The leader of YABLOKO Grigory Yavlinsky thinks that Russia is experiencing its most severe crisis - "the crisis of lagging behind" - manifested in the quality of life, freedoms and liberties, as well as the state building and its directions.

In a speech at the party Congress on Saturday, September 6, 2003, devoted to analysis of the political and economic situation in the country, Yavlinsky stated that "our economy demonstrates the traits of a serious systemic crisis, which has come to light together with the positive macroeconomic trends."

According to YABLOKO's leader, there are "six serious problems" intrinsic in this "systemic crisis".

"First, Russia has no independent judiciary or independent law-enforcement system in general. In addition, all the levels of authority lack independent legislators who would express the will of the citizens, rather than the interests of administrative structures," said Yavlinsky.

He also noted that Russia "does not have a politically independent and, at the same time, nationally important mass media," television, first of all.

"The absence of civil and external parliamentary control over the secret services and law-enforcement agencies is becoming a key problem for the country," stressed Yavlinsky.

He also thinks that elections at different levels today are under "great pressure from the administrative resource."

He added: "Another important feature of the "systemic crisis" is that Russia is facing an organic merger of business and government, which prevents Russia from creating a real political and economic competition. YABLOKO defines all these traits as periphery capitalism, a system of lagging behind."

293 delegates representing 74 regional branches of YABLOKO, i.e. 66,000 party members, participated in the 11th YABLOKO Congress.

Consequently Yavlinsky noted that the tenfold growth in the party over the past two years was one of YABLOKO's key achievements, " Today the party brings together 66,000 people. YABLOKO is represented by over 1,000 structural divisions in different cities and regions of Russia."

Yavlinsky also analysed the political spectrum of Russian society and sub-divided it into several main groups.

The first group comprises "communists and different kinds of 'nationalist patriots." He added: "Their actions are directly linked to the nationalist and fascist threat."

The second group - the right-wing and extreme right-wing represents, according to Yavlinsky, a narrow group of individuals, lobbying the interests of big business. "The social base of this force comprises representatives from large monopolies who "reject the values of freedom, human rights and real democracy."

He added that the third group was represented by the party of power, which is preoccupied with maintaining the present state of affairs.

He then spoke about democrats: "The democrats stand for a civilized political and economic system in the country based on human rights and freedoms and respect for individuals. YABLOKO is one of the main structures in this [part] of the social spectrum."

Yavlinsky also noted that the country was at a crossroads: there was a danger that Russia might turn into a state where power and property would be controlled by a small group of individuals, the country would be subject to arbitrary rule and chaos and its citizens would be mired in poverty.

"We aim to dismantle carefully, but persistently and toughly this system of periphery capitalism, which has developed in Russia before it is too late," added Yavlinsky.

He also noted that YABLOKO stands for a legal separation of government and business, adding that YABLOKO had drawn up a package of draft laws "setting a clear framework for participation of business in politics and protection of political power - both the government, parliament and political parties - from the aggression of large business."

He added that this package included draft laws regulating the system of parliamentary lobbyism. He stressed that YABLOKO advocated legalisation of capital, in a reference to the period of 1993-1999 and an economic amnesty.

According to Yavlinsky, corresponding draft laws are also being prepared by YABLOKO to prevent the administrative re-distribution of property. "We should draw a line on the time of troubles and instability."

Based on Interfax reports.

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