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Today, when the number of candidates for the 2004 presidential elections
has been determined, the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO once again confirms
its political position developed by the 12th Congress of YABLOKO:
1. The Russian election system has been transformed into a farce. Key
components of the democratic election system are missing: an independent
mass media, independent financing and independent courts. The YABLOKO
party has been robbed of its lawful representation in the State Duma, and we
shall contest in court the official results of the elections of December
7, 2003. In the present situation we adopted, as is already well-known,
a decision not to propose a YABLOKO candidate for the presidential elections,
as we have no intention of participating in another political imitation
[of elections].
2. We don't support the candidacy of Vladimir Putin for RF President.
We believe that no steps were taken over the past four years to extricate
the country from the deadlock oligarchic quasi-capitalism or resolve the
key problems in education, security and the armed forces. The socio-demographic
characteristics of the country have been continuously deteriorating. The
arbitrary rule of the authorities and police has intensified and aspects
of totalitarianism have been revived in Russia. The fake fight with the
oligarchy has led to increasing authoritarian trends demonstrated by the
executive authorities and the potential creation of omnipotent oligarchic
rule by bureaucracy and the law and enforcement agencies in the country.
3. The range of possible participants in the presidential race is not
homogeneous. It contains clear-cut farcical characters created by the
dormant minds of the Kremlin puppeteers. In our opinion an election campaign
conducted under the dictat of political adventurists is also very dangerous
for the country. Some politicians may be hoping to make their position
known to the public. However, we think that they will lose their illusions
during
the election campaign.
Comments by Grigory Yavlinsky:
The present developments are such that the YABLOKO party should not participate
in the presidential elections. It is impossible to conduct an independent
and free election campaign today.
The political opposition can participate in the elections only provided
three mandatory and necessary conditions are observed.
The first condition: independent juridical system where you can seek
justice: in particular this also concerns the development of the election
campaign and counting of the votes.
The second condition: independent mass media, which will transmit your
point of view to the public.
The third condition: independent sources of [parties'] financing.
Otherwise we cannot speak about elections as such. Today a presidential
candidate cannot obtain either financing or appear on TV or win a legal
suit without the permission of the Presidential Administration.
Certainly, one can become a decorative candidate and get a certain amount
of money, obtain permission to appear on TV and collect signatures [in
his support], as well as administrative resource for this, which will
be "drawn" in the corresponding place: But we cannot be a decoration,
we cannot insult the party and millions of voters.
A negative and tough reaction will follow our decision not to participate
in the presidential elections, as thus we are impeding the rapid development
of the Potyomkin village in Russia.
See also:
12th Congress
of YABLOKO
Presidential elections 2004
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