Press release, 08.08.2016

A new YABLOKO – this is how Grigory Yavlinsky called the democratic coalition, which was formed on the basis of the party list of candidates to the State Duma. Very different people, who have a shared vision of the perspectives, the future of our country, shared principles and ideals, entered the coalition, the politician stressed.

At the moment a press conference of the leaders of the party candidates for the elections to the State Duma, dedicated to the start of the election campaign, is taking place at the press centre of Interfax. Last week the Central election Commission registered the list of candidates from the YABLOKO party to run in the elections.

“The main thing, which YABLOKO has done, is that it opened its doors to fresh faces and young people, the Russian politicians of today and tomorrow,” Grigory Yavlinsky said.

YABLOKO leader admitted that the criticism, which had been addressed to the party, was in a way just. However, he stressed, that all the things of which YABLOKO had been accused were left behind. “We “changed YABLOKO”, but we remain committed to the main thing – within 25 years of our activity we have told no lies to our voters, we did not participate in political intrigues and corrupted transactions, we did not make shameful and useless compromises, that is why they said we were difficult to deal with. YABLOKO paid a great price for it – journalists Larisa Yudina and Yuri Shchekochikhin, human rights defender Farid Babayev, who were members of YABLOKO, were murdered.”

“We kept our dignity and self-respect and due to this we could invite such politicians as Vladimir Ryzhkov, Dmitry Gudkov, Andrei Zayakin, Galina Shirshina, Svetlana Gannushkina and many other people to join us,” Yavlinsky stressed.

“It is not just a coalition, it is a union of people who are fighting and who will continue fighting for the future of our country. They are the people whose political activity has proved that they respect people, they respect Russia and [want our country] to have a decent future and they know how to bring it to life”.

At the press conference Grigory Yavlinsky addressed the voters asking them for their assistance and support. According to the official data alone, over 2,2 million people voted for YABLOKO in the previous election. “If everyone takes two, three or better ten people to the polling station not only we are going to win, we will change the situation in the country,” he said.