavlinsky is very easy to explain considering Russia’s monotonous political landscape. Any alternative professional view is in demand now by the thinking part of the Russian society. Does the opposition have chances to destroy the political monopoly of the [progovernmental] United Russia party? Why do food-stuff prices fell in the developed countries but rise in Russia? And why does the Kremlin once again issue licences for mobbing of governors? An independent evaluation by an authoritative expert on the key political and economic issues leaves no comment...

President of Russia supported YABLOKO’s amendment to the law on police

Press Release, September 27, 2010.

Past week President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev conducted a meeting for discussion of the draft federal law “On Police”. At the meeting the President also spoke on two amendments proposed by the YABLOKO party.

A special web-site created for public discussion of the draft law on police demonstrated that eight out of ten amendments proposed by YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin to the new law were in the top of the public voting rating...

Protesters demanded to abrogate the law on reform of budget supported schools and hospitals in a rally in Moscow

Press Release, September 25, 2010.

A rally of indignant parents took place at Taras Shevchenko embankment, Moscow. The participants of the rally protested against introduction of paid education and healthcare, as well as all-through commercialisation of the education sector. Activists and leaders of the YABLOKO party participated in the rally.
The changes in the federal law No 83 virtually form a legislative basis under introduction of paid education and healthcare and curbing the sphere of free services to virtually nothing, thus violating constitutional rights of the citizens to free education and healthcare.

“This law violated Article 34 of the Russian Constitution which guarantees comprehensive gratuitous education. It is targeted against modernization, as two thirds of the population will be doomed to semi-illiteracy. In contrast to President’s wishes not only they will be unable to develop new technologies, but even to realise what they are about,” YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin said at the rally...

On the political crisis in Moscow and the ways out of it

Statement by the Regional Council of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO, September 24, 2010.

The situation developing around Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov demonstrates a crisis of the political system created in Russia for the past ten years. Abolishing direct elections of heads of the regions the federal authorities have virtually eliminated the sole mechanism allowing for a legitimate change of authorities. Certainly this mechanism had its drawbacks, but it functioned nonetheless.

Transfer to virtual appointment of regional heads created a gigantic gap between the authorities and the people, undermined the legitimacy of the heads that were not elected by the citizens [but were appointed by the authorities] and shifted the responsibility for problems and failures in the regions onto the federal centre. Appointment of regional heads has already turned into an arena of under-carpet fight between different clans...

YABLOKO to invite Education Minister Andrei Fursenko to the rally of indignant parents

Press Release, September 23, 2010.

On September 24 activists of the Youth YABLOKO are going to hand to Education Minister Andrei Fursenko invitation to the rally which will be conducted by outraged parents in Moscow tomorrow. The participants of the rally protest against mass-scale dismissals of teachers all over the country planned y the Education Ministry, as well as all-through commercialisation of the education sector...

Britain, Denmark and The Netherlands pave the way for liberal government

Liberal International News Bulletin. Issue 202. September 23, 2010

LI President Hans van Baalen MEP, when explaining the political situation in The Netherlands at the Bureau Meeting in Liverpool, defended the Danish government model. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General, and current Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen proved that such a model can produce a stable government for the benefit of the country. The future Dutch cabinet under VVD leader Mark Rutte will be a coalition of VVD and the Christian Democrats receiving parliamentary support by the Party for Freedom (PVV) and on a case by case basis other parties. The new liberal-led cabinet will uphold the constitution, protect human rights and civil liberties and will fight discrimination. It will be a stable partner in the European Union and on the international scene. It will focus on rebuilding the economy. Van Baalen also praised liberal leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg for his courage to enter a coalition government with the Conservatives. “The start of the Cameron-Clegg cabinet is promising and has brought the Liberal democrats after many years back in the centre of British politics. The British cabinet is a liberal one able to engage in a constructive dialogue with the EU and a real free market approach with a social conscience.”

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The Mayor of Moscow and the Moscow City Duma give contradicting evidence in the litigation on the General Plan of Moscow Development

Press Release, September 22, 2010.

..."Today we are facing an absurd situation when everyone is interested in the fate of the Mayor of Moscow, but a document threatening with a collapse to the city in the nearest perspective remains without any attention. And only the YABLOKO party is dealing with it,” Mitrokhin noted. "Apparently the President and the other organisers of the campaign against Luzhkov do not care about the fate of the city, they are only interested in settling their personal political scores", he added.

Commission strategy on gender equality: all talk and no action?
Press Release, ALDE, September 21, 2010

Today European Commission unveiled their plans for the next five years to combat inequality between men and women in the EU. While ALDE broadly supports this strategy and welcomes all measures aimed at tackling gender imbalance, is this plan heavy on rhetoric and too light on action? Dr Antonyia Parvanova (National Movement for Stability and Progress, Bulgaria) and ALDE coordinator on the Womens Committee commented, "The European Commission is setting up an ambitious agenda, tackling gender equality in a wide range of policy areas. We particularly welcome the fact that actions addressing the existing social and economic gender gaps are being pursued, as well as the emphasis on women in top level decision-making positions but while I notice plenty of vocabulary such as "promoting", "welcoming", "reporting" and "considering", I am concerned that there is not enough concrete action being proposed". MORE

YABLOKO planted about 6,000 trees for national park Meschyera which suffered from fires

Press Release, September 21, 2010.

On September 20, YABLOKO’s activists planted about 6,000 plantlets and 40 kilograms of acorns in the fields of a plant nursery for further planting of young trees in the national park Meschyera severely affected by fires. About 40 party activists arrived to Kolionovo farm (Yegoryevsky district of the Moscow region) on the invitation of farmer Mikhail Shlyapnikov so that to help with restoration of forests in three regions that suffered from fires: Moscow, Vladimir and Ryazan regions.

“The national park will need about 70 years to restore after fires while we can considerably curb this period planting trees,” Mikhail Shlyapniokov noted. The farmers allotted 2 hectares of land under a plan nursery and YABLOKO bought plantlets of fir-trees, pines, ashes, lime trees and other trees...

YABLOKO’s activists cleaned the territory by the Baraus Lake near Chelyabinsk

Press Release, September 20, 2010.

On September 19 YABLOKO’s activists cleaned the territory by the Baraus Lake situated in the Ilmen national park in the Chelyabinsk region. Two large KAMAZ trucks took the dump from the lake. A large territory along the coast was cleaned from the dump...

Liberals succeed in Swedish elections

Press Release, ELDR, September 20, 2010

European Liberals wholeheartedly congratulate their Swedish member parties Folkpartiet Liberalerna and Centerpartiet to their results in yesterday's Swedish parliamentary elections even if their electoral alliance is short of 3 seats for an absolute majority. "Both parties showed an impressive campaign finishing", commented ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck.

Only a few weeks ago, polls still suggested a comfortable majority for the alliance of the left. However, reality proved to be different... MORE

See also:YABLOKO's Sister-Parties

Open letter to the delegates of the General Assembly of the 81st FIDE Congress

September 20, 2010.

...Election of FIDE President is to take place on September 29. The current FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the 12th World Champion Anatoly Karpov are competing for this post.

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO appeals to you so that to prevent reelection of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, one of the most disgraceful figures in Russian politics, to the post of FIDE President.

YABLOKO has always regarded Kirsan Ilyumzhinov's regime set in the Republic of Kalmykia, uncontrollably governed by Ilyumzhinov for 17 years, as one of the ugliest manifestations in Russia’s political history of the past two decades presenting a merger of authoritarian rule, corruption and crime.

Larissa Yudina, Chair of the Kalmykia regional branch of YABLOKO, paid with her life in 1998 for the fight against this regime, and Ilyumzhinov's aid was convicted for committing this murder. In our view, responsibility for this crime lies entirely with Kirsan Ilyumzhinov...

Opposition from the Republic of Mordovia demanded resignation of President of Mordovia at its rally in Moscow

Press Release, September 16, 2010.

Today, on September 16, an action against corruption in the Republic of Mordovia took place by Representation of Mordovia in Moscow. Activists of the Mordvin and the Moscow branches of the YABLOKO party and farmers from the Lyambirsky district of the republic who had suffered from raider related crimes participated in the action. The key demand of the picketers was resignation of President of Mordovia Nikolai Merkushkin, who had been leading the region for 15 years already.

“No only Mordovia failed to leave the ten of economically most backward regions of Russia, but even increased the gap with the developed regions for the years Merkushkin had been President of the republic,” Vladimir Gridin, the leader of the Mordovian YABLOKO said. However, Mordovia has been topping the list of the most corruption affected regions, he said...

The Fall Session of the Evening University opened by Alexander Daniel’d lecture “Human Rights Organisations in the USSR”

Press Release, September 15, 2010.

Head of the YABLOKO’s Evening University and First Deputy Chair of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO, Galina Mikhalyova announced another set of lectures by Memorial and a new programme – the Ecological School – which will be launched in October. The Fall Session was opened by Alexander Daniel’s lecture “Human Rights Organisations in the USSR”. (Prof.Daniel is member of the Board of the Memorial human rights society). Prof.Daniel spoke in detail about the development of human rights movement in the USSR drawing the attention of the audience to the specifics of the organisations...

Sweden:two liberal parties key players in Sunday’s election

E-Newsletter, ELDR, September 15, 2010

Parliamentary elections will be held in Sweden on 19 September. For the first time in history two coalition blocks, i.e. government alternatives, have been formed before the elections giving the voter the opportunity to choose which administration it wants for the following four years, resulting in a fierce campaign for undecided voters. The liberal influence of ELDR parties Centerpartiet and Folkpartiet could be key in determining the shape of the new government. MORE

See also:YABLOKO's Sister-Parties

Who wanted to kill journalist Mikhail Beketov

Press Release, September 14, 2010.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin continues to insist that "Governor of the Moscow region Boris Gromov bears the political responsibility for everything happening in the Moscow region, including the situation with crime, which allows [criminals] to attempt lives of public figures"...

Governor of the Moscow region Boris Gromov applied to court stating that Mitrokhin’s speech at rally on November 16, 2009, on the anniversary of the attack against Beketov. Mitrokhin’s speech appeared at YouTube and was also published at YABLOKO’s web-site. The Governor of the Moscow region demanded compensation of moral damages amounting to RUR 500,000, however, the court cut this amount to RUR 20,000 (approx. USD 670)...

Training seminar “Women on the Labour Market” held in the Vologda region

Press Release, September 13, 2010.

Training seminar within the project of the Institute of Comparative Analysis of Labour Relations “Women on the Labour Market” was held in Cherepovyetz, Vologda Region. The seminar was organised by Ludmila Ivanova, Chair of the Vologda branch of the YABLOKO party. The programme is supported by the Council for Consolidation of Women’s Movement in Russia.

The participants of the seminar (28 people in total) including representatives of independent trade unions, teachers, journalists and activists of Russian parties (YABLOKO, the CPRF and Just Russia) learned about the situation with gender discrimination on the labour market...

Turkish referendum is a step in the right direction
Press Release, ALDE, September 13, 2010

Reacting to Turkey's referendum result yesterday in support of constitutional reforms, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (FDP, Germany), spokesperson for the ALDE group on EU-Turkey accession negotiations in the foreign affairs committee said: "This is a step in the right direction on Turkey's road to democratic reform. The majority of the 26 articles of the Constitution that have been modified increase the rights of citizens v-à-v the State and limit the influence of the military over civilian rule. However Turkey must remain vigilant as regards the separation of powers between State and judiciary in order to guarantee the independence of the latter"... MORE

On the crisis of power in Moscow and the ways out of it

Statement by the Moscow regional branch of YABLOKO, September 13, 2010.

The situation developing around Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov indicates of the crisis of the political system created in Russia in the past ten years. Abolishing direct elections of regional leaders, the federal leaders have destroyed a legitimate mechanism for rotation of power. This mechanism had its drawbacks, however, it functioned.

Actual appointment of the regional leaders created a gigantic gap between the government and the people, undermined the legitimacy of the leaders who were not elected by the citizens, shifted the responsibility for problems and failures in the regions on the federal center...

Sergei Mitrokhin called to a radical change of Russia’s political course at the World Political Forum

Press Release, September 12, 2010.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin called to a radical change of Russia’s political course at the World Political Forum in Yaroslavl. "We require an anti-oligarchic project or, in other words, policies the essence of which would be a bourgeois revolution from the top,” he said. Mitrokhin proposed the following key steps that should be undertaken by the authorities so that to conduct a real modernisation of Russia...

YABLOKO paid tribute to the victims of the act of terror at Kashirskaya highway in Moscow

Press Release, September 13, 2010.

Today activists and leaders of the YABLOKO party paid tribute to the victims of the act of terror which 11 years ago took the lives of 124 residents of a block of flats at Kashirskaya highway in Moscow. YABLOKO’s activists laid flowers to the monument built in the place of a block of flats ruined by the blast. The explosion took place in the basement of an eight-storied block of flats (Kashirskoye highway 6, bldg. 3) on September 13, 1999, at 5 a.m. Due to the fact that the block of flats was built of brick, it was completely destroyed and all the residents -124 people - who were in the building were killed, seven people were injured and 119 families were affected by that tragedy.

YABLOKO paid tribute to the victims killed 11 years ago in the act of terror at Guryanova street in Moscow

Press Release, September 9, 2010.

Delegation of the Moscow branch of the YABLOKO party paid tribute to the victims of the act of terror at Guryanova street in Moscow, laying flowers to the monument in the place of a blasted block of flats. A powerful explosion completely ruined to sections of a nine-storied block of flats at Guryanova 19, Moscow, on September 8, 1999, at 11:58 p.m. A neighbouring 17-storied house was also affected. 106 people were killed and 264 injured.

YABLOKO begins collecting comments and signatures to its amendments on the draft law “On Police”

Press Release, September 10, 2010.

YABLOKO begins collecting coments and signatures from the citizens and experts to its amendments to the draft law on police with the help of a specially created web-site. The web-site will be opened for comments until September 15. YABLOKO has already prepared a package of amendments to the draft law on police which was loudly announced by the government as a more democratic law than the present.

The draft was for the first time published in the Internet for a feed-back from the public. The developers of the law had stated that one of the key goals of the draft was creation of police instead of the present “militia”. However, experts, journalists and ordinary citizens were shocked by the draft as it provided unprecedented powers to the police envisaging virtually no control over it and considerably worsening the situation for the society. According to some experts, the law will turn the country into a large concentration camp...

On the act of terror in Vladikavkaz
Statement by YABLOKO’s Chairman, September 9, 2010.

The YABLOKO party expresses its condolence to the relatives and next-of-kin of the victims of the act of terror in Vladikavkaz. We express our support to the people of the Northern Ossetia, who unfortunately is again facing terrorists’ attack. This crime is especially cynical as it was made several days after the mourning anniversary of the act of terror in Beslan [when a whole school was taken hostages and many 334 children died].

The YABLOKO party demands immediate investigation of this crime which should be taken under control of the top officials of the country and punishment of all guilty in this crime in accordance with the law...

YABLOKO registered for election race in the Chelyabinsk region and Tomsk

Press Release, September 8, 2010.

On September 8, electoral commissions announced registration of two YABLOKO election lists – for elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Chelyabinsk region and the City Duma of Tomsk...

In the Chelyabinsk region YABLOKO’s list is topped by women – ecologist Natalya Mironova and human rights activist Fatima Kobzhasarova. The campaign will focus on environmental problems that are very urgent in this region and women’s rights. YABLOKO’s campaign in Tomsk will lay emphasis on fight against corruption – one of the most acute problems of the city.

YABLOKO made parliaments of Mordovia and Karachayevo-Cherkessia publish draft laws

Press Release, September 7, 2010.

Public Prosecutors of Mordovia and Karachayevo-Cherkessia submitted their orders to the parliaments of these republics requiring them to eliminate violations of the law "On Ensuring Public Access to Information About the Activities of State Bodies". From now on the parliaments of the republics are obliged to publish draft laws at their official websites.

In July, the Yabloko party forwarded to the Public Prosecutor General a list of the 29 regions violating the federal law, which from this year requires from the legislative assemblies to publish the draft laws in the Internet. YABLOKO’s activists say that publication of draft laws "is important for public control over the laws to be adopted"...

Public organisations concerned about lack of anti-corruption measures of the Investigation Committee

Press Release, September 7, 2010.

The Council of Public Organisations of the Klin District, Moscow region, where YABLOKO participates conducted picketing by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Klin under the slogan “Three years of work of the Investigation Committee – and where are the results in fight against corruption?” Members of the public organisations expressed their disappointment with the performance of the head of the Investigation Committee in Klin Roman Dyachkovsky...

YABLOKO conducted a picket in support of deputy of the Tula City Duma

Press Release, September 7, 2010.

YABLOKO conducted a picket by representation of the Tula region in Moscow in support of deputy of the Tula City Duma from the YABLOKO party Vladimir Timakov. A criminal case was filed against Timakov for his criticism of the Governor of the Tula region Vyacheslav Dudka (“The Governor is responsible for the rise of corruption in the region”). It should be noted that, in accordance with Russian law, libel cases may be filed either within the criminal or the civil process. However, all the recent cases against journalists or dissenting people who dared to criticize the officials were raised within criminal process...

Vladimir Timakov is the only politician in the Tula region who dared to criticize the Governor. Timakov laid the blame for record high corruption in the region on Governor Dudka.

Timakov was already found guilty in two civil trials. He was also fined RUR 1.5 mln (approx. USD 500,000) for the moral damage to the Governor. The possessions in the flat where Timakov’s family lives (he has several children) is sequestered for the debt. The list of such property includes a fridge, a washing machine, books, icons, children’s furniture. Timakov also faces up to three years of imprisonment.

ALDE: We need a European Policy for Roma Integration
Press Release, ALDE, September 7, 2010

"France is profiting from Europe's most vulnerable population (the Roma), by paying €300 per adult, and €100 per child for them to leave the French territory. Thus, the French government, on the pretence that the repatriation is voluntary, has convinced itself that buying off the Roma´s conscience is a humanitarian act. It is regrettable that in 2010 the country which is the birthplace of human rights, has stooped to such methods" said Renate WEBER (PNL, Romania), ALDE coordinator for the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Internal Affairs (LIBE) during a debate on the Roma situation in the EU. She added: "This type of behaviour was already used two years ago by Italy while the then European Commission preferred to shut its eyes. This is why the European Commission carries part of the responsibility for this wave of deportation of Europe's Roma. It is time to create a strategy for the inclusion of Roma with the shared participation and responsibility of the Commission and of the 27 Member States"... MORE

Grigory Yavlinsky will be the guest of the Real Time programme at the Finam FM radio

Press Release, September 7, 2010.

Member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee and founder of the party Dr. Grigory Yavlinsky will be the guest of the Real Time programme at the Finam FM radio. The topic of the programme is “Political Liberties and Economic Modernisation. Why the Former Requires the Latter?” Broadcasting begins at 19:05 (MSK).

Bundestag members visited YABLOKO’s office

Press Release, September 6, 2010.

On September 6 YABLOKO received the delegation of the German Free Democratic Party (Freie Demokratische Partei, FDP) in YABLOKO’s Moscow office. The FDP delegation included Bundestag members Dr.Reiner Stinner, Marina Schuster, Dr. Bijan Djir-Sarai and Patrick Kurth, staff members of the FDP parliamentary faction, Director of the Moscow Bureau of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Sasha Tamm and staff members of the German Embassy. FDP together with the Christian Democrats forms a coalition German federal government. FDP leader Guido Westerwelle is currently German Foreign Minister...

Presentation of the book “Yuri Schekochikhin. Three Epochs of Russian Journalism” took place in Moscow

Press Release, September 6, 2010.

The Faculty of Journalism of the Moscow State University (MGU) and the Russian Journalists’ Union invite you to the presentation of the book “Yuri Schekochikhin. Three Epochs of Russian Journalism” (by Mediamir publishing house). The presentation will take place in the Marble Hall of the Central House of Journalist on Friday, September 3, at 5 p.m.

Yuri Schekochikhin, member of the YABLOKO party and MP, was one of the pillars of Russia’s investigative journalism. He was murdered in 2003...

YABLOKO presented its books at the Moscow International Book Fair

Press Release, September 4, 2010.

On September 4 YABLOKO presented its books at the 23rd Moscow International Book Fair.

Member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, head of the International Security Centre under the Institute of World Economy and International Relations with the Russian Academy of Sciences, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexei Arbatov presented his book The Equation of Security devoted to Russia’s international policies and security issues.

Member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, member of the first Russian parliament and one of the authors of the Russian Constitution Viktor Sheinis presents his works: a two-volume book “The UP and Down of the Parliament”, as well as a number of booklets on the urgent issues of modern Russian history...

Presentation of the book “Yuri Schekochikhin. Three Epochs of Russian Journalism”

Press Release, September 3, 2010.

The Faculty of Journalism of the Moscow State University (MGU) and the Russian Journalists’ Union invite you to the presentation of the book “Yuri Schekochikhin. Three Epochs of Russian Journalism” (by Mediamir publishing house). The presentation will take place in the Marble Hall of the Central House of Journalist on Friday, September 3, at 5 p.m.

Yuri Schekochikhin, member of the YABLOKO party and MP, was one of the pillars of Russia’s investigative journalism. He was murdered in 2003.

The book contains collection of Yuri Schekochikhin’s articles from Komsomolskaya Pravda (1970s), Literatunaya gazeta (1980s and early 1990s) and Novaya Gazeta (1996-2003). The book will be presented by a legend of Russian journalism, President of the Journalist Faculty of the Moscow State University Yasen Zasursky and Chair of the Journalists’ Union Vsevolod Bogdanov.YABLOKO’s Chair Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO’s founder and member of Political Committee Grigory Yavlinsky, and Executive Secretary of YABLOKO’s Political Committee Galina Mikhaloyva will participate in the presentation.
Address: Arbatskaya metro station, Nikitsky Boulvard 8A

Mitrokhin wins over Zhirinovsky in the debates

Press Release, September 3, 2010.

According to the votings of the views, Sergei Mitrokhin won over Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of the LDPR party, in the television debates at the Russia-1 channel. The debates were devoted to the growth of food prices in Russia. In the Moscow region 27,200 viewers voted for YABLOKO’s leader, and 16,500 for Vladimir Zhirinovsky. The voting was held via telephone calls and sms.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky proposed to freeze price on all the socially important food-stuffs.
However, YABLOKO’s viewpoint won over: Mitrokhin insisted that market methods should be applied when combating price growth. Such methods include interventions from the Grain Fund and organisation of grain exchanges at electronic platforms which will be free from mediators...

YABLOKO paid tribute to the victims of the act of terror in Beslan school

Press Release, September 3, 2010.

On September 3 the delegation of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO participated in the memory action of the tragedy of hostages in Beslan school No 1, North Ossetia. The delegation was led by YABLOKO’s Chair Sergei Mitrokhin.
Six years ago on September 1, terrorists seized school No 1 in Beslan, North Ossetia, with all schoolchildren, teachers and parents present at the ceremony of the beginning of the school year. The act of terror took the lives of 330 people (including 186 children). Over 700 people were injured.
The action took place by the memorial for the victims of the tragedy in Moscow by the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin in Kulishki. A minute of silence will be held at 1.05 p.m., when six years ago the first explosion in the school No 1 in Beslan, took place. After the minute of silence the delegation laid flowers to the memorial and launched in the air 334 white balloons in memory of the 334 children killed...

YABLOKO participates in the 23rd Moscow International Book Fair

Press Release, September 2, 2010.

The YABLOKO party participates in the 23rd Moscow International Book Fair which opened in Moscow (The All-Russia Exhibition Centre, Pavilion No 75, stand F58) on September 1. All the visitors interested in politics, economics, human rights, defence policies, protection of environment, etc. can get books by founder of the party Dr.Grigory Yavlinsky, members of Political Committee corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexei Arbatov and Alexei Yablokov, Viktor Sheinis and other YABLOKO’s leaders...

The authors will be available for communication with the readers at the stand throughout all the book fair days. Presentation of all YABLOKO’s books will take place on Saturday September 4, the authors will sign the books and answer the questions. “We pay great attention to our publishing programmes, as our voters and advocates are all keen readers,” noted Sergei Mitrokhin.

YABLOKO to pay tribute to the victims of the act of terror in Beslan school

Press Release, September 2, 2010.

On September 3 (at 1 p.m.) the delegation of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO will lay flowers to the memorial of victims of the Beslan tragedy.

Six years ago on September 1, terrorists seized school No 1 in Beslan, North Ossetia, with all schoolchildren, teachers and parents present at the ceremony of the beginning of the school year. The act of terror took the lives of 330 people (including 186 children). Over 700 people were injured.

A minute of silence will be held at 1.05 p.m., when six years ago the first explosion in the school No 1 in Beslan, took place. After the minute of silence 330 air balloons will be launched in the air in memory of the victims.
The ceremony will take place at the address: Moscow, Solyanka 5/2.

YABLOKO proposes to reduce food-stuffs prices in Russia via grain exchanges and interventions

Press Release, September 2, 2010.

“To prevent growth of prices on bread, cereals and some other basic food-stuffs it is necessary to urgently create grain exchanges, where only grain and grain products producers will get the right to register,” such a statement was made by YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin to journalists earlier today. “This will prevent boosting of prices by a chain of intermediaries, speculators and one-day firms, that have been parasiting on the agrarian sector,” Mitrokhin noted. According to YABLOKO’s leader, creation of grain exchanges will not involve any expenditures from the federal budget, as “trades can take place at electronic trading platforms organised by the Federal Anti-Monopoly Agency”.

“Also today the state has a possibility to restrain price growth by means of grain interventions from the Grain Fund reserves, whereas part of these reserves can be sold via exchanges.” “Application of these two methods will lead to reduction of the growth of prices on agricultural products in a very short term,” Mitrokhin said...

The Chelyabinsk branch of YABLOKO submitted voters’ signatures for registration in the regional election campaign

Press Release, August 30, 2010.

The Chelyabinsk branch of YABLOKO submitted 15,000 voters’ signatures for registration in election campaign to the legislative assembly of the Chelyabinsk region. The Electoral Commission will have to adopt a decision on registration of the party in the elections within 10 days.

In this campaign YABLOKO plans to focus on the environment, which is one of the most acute problems in the Southern Urals. YABLOKO’s list is topped by a well-known ecologist Natalya Mironova. The second slogan of the campaign is “Politics is Women’s Business!” This human rights issue is led by human rights Activist Farima Kobzhasarova...

Proteste gegen Atommülltransport vor deutscher Botschaft in Moskau
Von Manfred Quiring

Die Welt, 25.08.10

Moskau - Mit Gasmasken und Transparenten haben Demonstranten der oppositionellen liberalen Jabloko-Partei am Dienstag vor der deutschen Botschaft gegen die Einfuhr von deutschem Atommüll nach Russland protestiert. Sie wollen die radioaktiven Abfälle, die aus dem Rückbau des einstigen DDR-Forschungsreaktors in Rossendorf bei Dresden stammen, nicht in das Land hineinlassen. In der Region im Ural, wohin der Transport gehen soll, würden die Menschen ohnehin bereits unter extrem hoher Strahlenbelastung leiden, sagte Parteichef Sergej Mitrochin auf der von der Miliz scharf bewachten Veranstaltung. Das sei die Folge einer verbrecherischen Atompolitik Moskaus...

The original

YABLOKO provided aid to children’s orphanage affected by fires in the Moscow region

Press Release, August 30, 2010.

This summer Byvalino village, Moscow region, was severely damaged by fire. All the buildings by Saint Martyr Nikita Temple burnt down: children’s school by the temple, canteen, archive, sewing shops and prior’s cell. YABLOKO collected money for aid for the victims of fires throughout August. It was decided that part of these funds should go on the purchase of sporting clothes and school supplies for the sunday school, which lost virtually everything during fire: pupils’ private belongings, school supplies, toys and books...