The New Course. What Yabloko supports and opposes. Theses by Grigory Yavlinsky
Moskovskiye Novosti, June 20, 2001
A law allowing for the import of nuclear waste was adopted recently. In view of this fact the newspapers and TV stations have been discussing the issue as to whether our legislative authorities are completely subordinate to the executive authorities. But the issue is far more serious. This is not simply an episode when the State Duma has completely fulfilled the will of the government. The adoption of this law provides a striking example of the nature of relations between the authorities and the people. They have remained virtually unchanged for the past 15 years. The government and the deputies of almost all the factions, except for Yabloko, openly declared and insisted that the opinion of 90 per cent of the people was not important. The people "do not understand where their happiness lies".

One Day in the Lower House
By Ivan Rodin, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, June 22, 2001
The Duma approved the law on political parties at its third reading; it will now be submitted to the Federation Council. However, it is not ruled out that the Federation Council may reject it: then this law would have to be reconsidered by the lower house. The Duma would have to continue working on this law together with the upper house, as only 238 deputies voted for it, whereas at least 300 votes are required to override a Federation Council veto.

Who tells Duma members how to vote?
By Irina Ivanova, Zhizn (Moskovskie Vedomosti), June 20, 2001, p. 4
There are special people in each Deputy faction who signal to the rest how to vote in a particular way. The job of a Duma faction's coordinator implies organising a coordinated vote for or against a particular issue. The existence of this function became especially obvious during the heated debates over the law on importing nuclear waste into Russia, when the faction leaders called on their coordinators to be especially attentive and give deputies clear instructions on how to vote.

Fists fly as Duma approves land bill
By Yevgenia Borisova, The Moscow Times, June 18, 2001, p. 1
The State Duma passed the Land Code in an emotionally charged first reading Friday that saw lawmakers chant, come to blows and whole factions march out en masse. The Duma voted 251-22 with three abstentions in favor of the Kremlin-backed code, which would allow the sale of commercial land and plots in cities and villages to Russians and foreigners. The sale of agricultural land is not provided for in the code and will be dealt with in a separate law. The legislation must pass two more readings in the Duma and then be approved by the Federation Council before it can be sent to President Vladimir Putin to be signed into law.

More than just rhetoric
By Vladimir Kovalyev,The Moscow Times, June 18, 2001, p. 10
The first national Yabloko Party Congress in St. Petersburg last weekend surprised many who think the only thing that party does is criticize the present administration.

Duma approves nuclear fuel imports
The Moscow Times, June 7, 2001, p. 1
The State Duma gave final approval in 20 minutes Wednesday to legislation opening Russia to imports of spent nuclear fuel, a project environmentalists say will turn the country into a nuclear dump.

Crown Prince Phillipe of Belgium and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to meet Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Ivanov, Speaker of the State Duma Gennady Seleznyov, as well as prominent politicians Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Nemtsov and Grigory Yavlinsky
RIA "Novosti", June 17, 2001
The Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium and Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs Ms. Annemie Neyts-Uytterbroeck begin on Sunday their visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg at the head of the Belgian economic mission. The visit is scheduled to last until June 21.

Union of Right-Wing Forces is left without force
By Alexander Ivanov Noviye Izvestia, June 8, 2001, p. 1
The Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) has finally become a political party. Only a week has passed, and the right is already facing the hard facts of life. Chanting "You are right!" is not going to suffice anymore. Voters have to be offered what is called "real accomplishments" in official terms.

Russia needs new liberal democratic reforms
strana.ru, June 9, 2001
Yabloko advocates the development of a new liberal democratic course of reforms in Russia, Yabloko party and parliamentary faction leader Grigory Yavlinsky told a meeting of party activists representing it in legislative and executive bodies in St. Petersburg on June 9.

Nuclear Energy Ministry Gets the Green Light
By Ivan Rodin, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, June 7, 2001, p. 3
In yesterday's vote, the Duma approved the Nuclear Energy Ministry's plans to import spent nuclear fuel for reprocessing and temporary storage in return for some money, although no one can say exactly how much. Advocates of the project say that reprocessing the heat rods from nuclear reactors could earn Russia about $20 billion. The money will be made available to Russia over 20 years, but not all of this amount will be spent on environmental programmes. Some money will have to be spent on building the required infrastructure. Again, no one can say exactly how much money will be spent on building reprocessing and storage facilities.

Yabloko to initiate referendum on expended nuclear fuel imports
RosBusinessConsulting, June 6, 2001
The Yabloko movement is going to initiate a referendum on the import of expended nuclear fuel to Russia, Yabloko leader Gregory Yavlinsky announced in an interview today after the State Duma approved bills on expended nuclear fuel imports on the third reading...

Russian lower house of parliament passes bills to import nuclear waste
Associated Press, June 6, 2001
Russia's lower house of parliament on Wednesday quickly approved a controversial proposal that would permit the import of other countries' nuclear waste for reprocessing.

Nuclear Waste: Update
Vremya MN, June 4, 2001, p. 3
The ongoing war over the amendments to the current nuclear energy legislation that would permit the import of spent nuclear fuel into Russia entered another phase yesterday. Yabloko leader Grigory Yavlinsky and Nuclear Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev answered questions posed by pedestrians on Novy Arbat Street.

Lieutenant-Colonel Konstantinov’s Law
By Elena Afanasyeva, Novaya Gazeta, June 4, 2001
On May 31, 2001, a military helicopter was shot down off Ingushetia. Deputies of the State Duma, Alexei Arbatov (Yabloko) and Evgeny Zelyenov (Regions of Russia Group) on board the helicopter. They were returning from a working trip to Chechnya.

Cynicism is a Form of Foolishness
Grigory Yavlinsky, Novaya Gazeta, May 28, 2001
The public gathering in Moscow on the 80th anniversary of Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov was marked by nostalgic and sentimental tunes. This is not surprising, as it was organised by the people who are still unable to comprehend why Acad. Sakharov's ideas have not prevailed in Russian society. They still speculate on the similarities between Yeltsin and Sakharov. Only Grigory Yavlinsky spoke about Sakharov as a man whose moral presence in politics is necessary today. Specially for Novaya Gazeta - extracts from his speech.

Rusia es una democracia de imitacion
El Pais, 29 de mayo de 2001
Grigori Yavlinski es el mas europeista de los politicos rusos y un ardiente defensor de la economia de mercado. El lider del bloque liberal Yabloko (Manzana) cree que la democracia rusa es hoy mas formal que real, y que el presidente Vladimir Putin ha puesto el pais en manos de un reducido grupo de empresarios, militares y miembros de los servicios de seguridad. De visita en Madrid invitado por el Insituto de Empresa, Yavlinski (Lvov, Ucrania, 1952) se entrevisto ayer con el presidente del Gobierno, Jose Maria Aznar.