Yeltsin was an ill … tsar; Putin is a young tsarevich

Sergei Ivanenko is coordinator of the Yabloko faction in the State Duma and right-hand-man to the party's leader, Grigory Yavlinsky.

Ivanenko was a member of the Russian delegation at the recent Council of Europe session that voted to suspend Russia’s membership, but unlike the majority of the delegation, he did not protest the council’s decision. A subsequent resolution passed by the State Duma lower house of parliament confirmed the delegation's majority stance.

Sergei Ivanenko told The Russia Journal about the Yabloko faction’s position on this issue, the faction’s plans and his personal views on Russian politics.

RJ: As one of the leaders of the Russian delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, how do you view the Duma’s statement?