Press Release, 1.07.2016

The election campaign of the YABOKO party in the State Duma elections will be tough and constructive, said YABLOKO Chair Emilia Slabunova opening the party’s pre-election congress. Constructive proposals, rather than [well-known] criticism will be core of the campaign, she noted.

The situation in the country is characterized by deepening of the systemic crisis, and the government has neither strategy, nor political will to overcome it. YABLOKO as a party offering an alternative for Russia set a goal to win in the campaign – create a faction in the State Duma and regional parliaments, Emilia Slabunova said.

According to Slabunova, the principal distinguishing feature of the party’s election programme is that YABLOKO is a “party of peace”.

Inadequate foreign policy stance of the Russian government became the main cause of the economic crisis and impoverishment of the population in Russia. The fact that the economy of the country had been for so long searching for the “bottom” of the crisis, was the main proof of that, Slabunova stressed.

Slabunova also noted that Russia needed a different foreign policy based on dialogue, mutual cooperation, respect, constructive work together to solve global problems.

She also stressed that YABLOKO was against Russia’s interference in the domestic affairs of Ukraine, against the fact that the Russians “disguised as military” [according to the Defence Minsitry] were killed and died in Ukraine. “Ukrainians is the brotherly people,” she said. The overall objective of our nations is constructive integration into common European space.

Violation of international obligations by the Russian authorities during the annexation of Crimea undermined the credibility of Russia by the international community and led to sharp deterioration in living standards. “Escalation of conflict must be prevented,” Slabunova said.

Emilia Slabunova also worded the party stance on Crimea: “It is necessary to convene and hold an international conference on Crimea with participation of Russia, Ukraine and the leading European countries, that will become the guarantors of the decisions taken”.

Slabunova stressed another distinctive feature of the upcoming campaign: “YABLOKO is the Party of the European choice for Russia”.

“The European trajectory for Russia means entry into the European community, development of democracy and strict anti-corruption laws. This means also a minimum of officials, real local self-government and independent courts. The country without poor and oligarchs. All this is the European trajectory of development “, Slabunova said.

She also noted that the party is against the so-called “Russia’s special way of development”. “In this “special” way of development we see growing corruption, millions of people living without gas, water supply, sanitation, living in shabby housing, “optimization” of schools, hospitals, and culture – this is a dangerous way, like Russian roads. There is no “special” way separate from the general trajectory of the development of our civilization. It is this road which demonstrates respect for a human,” YABLOKO Chair said.