Press Release, 19.03.2017

“We can elect a wise, witty, cheerful and kind man as President of Russia. And the nature of the entire power in Russia depends on the nature of the President in our state,” Alexander Gnezdilov, Deputy Chairman of YABLOKO, said speaking of Grigory Yavlinsky’s candidacy on the second day of the Federal Council. Today, the most representative body of the party is discussing the forthcoming presidential campaign.

According to Gnezdilov, the approach of Grigory Yavlinsky for Russia in 2018 bases on two fundamental principles: protection of the life of every person and freedom as the foundation for creativity in different fields. These two principles explain the stance of YABLOKO candidate on all the most pressing issues – from budget priorities and anti-crisis economic strategies to attitudes towards the wars in Syria and Ukraine.

Now, when the main agenda for many people, despite all the efforts of television and radio, is the economic crisis, inflation, dropping incomes and rising number of poor people, the state needs as President an authoritative economist with international recognition, Gnezdilov stressed.

Gnezdilov also added that “respect in the world, moral authority, confirmed by the highest award of Liberal International – the Prize for Freedom, will allow Yavlinsky as President to effectively resolve the crisis in relations between the Kremlin and the West, as he resolved the conflict between the State Duma and President Yeltsin in September 1998 by proposing a compromise figure of Yevgeny Primakov for the post of head of government”.

“Grigory Yavlinsky has a vision of the problems and challenges of for the present period and the next decades,” Gnezdilov said. This vision is necessary for the presidency in a situation where the slate revolution and renewable energy sources make Russian economic system even more inefficient, as this system bases on exports of natural resources, rather than human capital.

According to Gnezdilov, if YABLOKO’s candidate decides to refrain from participation in presidential elections, the competitors will be only happy, “if he leaves the voters to Putin”. Shall we bring them such joy? No! ” Gnezdilov said.

Speaking about the reasons for the party’s participation in the presidential elections 2018, Gnezdilov cited famous Russian pet Alexander Pushkin: “And long the people yet will honour me

Because my lyre was tuned to loving-kindness And, in a cruel Age, I sang of Liberty And mercy begged of Justice in her blindness.”