The Yabloko faction will not participate in the vote of no-confidence to the Cabinet scheduled for March 14 2001 in the State Duma.

Such a decision was adopted at a meeting of the Yabloko faction on March 13, 2001.

During the meeting it was noted that the actions of the Unity faction had transformed all the developments on the no-confidence vote into a political farce, which has nothing in common with normal politics.

Regarding Mikhail Kasyanov’s government, the Yabloko faction sticks to the position that it announced previously, which implies assessment of the real work of the government rather than backstage intrigues.

The position of the faction over the resignation of the Cabinet depends on readiness of the Cabinet to undertake definite steps in support of Yabloko’s proposals. These proposals refer to vital issues for the country, such as military reform, improvements to the investment climate, amendments to the Criminal Code and the law on the Public Prosecutor’s Office, urgent measures in support of small and medium-sized business, its protection from bureaucracy’s arbitrary rule, consolidation of the local government base and termination of pressure on independent mass media.

If the government continues to be lackadaisical in the resolution of the aforementioned problems, the Yabloko faction reserves the right to submit a motion of no-confidence in the Cabinet.

See also:

Russian Duma Rejects Government No-Confidence Motion
By Ron Popeski, Reuters, March 14, 2001

Putin Faces Cabinet Upheaval
St Petersburg Times, #650, Tuesday, March 6, 2001

Declaration on attitude to the Government of Mikhail Kasyanov
The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, The State Duma of the Russian Federation, The Yabloko faction, February 20, 2001