Press release, 09.08.2017
The Barnaul branch of Yabloko collected over 3,500 signatures as part of the Time to Return Home campaign aimed at Russia’s withdrawal from military conflicts and allotment of federal budget funds to Russia’s domestic development.

Yabloko activists handed out leaflet showing how the Altai Territoty could have disposed of the 100 billion roubles spent on Russia’s military operation in Syria.

These funds could have been allotted to repair all roads in Barnaul for 9.8 billion roubles; to double the salaries of school and nursery teachers for 5,77 billion roubles a year; to improve the housing conditions of 82,000 families for 86,8 billion roubles; to pay child allowance of 10,000 roubles to all families that have children under 16 years of age for 14 billion roubles.

“When you begin talking to people it becomes obvious that they have some misunderstanding. What are we doing in Syria, why do we spend money on this? Why don’t we spend it on something else? They told us that this way we are going to fight terrorism but, as a result, terrorism came to us,” Alexander Goncharenko, Chair of the Altai branch of Yabloko, said.

Yabloko conducted the Time to Return Home campaign in the central streets and squares of 50 cities in 40 regions of the country. Over 50,000 signatures have already been obtained despite the active pressure on behalf the authorities in a number of regions.

Yabloko plans to collect at least 100,000 signatures. According to Yabloko leaders, such a result will be a serious proof that a significant part of the Russian society stands against the expensive and useless military adventure of the government.