The Yabloko faction thinks that: "the leadership of Russia is turning the country back to the past, regression and consequently a historic defeat" , said Grigory Yavlinsky in an interview with journalists after the adoption by the State Duma (in an open vote) of the law on the Russian National Anthem

We express our categorical protest against a form of discussion that is very symbolic, and against the adoption of Stalin's anthem, which is stained with the blood of dozens of millions of the citizens of our country,” said Yavlinsky.

The leader of Yabloko also stressed that the adoption of the state symbols represents a "sign of where our society is moving and indicates what lies in store for us in the near future." "This will shatter all the illusions about the short-term and medium-term prospects of the country," added Yavlinsky.

Yavlinsky also noted that for the first time in seven years of work of the State Duma the opposition was not allowed to express its point of view. According to Yavlinsky, the adoption of the laws on state symbols "was achieved by deception and trickery".

Yavlinsky also declared that "Presidential Administration took the side of the communists and again created an aggressively-obedient majority in the State Duma" which "was afraid of hearing arguments against the adoption of the Stalin anthem."

As a mark of protest, most of the deputies of the Yabloko and Union of Right-Wing Forces factions refused to participate in the voting on other laws on the state symbols.

The Yabloko faction will discuss with its allies a potential appeal to the Constitutional Court.

Vladimir Lukin, deputy of the Yabloko faction, forwarded to the Secretariat his note that he had voted against the law on the Russian National Anthem, and deputy of the Duma Alexei Arbatov forwarded another note where he specified that he had voted against the law on the state flag.

See also:

Yabloko and the SPS oppose restoration of the symbols of the Soviet Union

Yabloko proposes the march “Farewell of a Slavic woman” as a new hymn of Russia