Press release, 15.12.2018

“Yabloko should become the party of the real future of Russia: the party of peace, moral choice and values,” Grigory Yavlinsky, Chair of Yabloko Federal Political Committee, said at the meeting of the Federal Council of the Yabloko party.

“It is our responsibility. Our mission is the moral and professional choice in politics. It is crucial that people trust us,” he added.

It is also important to have the real situation in the country in mind to prevent a gap between the real state of affairs and our vision of the future.

“We are creating practical principles for a new national elite. Call it the new aristocracy if you wish. The main features [of this elite] are not ranks or money but professionalism and the way they treat people,” Yavlinsky said.

Commenting on the ideology of the Yabloko party, the politician explain that the essence of this ideology is to “rationally combine traditions, reforms, liberty and justice”.

According to Yavlinsky, Yabloko’s strategy is “the priority of value softer short-term interests, reforms for the majority, winning trust of the majority and regaining the legacy of the historical Russia”.

The foundation of the policy of the party is “denying violence in politics, prioritising professionalism, reputation and education”.

Grigory Yavlinsky finished his speech quoting German philosopher Max Weber who said that a man in politics should reached out for the impossible as it is the only way to define what is possible.

Yavlinsky also shared his opinion on the political situation in the country and Russia’s role in global politics.

Yabloko Chair Emilia Slabunova made a speech on the main aspects of the reform of the party.

Grigory Yavlinsky is Chairman of the Federal Political Committee of the YABLOKO Party, Vice-President of Liberal International. Doctor of Economics, Professor of the National Research University “Higher School of Economics”.