Statement by the Bureau of the Regional Council of Altai branch of Yabloko, 5.03.2020

Russia is experiencing a political crisis associated with an attempt to change the spirit and letter of the Constitution, growth of reprisals in the country, [all this] against the backdrop of ongoing foreign policy adventurism (in eastern Ukraine and Syria) and stagnation in the economy. The social consequences of this are most noticeable in the regions subsidized from the state budget, such as the Altai Territory, where real incomes of the population have been falling for the seventh year.

The increase in prices and tariffs for housing and utility services, introduction of fees for [future] capital repairs [of blocks of flats], and growth of consumer prices contribute to the impoverishment of citizens.

The [so-called] “optimisation” held in the health care, education and culture sectors of the region led to a drop in the quality of life and human capital, a continuing outflow of the population from the Altai Territory.

The so-called opposition parliamentary parties (the Communist Party, the Just Russia and LDPR) support the ruling party on virtually all key issues both at the federal and regional levels and, in our opinion, have become its branches.

The election campaigns of 2020–2021 can seriously change the political situation in Russia, in the Altai Territory and become crucial for the democratic forces of the Territory and the country.

We can not rule out the possibility of shifting the elections to the State Duma and the Altai Territory Legislative Assembly onto earlier dates.

The Yabloko party currently has its factions in four Legislative Assemblies, which exempts the party and its candidates from the procedure for collecting signatures in their support [a mandatory requirement to be registered in the race].

In the election to the Altai Territory Legislative Assembly in 2016, our party won more than 3 per cent of the vote, so we are exempted from collecting signatures in regional and all municipal elections in the Altai Territory.

We propose to individual civic activists and socio-political forces in the region who share democratic and liberal values, regard human rights and freedoms, the European development path for Russia as their priority, and who are ready to sign a political memorandum at the elections to the Altai Territory Legislative Assembly in 2020–2021 , representative bodies of municipalities, town councils, and the election of heads of municipalities, to be nominated by a coalition electoral association “Yabloko – United Democrats” of the Altai Territory.

The party’s regional branch is ready, when resolving issues related to the formation of the federal list of candidates and the list of candidates for single-mandate constituencies from the Yabloko party in the elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation, to consider at its regional conference all the candidacies proposed by the coalition along with party members and propose to the party congress to include the most deserving candidates into the federal party list and list of candidates for single-mandate constituencies.

We realise that elections in our country are dishonest, however, today there is no other way to change the power in the country, at the regional and municipal levels inclusive.

All of us – politicians, public activists and caring citizens – are responsible for the future of the country, the Altai Territory, our cities and villages!

We announce a democratic conscription for the future coalition electoral association “Yabloko  – United Democrats” of the Altai Territory.