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      Parliamentary Elections, 2011              Human Rights









YABLOKO's Political Platform Adopted by the 15th Congress, June 21, 2008

RUSSIA DEMANDS CHANGES! Electoral Program for 2011 Parliamentary Elections.

Key resolutions by the Congress:

On Stalinism and Bolshevism
Resolution. December 21, 2009

On Anti-Ecological Policies of Russia’s Authorities. Resolution of the 15th congress of the YABLOKO party No 253, December 24, 2009

On the Situation in the Northern Caucasus. Resolution of the 15th congress of the YABLOKO party No 252, December 24, 2009

YABLOKO's POLITICAL COMMITTEE DECISIONS:

YABLOKO’s Political Committee: Russian state acts like an irresponsible business corporation conducting anti-environmental policies

 

Overcoming bolshevism and stalinism as a key factor for Russia¦µ™s transformation in the 21st century

 

On Russia's Foreign Policies. Political Committee of hte YABLOKO party. Statement, June 26, 2009

 

On Iran’s Nuclear Problem Resolution by the Political Committee of the YABLOKO party. October 6, 2009

 

Anti-Crisis Proposals (Housing-Roads-Land) of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO. Handed to President Medvedev by Sergei Mitrokhin on June 11, 2009

Brief Outline of Sergei Mitrokhin’s Report at the State Council meeting. January 22, 2010

 

Assessment of Russia’s Present Political System and the Principles of Its Development. Brief note for the State Council meeting (January 22, 2010) by Dr.Grigory Yavlinsky, member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee. January 22, 2010

 

Address of the YABLOKO party to President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev. Political Committee of the YABLOKO party. October 9, 2009

 

The 17th Congress of YABLOKO

 

 

 

The 16th Congress of Yabloko

Photo by Sergei Loktionov

The 12th congress of Yabloko


The 11th congress of Yabloko


The 10th congress of Yabloko

THE DEMOCRATIC MANIFESTO

Moscow Yabloko
Yabloko for Students
St. Petersburg Yabloko
Khabarovsk Yabloko
Irkutsk Yabloko
Kaliningrad Yabloko(eng)
Novosibirsk Yabloko
Rostov Yabloko
Yekaterinburg Yabloko
(Sverdlovsk Region)

Krasnoyarsk Yabloko
Ulyanovsk Yabloko
Tomsk Yabloko
Tver Yabloko(eng)
Penza Yabloko
Stavropol Yabloko

Svoboda

ARU TV

Yahoo! News
about Russia

Yahoo! UK&Ireland:
Russian News

U.S. Library of Congress Country Study - Russia

The Moscow Times

The St. Petersburg Times

Russia Today

AllNews.ru

NTV.ru

Interfax

ITAR-TASS

RIA NOVOSTI

Michael Gorbachev

Embassy of the Russian Federation (USA)

Rosbusinessconsulting

The Web Site of The Norwegian Nobel Institute

 

Action of Support

 

Orphanage Zhizh, St.Petersburg, needs your support!

     

A rally in protection of small business

Press Release, May 14, 2013

On May 26, the Russian Entrepreneur’s Day, YABLOKO will conduct a rally in protection of small business. The part has already applied for a permission for the action to the Moscow Mayor’s Office.

Entrepreneurs from Moscow, Samara and Tver will participate in the action.

Preliminary it is planned that the rally should take place in the centre of Moscow in Novopushkinskiy Garden.

The time of the rally will be announced after getting a permission from the Moscow authorities.

YABLOKO has been conducting a rally in protection of small business on May 26 for several years already.

Bulgarian election 'a dark day for democracy' - European Liberal President

Press Release, the ALDE party, May 13, 2013

Reacting to the results of the snap parliamentary elections in Bulgaria held on Sunday 12 May, ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson MEP today said: “with the lowest turnout in the history of parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, yesterday was a dark day for democracy and a repudiation of the EPP-aligned government led by Boyko Borisov. The conduct of the election also gives cause for concern.”

“It is worrying that the election was marred by several reports of irregularities, vote-buying and controlled voting. The discovery by police of 350,000 ballot papers printed by a company belonging to a GERB councillor raises important questions. The next government must undertake serious efforts to defeat fraud and regain the voters’ trust in democracy.”

“European Liberal Democrats congratulate ALDE member party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) on their performance in the election and their efforts during the campaign. Negotiations for a government coalition must take their result into account.”

LI President Congratulates Icelandic Liberals on Formation of Government

LI News Bulletin, Issue 330, May 10, 2013

LI President, Hans van Baalen MEP, has written to leader of the Progressive Party of Iceland (LI Full Member), Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, to congratulate him on his party's success in the recent parliamentary elections. Iceland's President, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, invited Mr Gunnlaugsson, who has been made Prime Minister-elect, to form a government following parliamentary elections in which the Progressive Party made the biggest gains in electoral support; more than doubling their number of seats from 9-19. The Progressive Party has experience of coalition politics and as the Prime Minister-elect, Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson, entered into Coalition talks, he said: “I feel good about this. There are of course many and big issues to discuss so this will take some time, but it's right to be optimistic, in the beginning at least”. The Liberal's return to government comes as the Socialist Party they replaced were unable to solve Iceland's national concerns, resulting in voters punishing the Socialists for imposing tough austerity measures and failing to tackle high levels of household debt.

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YABLOKO pays tribute to the Second World War soldiers on the Victory Day

Press Release, May 9, 2013

On the 68th anniversary of the Victory over fascism YABLOKO leaders and supporters of the party paid tribute to the heroes of the Second World War by laying wreaths and flowers at the Eternal Flame at the mass grave at Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery in Moscow. Thousands of Muscovites - soldiers and officers who died during the Second World War - are buried here. Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery has become a traditional place for YABLOKO for paying tribute to those fallen in the war. YABLOKO activists have been coming here for several years already.

The ceremony was attended by YABLOKO Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin, members of YABLOKO’s Political Committee Alexei Arbatov, Sergei Ivanenko and Grigory Yavlinsky.

YABLOKO leaders laid a wreath and flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Press Release, May 8, 2013

On the eve of the Victory Day of May 9, activists and leaders of the YABLOKO party paid tribute to the soldiers and victims of the Second World War laying a wreath and flowers at the Eternal Flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall in Moscow.

YABLOKO Chair Sergei Mitrokhin, the members of YABLOKO’s Political Committee Alexei Arbatov, Sergei Ivanenko and Grigory Yavlinsky, Bureau members Anatoly Golov and Valery Goryachev, as well as members and supporters of the party took part in the ceremony marking the 68th anniversary of victory over fascism.

On May 9 YABLOKO will take part in ceremony at Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery where thousands of Muscovites - soldiers and officers who died in the war – are buried.

The ceremony will begin at 12:00. Gathering of the participants is at 11:30. Address: Preobrazhenskiy val, dom 17 A (metro station Preobrazhenskaya Ploschad).

YABLOKO and European democrats discussed the relations between Russia and the EU and supported Russian NGOs

Press Release, May 8, 2013

The YABLOKO party, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), Swedish People's Party in Finland and the Swedish International Liberal Centre (SILC) held in Helsinki a seminar entitled "The Future of EU-Russia Relations: the Liberal View".

The seminar was attended by 250 people from Russia, Finland and other European countries - politicians, civil society activists, political scientists, experts, journalists and students. Representatives of Russian non-governmental organisations (GOLOS, the Moscow Helsinki Group), and independent press ("Novaya Gazeta") that were subject to increasing pressure from the authoritarian government were also invited to the seminar.

The European Union was represented by Carl Haglund, Minister of Defence of Finland and leader of the Swidish People’s Party, Kristiina Ojuland, MEP, and Nils Torvalds, MEP, Astrid Thors, member of the Finnish Parliament and Vice-President of ALDE and Martin Angeby, Secretary-General of the Swedish International Liberal Centre.

Grigory Yavlinsky, founder and one of YABLOKO’s leaders, delivered a key report "Russia in Ten Years." Valery Borschev, Chairman of YABLOKO’s Human Rights Faction and member of the Moscow Helsinki Group, and Galina Mikhaleva, Secretary of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, participated in panel discussions on human rights in Russia, and trade and economic relations between Russia and the EU.

Grigory Yavlinsky stressed in his speech that only cooperation and integration of Russia and the EU will allow both the sides to take a decent place in the world of the 21st century, and give them the opportunity to compete with the North American and Asian world economic growth centers in the nearest perspective. According to YABLOKO’s leader, the main obstacles for Russia’s integration into Europe are Russia’s domestic problems, such as "primitive authoritarianism", corruption and "deformation of the principle of freedom of conscience"...

EP report on Hungary confirms a clear risk of a serious breach of EU values

Press Release, the ALDE Group, European Parliament, May 7, 2013

The European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee discussed today for the first time the report on the situation of fundamental rights: standards and practices in Hungary. The need for this report arose from a series of controversial amendments introduced by the country's ruling party to the media law, the legal order and the national Constitution which go against the values of the European Union...

YABLOKO leader proposed a strategy for the opposition at the rally in Bolotnaya Square, Moscow

Press Release, May 6, 2013

Speaking at a mass rally in Bolotnaya Square, Moscow, YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin urged democratically minded people to go to polling stations and make the elections honest, rather than ask the authorities for fair and honest elections.

"There is nothing to discuss with these authorities, they resist a dialogue, it is absolutely hopeless to ask something from the authorities, to demand something from them, it is even pointless to scold or criticize them. The only thing that makes sense is to change the government. It's time to change the power and take it into our hands," said Sergei Mitrokhin...

...According to Mitrokhin, a single from the opposition in the gubernatorial elections in the Moscow Region should be Gennady Gudkov [ousted from the Duma and the Just Russia party for his oppositional views].

Mitrokhin also said that a single list of candidates from the opposition should be nominated for the Moscow City Duma elections as well...

St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO at a democratic manifestation and a rally of May 6

Press Release, May 6, 2013

A traditional May Day Democratic Manifestation was held along Nevsky Prospekt and ended with a rally at Konnyushennaya Square. This year the main slogan of the manifestation was "For Russia Free from Political Reprisals and Religious Obscurantism!"

The democratic manifestation was prepared and conducted by an organizational committee formed on the basis of the Democratic Petersburg coalition. According to different estimates, the number of participants of the manifestation amounted to 1.5 - 2 thousand people.

The rally meeting at at Konnyushennaya Square was opened by Alexander Kobrinsky, deputy of the Legislative Assembly from the YABLOKO party.
..

Keynote speech by Grigory Yavlinsky "Russia in Ten Years"

Seminar "The Future of EU-Russian Relations – The Liberal Viewpoint". Helsinki, April 29, 2013


The Future of EU-Russia Relations - The Liberal Viewpoint

Press Release, the ALDE party, May 1, 2013

The Future of EU-Russian Relations - The Liberal Viewpoint" seminar was held in Helsinki, Finland on the 29th of April and gathered over 200 people in the audience. The hosts of the seminar were the Swedish People’s Party in Finland (SFP) and the Swedish International Liberal Center (SILC) and it was arranged in cooperation with Russian ALDE member party Yabloko and Svenska Bildningsförbundet.

The seminar was divided into three parts, starting with introductory remarks from Carl Haglund, Minister of Defence and SFP Party Chair, Martin Ängeby, Secretary General of SILC and Astrid Thors MP, ALDE Party Vice President, followed by key note addresses from Yabloko founder, Dr. Grigory Yavlinsky and MEP Kristiina Ojuland. The seminar continued with panel discussions on human rights as well as trade and economic relations in the afternoon.

Carl Haglund commenced by pointing out that a well-functioning relationship between Russia and the EU is beneficial for both parties, which was echoed in later discussions. Also the fact that the EU is Russia’s biggest and Russia EU’s third biggest trading partner was repeated during the day. Peace through trade is a fundament for the EU and something to continue working on. It took 18 years of bargaining before Russia joined the WTO in August 2012 and there still remain obstacles in the trading policy.

EU-Russia cooperation must be based on mutual respect. The importance of the EU putting pressure on Russia to respect freedom of speech and human rights was underlined during the seminar. The ”foreign agent”-law, the Sergei Magnitsky case and other anti-democratic laws are alarming. Russia is not interested in being led by the hand towards democracy – the country must do the work itself when it comes to democracy and human rights. Some of the people working for these values are in jail, but many were at the seminar – including the founder of the Yabloko party.

In his key note speech Dr. Girgory Yavlinsky stated: “The important question is not how long Putin is going to stay in power – the important question is what is going to be instead of him? All other questions are secondary. Then we will be able to speak about elections et cetera.”

MEP Kristiina Ojuland reminded that the Russian Parliamentary elections in 2011 were the real starting point of the lack of trust. They were clearly not free and fair and that has also changed the European Parliament’s view on Russia. Corruption and VISA freedom for Russian citizens were also addressed during the seminar which, thanks to simultaneous translation into Russian and English, attracted a vast number of participants. The seminar has been recorded and can be viewed on www.sfp.fi/russia.

YABLOKO conducted a picket by the Russian Atomic Energy Agency against construction of nuclear power stations abroad on the Russian federal budget money

Press Release, April 26, 2013

Every year on April 26, the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, YABLOKO has been conducting an action by the Russian Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) to commemorate those who died, express sympathy for those who got sick in this tragedy and remind everyone of the consequences of nuclear energy sector.
The danger of explosion has not been the only issue for the past years, the topic of distribution of budgetary funds by Rosatom has also been touched. This time YABLOKO has protested against Rosatom’s plans to spend billions of dollars of budget money on construction of nuclear power plants’ abroad.
Rosatom plans to invest USD 20 billion in the economy of Turkey to construct and operate the Akkuyu nuclear power plant. Turkey’s economy will receive this colossal amount of money from Russia’s taxpayers without any counter profit for Russia. Rosatom also plans to construct a nuclear power plant in Vietnam which will cost USD 10 billion. India, China, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Egypt and even Bangladesh with its unstable situation and some other countries are next in turn for Russia’s budgetary funds via Rosatom...

Situation in Russia. A Country Report by YABLOKO leader Dr. Sergei Mitrokhin

Liberal International 190th Executive. Published on April 26, 2013

...But I should note that the reaction of Vladimir Putin’s regime to the mass protests was not only intensification of reprisals. Putin responded to the challenge with a specific state ideology based on aggressive clericalism and complete denial of the liberal values. This is a significant difference from the policies of ex President Medvedev who often appealed to the liberal values.
Orthodoxy has been exploited by the regime in a very specific way. The emphasis is laid on its contraposition to the Western values and way of life. This "sacred resource" provides the authorities an ideological basis for criticism of the human rights concept, as well as political systems based on respect for civil liberties...

...New evidence of the growth of aggressive clericalism has been emerging every day. The Russian parliament adopted a law envisaging five years of imprisonment for the injury of religious beliefs and feelings. However, the law protects only “traditional confessions” and Russian
Orthodoxy in the first place. It is obvious that opponents of clericalisation of the state will become the first victims of this vague norm based on subjective estimates...

Consultations of democratic organisations on the threashold of the Moscow City Duma elections go on

Press Release, April 25, 2013

Yesterday, representatives of democratic parties and organisations gathered for their second meeting in one of Moscow clubs to discuss nomination of a single list in the Moscow City Duma elections.

Representatives of from the YABLOKO party and YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin, RPR-Parnas (Vladimir Ryzhkov), Democratic Choice (Vladimir Milov), the Civil Initiative (Nikolai Alekseyev), the Solidarity (Michael Schneider) and the Coordinating Council of the opposition (Gennady Gudkov) participated in the meeting. This time new participants joined the meeting: representatives of the The Party of December 5 (Denis Bilunov and Sergei Davidis), the Civil Initiative, the Civil Federation movement and The White Ribbon joined the consultations.

The participants agreed to conduct regular meetings so that to coordinate candidates in single-mandate electoral districts and actions targeted at the increase of voter turnout, as well as possible agreements on the general list. A working group comprising one representative from each organisation was formed. The tasks of the working group are to formulate the agenda and possible solutions for the next meeting in an expanded format. The YABLOKO party delegated Galina Mikhaleva, First Deputy Chair of the Moscow branch of the party, to the working group. The first meeting of the working group will be held this Saturday, on April 27...

The court ordered the Department of Justice to register YABLOKO’s branch in North Ossetia

Press Release, April 23, 2013

On April 22, the Vladikavkaz Court declared unlawful the refusal of the Ministry of Justice Department in North Ossetia-Alania Republic to register the regional branch of the YABLOKO party in the Republic.

"The refusal of the Ministry of Justice Department in North Ossetia-Alania Republic to register the regional branch of the YABLOKO party should be recognised unlawful and cancelled,” runs the decisions of the court.

The court also ordered the Ministry of Justice of the Republic to register a YABLOKO’s regional branch and pass all the documents required for registration to the fiscal authority...

Mitrokhin about political prisoners: "As long as at least one of them is in jail, any one from us can be the next"

Press Release, April 17, 2013

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin called to pay close attention to the Russian regions where dozens of people had been persecuted for political reasons. He made such a statement at a rally against the political reprisals that took place in Moscow on April 17.

Sergei Mitrokhin recalled journalist Michael Beketov who was attacked and severely injured in 2008 and died of severe injuries in April 2013. The names of those who ordered this crime were known, but they were not arrested. Also many cases of murdered journalists and public figures remained unsolved, Mitrokhin said.

"What should be done to make our law enforcement system work and so that it stopped being so sluggish and inert, amorphous and unclear? One should simply start to really fight against corruption, as Alexei Navalny has begun doing or Maxim Petlin, leader of the Sverdlovsk branch of YABLOKO, who was imprisoned for disclosing a corruption scheme of Yekaterinburg authorities"...

St.Petersburg Ombudsman Alexander Shishlov reported on protection of civil rights

Press Release, April 18, 2013

Alexander Shishlov, Ombudsperson in St. Petersburg and YABLOKO Bureau member, made his first report in the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg.
On the whole he received 1643 written appeals, complaints and requests from citizens of St. Petersburg in 2012. Most complaints referred to housing problems. Over half of them (52.3 per cent) dealt with failure to get housing from the government’s fund, 22 per cent dealt with housing property title, 10.7 per cent with maintenance of the housing, 9.8 per cent with housing construction and 5.2 per cent with bills on utility services...
The Ombudsman recalled that dozens of people had been detained at different street protest actions in 2012; whereas the authorities explained the fact of their detention with the help of this law. “However, the court did not find any violations in their actions,” Shishlov said...

190th Executive takes important political decisions

LI News Bulletin, Issue 327, April 19, 2013

At the Administrative Session of the 190th Executive Committee Meeting, delegates from accorss the words expressed concern about recent developments in Russia and Ukraine and unanimously passed two political resolutions: Condemning the burning of books at Yabloko headquarters and The importance of fighting corruption in Ukraine. The Executive Committee endorsed the cooption of high-level politicians from un-represented regions on the LI Bureau: Kasit Piromya, of the Democratic Party of Thailand (Asia); Ahmed Hariri of the Future Movement/ al-Mustaqbal, Lebanon (MENA); Edgar Hererra, Guatemala (Latin America). One endorsement to full member status and three endorsements to observer member status were also voted. The Republican Party of Georgia is set to become a full member, while four parties -- Alliance Nationale pour les Comores, Comoros; United Democrats, Cyprus; Rassemblement National des Independents, Morocco; Partido de la Libertad Individual, Spain — were validated by the Executive as LI observer members. The status of these parties will need to be verified by the next Congress meeting...

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YABLOKO again attacked by Vladimir Putin’s supporters

Press Release, Video, April 18, 2013

On April 17, another rally organised by Vladimir Putin’s supporters took place by the office of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO in the South of Russia. It is already the 15th such rally held under the slogan “Hands off from Vladimir Putin!” taking place by YABLOKO’s office...

 


Democrats discussed the Moscow City Duma Elections

Press Release, April 11, 2013

On April 10, the YABLOKO party held a meeting for representatives of democratic parties and organizations. The meeting discussed YABLOKO’s proposal on compiling of a single list of democratic candidates for the Moscow City Duma elections 2014. Earlier YABLOKO had proposed to give half of places on its party list to the candidates from democratic forces.
Members of the Democratic Choice party and their leader Vladimir Milov, representatives of the Solidarity movement and RPR-PARNAS, activists from Grazhdanskaya Initsiativa (Civil Initiative) and their leader Andrei Nechayev, Gennady Gudkov , member of the opposition's Coordination Council, and Ilya Ponomaryov, deputy of the State Duma, took part in the meeting. Opening the meeting YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin spoke about YABLOKO’s initiative on creating a broad democratic and civil coalition for the Moscow City Duma elections. YABLOKO proposed to conduct primaries, where all the Muscovites could participate; whereas the winners in the primaries would be included into the YABLOKO party list of candidates and in single-mandate electoral districts. Sergei Mitrokhin emphasized that if the parties reached an agreement, YABLOKO would ready to take their representatives on the “party’s” part of the electoral list...

Liberals concerned about rise in human trafficking

Press Release, the ALDE party, April 17, 2013

The President of the ALDE Gender Equality Network Flo Clucas and liberal European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström have expressed their profound concern and disappointment after a report revealed that human trafficking in the EU has increased in recent years and 80% of the victims are women and young girls. They also strongly criticised 21 EU member states for the delays in implementing into national law the EU directive on human trafficking, adopted in March 2011. The European Commission report presented on Monday, the first compilation of data from more than 25 European nations of its kind, showed human trafficking increased by 18% between 2008 and 2010 and that during the same time the number of convictions for the crime fell by 13%.

As EU member states identified human trafficking as one of the priority areas in the fight against organised crime, the ALDE Gender Equality Network is very disappointed and worried that, despite the alarming trends, only a few countries have implemented the anti-trafficking legislation. Flo Clucas, President of the ALDE Gender Equality Network, said: “Even though EU governments have had two years to implement tougher standardised anti-trafficking legislation, only six out of 27 states have done this. Large EU-states, such as Germany, France and Great Britain have not implemented tougher measures in their national legislatures, this is not acceptable...”

Wiretapping scandal in Bulgaria is a matter of European concern

Press Release, the ALDE Group, European Parliament, April 16, 2013

Commenting on the investigation by the Bulgarian Prosecutor General's Office into the allegations of illegal wiretapping of scores of political opposition leaders in Bulgaria, Guy Verhofstadt, President of the ALDE Group has made the following statement:

"Sanctioning of illegal wiretapping of opposition politicians in Bulgaria by state authorities undermines democracy and the fairness of the electoral process. The European Union monitoring mechanism covers adherence to the rule of law matters and therefore the ongoing scandal should be seriously analysed by the European Commission. With less than one month before elections in Bulgaria, citizens need to be reassured that their fundamental rights are protected"...

Urgency Resolution on the burning of YABLOKO's books.

LI 190th Executive Council Meeting, Beirut, Arpil 13, 2013

Book Burning

The Executive Committee of Liberal International, meeting in Beirut recalls the burning of books by Nazis in 1936, rightly condemned by the Free World, and expresses its horror and indignation at the action by ultra-Orthodox thugs who invaded the Headquarter of the Yabloko Party in Moscow on March 15 removing publications and burning them publicly in a Moscow Square.

The Executive Committee notes the failure of the Russian and Moscow Authorities to investigate, prosecute or even condemn this action with its sinister implications for basic freedoms and demands that they do so without delay, guaranteeing the right of all Russians to publish freely.

The Executive Committee calls on the Russian authorities to adhere to their commitment as a member country of the Council of Europe and investigate into the accident and punish those guilty.

The Executive Committee further urges ALDE members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to sponsor a resolution condemning this action and the failure of the Russian Authorities to take appropriate action.

LI Bureau member Robert Woodthorpe Browne was among the high level speakers on migration and assimilation at Yabloko Conference

LI Press Release, Arpil 6, 2013

LI Bureau member and Treasurer Robert Woodthorpe Browne was among the high level speakers on migration and assimilation at Yabloko (LI Full Member) Conference on 6th April in Moscow, Russia.

The event was opened by Party Leader Sergey Mitrokhin and Dr Astrid Thors, European Liberal Democrats - ALDE Party Vice President and former Migration Minister in the Finnish Government coming from the Swedish People's Party (LI Full Member). Professor Grigoriy Alekseyevich Yavlinskiy addressed the gathering on the subject issues. He was particularly concerned at the potential knock-on effect of the proposed US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014. Input was provided by speakers from Swedish, Estonian, Moldovan, German and British liberals. LI Treasurer, Robert Woodthorpe Browne, described the UK situation and added an LI dimension...

Sergei Mitrokhin: “Putin must make them investigate the Mikhail Beketov case

Press Release, April 11, 2013

Civil funeral service in memory of journalist and public activist Mikhail Beketov took place at the House of Journalists today. Mikhail Beketov was a Russian journalist who combated against crime and corruption in the city of Khimki (including defence of Khimki Forest which had to be cut due the construction of the Moscow–Saint Petersburg highway). Beketov was attacked and severely injured by “unidentified persons” in 2008. As a result his leg and fingers on the left hand were amputated, he lost speech and became handicapped. The attackers have not been found. He died in hospital of complications due to brain damage at the age of 55 on 8 April 2013...

“Mikhail Beketov struggled face to face against the crime in Khimki, and there are a few people like him, however, there are a lot of journalists among these few. This list [of murdered journalists] coincides with the list of unsolved murders. The investigators know the name of the person who ordered this crime, but there is no will so that to bring this person to justice. The tragedy of our country is that outright criminals are in power now. Mikhail stood in their way and was murdered. President Putin should have sent not only his condolences, but had to keep up his promise and take the case under his control. What else but death can become a reason for this? May the memory to a great person Mikhail Beketov live forever,” said Sergei Mitrokhin...

YABLOKO nominated 1550 candidates to Saint Petersburg electoral commissions

Press Release, April 11, 2013

The St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO nominated 1550 candidates to the electoral commissions in all the districts of the city. The registration of documents in the electoral commissions is ending today.
“All of our candidates are well educated and active citizens and their main goal is to ensure compliance with the law at their electoral districts. Unfortunately YABLOKO’s representatives were not welcome at all the territorial electoral commissions” said Olga Pokrovskaya, member of the city electoral commission.

In particular, one of the territorial electoral commissions demanded statements of income from YABLOKO’s candidates (which is not envisaged by the law), another commission demanded that the copies of the work record books should be changed as allegedly they had not been properly notorised...

Resoulution
On the results of the Conference “Migration: International Experience and Russia’s Problems” conducted by the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (the ALDE party)

Moscow, April 6, 2013

The Russian participants of the conference – representatives of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO – basing on the discussions of the conference state the following:

Migration represents a natural development in the globalised world of the 21st century. However, the threat is represented by systemic problems in the states – the shadow economy and corruption, lack of the rule of law, encouragement of nationalistic moods and violation of human rights, - rather than migration in itself.

We are certain the problems related to migration can be resolved in compliance with international conventions, proceeding from such principles as human rights, tolerance, respect for the individual, responsibility, free and fair competition and secularism.

We believe that in the short term Russia must ratify Convention No 143 of the International Labour Organisation “On Migrations in Abusive Conditions and the Promotion of Equality of Opportunity and Treatment of Migrant Workers” (Geneva, June 24, 1975) and International Convention “On the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families” (New York, December 18, 1990)...

International conference on migration problems takes place in Moscow

Press Release, April 6, 2013

The way towards an efficient migration policy should go through the solution of major Russia’s problems: separation of business from government, building of a law-governed and democratic state, said YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin at the opening of an international conference on Migration. The conference, organized by the YABLOKO party and the ALDE party was held in Moscow on April 6...

Four panel discussions were held within the framework of the conference: “Migration dynamics and its political, economic and cultural consequences”, “Integration of migrants of the first and further generations: positive and negative experience”, “Restraining and regulatory mechanisms: different countries’ experiences and international cooperation” and “Regulation of migration: the tasks of the state and the society”. The reports were made by Russian and foreign experts and politicians...

The authorities in Kemerovo feared Acad. Alexei Yablokov’s lecture

Press Release, April 4, 2013

On April 3 Acad. Alexei Yabloko, Chair of YABLOKO’s Green Russia faction and member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, delivered a public lecture "Environmental problems of Russia" in the Kemerovo business center and held an informal meeting with representatives of public and scientific organisations during his trip to the Kemerovo region.

Alexei Yablokov’s visit aroused concern of the local authorities: a formal invitation to deliver two lectures on environmental issues in the Kemerovo State University was withdrawn, as the “lecture halls were occupied”. The second public lecture by Alexei Yablokov "Ecology and Health" scheduled at the Business Center for April 4 was cancelled a few hours before it had to begin due to the "collapse of the ceiling in the conference room"...

YABLOKO files a lawsuit against the electoral commission members and the policeman who beat woman observer

Press Release, March 26, 2013

The YABLOKO party is filing a lawsuit against the electoral commission members and the policeman who beat woman observer in an attempt to snatch a falsified final protocol of the voting given to her. The incident occurred late last night at polling station No 02-13 after the counting of votes in the mayoral election of Anapa. Alexandra Garkusha, aged 23, an observer from the YABLOKO party, together with representatives from other parties and candidates was given a falsified final protocol of the voting by the commission members. The document had no legal force and could not form a basis for filing a case in court.

Alexandra Garkusha drew the attention of the Commission to this fact and refused to sign for the receipt of such a protocol. After that, the commission members expressed their dissatisfaction in extremely disproportionate aggression and attacked Alexandra trying to snatch the protocol from her hands. According to the witnesses, Irina Tropina, Chair of the Electoral Commission, was the most aggressive attacker encouraging her subordinates to more violence...

Mayoral elections in Anapa: YABLOKO leader demands from head of the Central Electoral Commission to cancel the results of the elections

Press Release, March 26, 2013

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin demanded from Vladimir Churov, head of the Central Election Commission, to cancel the results of the mayoral elections in Anapa, the Krasnodar Territory, held on Sunday. The number of cases of stuffing of fraudulent ballots does not allow a genuine expression of voters’ will to be determined. Information about all the facts of fraud was also sent to the Central Electoral Commission...

Gross violations began already on Friday, when road police detained a coach that had to transport YABLOKO and independent observers from Taganrog to Anapa...

However, on the voting day about 20 cars with about a hundred of YABLOKO’s observers could not get to the polling stations by their opening time 8 a.m., due to blocking of the road by the police and a staged “car accident” on the road Sukko-Anapa...

“All this was done so that our observers could not get to the polling station to their opening and so that to do unhampered stuffing of ballots in favour of Sergei Sergeyev, United Russia candidate and ex police head whom Governor Tkachyov wanted to see as Anapa Mayor,” said Sergei Mitrokhin who also visited the “accident site”.

Voting demonstrated different violations – from stuffing of ballots to ousting of observers from polling stations, ban on filming, as well as threats and physical violence against observers.

See the video of violence against a woman observer Alexandra Gorkusha...

An attack was undertaken against Sergei Mitrokhin. An unidentified person sprayed some green liquid in the face of YABLOKO’s leader at one of the polling stations. The liquid got onto his neck and arms. An emergency doctor wiped the paint from the skin, but advised Sergei Mitrokhin to go to hospital for further observation, since "anything could have been mixed into the liquid"...

YABLOKO’s Maxim Petlin is a political prisoner

Press Release, March 21, 2013

"Maxim Petlin can be considered a political prisoner," YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin commented on the sentence to Maxim Petlin, leader of the Sverdlovsk Region branch of YABLOKO and deputy of the Yekaterinburg City Duma.

"We believe that the sentence is based on a case fabricated by the investigators with gross procedural violations. Petlin’s activities targeted at exposing corruption launched his prosecution," said Mitrokhin.

According to Mitrokhin, the court acts "in the interest of the clans controlling the city and influencing not only on the city, but also the regional Federal Security Service departments, the prosecutor's office and the court"...

YABLOKO’s inspection: construction of the country cottage of ex Defence Minsiter Serdyukov in a natural reserve is almost finished, the second country cottage of Governor Tkachyov will be built soon

Press Release, March 22, 2013

Today YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin has held a public inspection of the so-called "Serdyukov cottage" in the Big Utrish natural reserve area. The inspection was held within the framework of Mitrokhin’s visit to the Krasnodar region. Alexei Yegorov, leader of the Anapa branch of YABLOKO and candidate for the Mayor of Anapa, and Andrei Rudomakha, leader of the regional branch of YABLOKO also participated in the inspection.
The participants of the inspection have personally observed that construction of the cottage in a natural reserve went on despite the resignation of Anatoly Serdyukov fromk his ministerial post. In 2009, the site was transferred to the Ministry of Defence for "placement of a navigation station" there. However, mysteriously, construction of a luxury villa instead of a radar began at the site. The contractor was Serdyukov’s son-in-law Valery Puzikov. Presumably the villa is being built for him...
YABLOKO also carried out an inspection of another plot of land: not far from "Serdyukov’ villa" there may soon emerge the second villa of Governor Tkachyov. According to the activists of the regional branch of YABLOKO, the site in the natural reserve Big Utrish was transferred into property of the Stroibeton company. Most likely the owner of the cottage will be Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachyov. Such a scheme – transfer of land into property of some firms controlled by him – Tkachyov had already used in the construction of his first summer cottage in the Blue Bay.
Sergei Mitrokhin is visiting Anapa to support Alexei Yegorov, YABLOKO’s candidate for the post of the city mayor. The elections will be held on March 24. Sergei Mitrokhin appealed to the Central Electoral Commission so that the Commission ensure lawful voting.

ALDE welcomes Commission's new consultations on media freedom and pluralism

Press Release, the ALDE Group, European Parliament, March 22, 2013

The ALDE Group welcomes today's launch by the European Commission of two consultations on media freedom and pluralism and audiovisual media regulator independence.

The first consultation asks specifically to comment on the EU's competences to act in protection of media freedom and on the roles of national regulatory authorities, as well as if current laws need to be changed.

EP rapporteur on an "EU Charter: Standard settings for Media Freedom across the EU", Renate Weber (PNL, Romania) said: "We hope this consultation will pave the way to the establishment of a regular mechanism of monitoring and reporting over the full respect of media freedom and pluralism, as a democratic exercise that all EU Member States should do"...

Grigory Yavlinsky asks Governor of St. Petersburg to explain why the city budget has not been implemented

Press Release, March 21, 2013

The St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly rejected an inquiry from Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the YABLOKO faction in the Legislative Assembly, on non-implementation of the city budget. The Legislative Assembly referred to its new regulations. The YABLOKO faction will seek in court to cancel the new procedure for filing inquiries to officials. Meanwhile Yavlinsky expressed his concern about the "very unsatisfactory state of affairs in the budgetary process of St. Petersburg" and wants to know what measures Governor Georgy Poltavchenko is going to adopt so that to amend the situation. In his deputy inquiry Grigory Yavlinsky appeals to the Governor "in view of an extremely poor state of affairs in the budgetary process of St. Petersburg"...

Russia's Liberals Attacked by Orthodox Fascists

LI News Bulletin, Issue 324, March 21, 2013

LI full member Yabloko, became a direct victim of the rising intolerance in Russia, when its headquarters in Moscow were attacked by “Orthodox fascists”. This video demonstrates how they stole and publicly burnt books and booklets published by the party. Yabloko suspects that the reason behind this provocation is the fact that the party has rejected the movement's proposal for building new Christian Orthodox temples on sites where city gardens and children's playgrounds are situated. Sergei Mitrokhin, Yabloko's leader, was outraged, saying: 'We are expecting a reaction from Vladimir Putin, the People's Front and the Russian Orthodox Church to the provocations of the thugs acting on their behalf. In the absence of any response we will consider this attack as the beginning of “Maoist-style terror” against the political opposition and we will build our party strategy in line with these new realities.” ALDE-PACE President Anne Brasseur condemned the attack and expressed “sincere hopes that the legal proceedings that Yabloko has launched will receive appropriate attention both from the judiciary and the political authorities of Russia.”

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In defence of the MK newspaper. YABLOKO’s view

Press Release, March 20, 2013

The YABLOKO party believes that the stance of the State Duma deputies in their conflict with the MK newspaper violates the Russian law envisaging that it is the court which takes decisions on all the disputes relating to publications in the mass media. The MPs actions not only contravene the procedures established by law, but are also in conflict with ethical and moral norms governing public life...

The MPs’ demands to [Pavel Gusev], Editor-in-Chief of the MK to leave his post of Chairman of the Moscow Journalists’ Union represents an attempt to interfere into the spheres of public life that are completely beyond control of the legislative authority and are governed by internal corporate standards of professional communities.

The MPS’ idea to "take away" MK from Pavel Gusev [who is also the owner of the paper] is a direct attack on the principle of the inviolability of private property. Proposing such solutions to disputes with the media MPs undermine the legal foundations of the state, which again demonstrates their great incompetence and catastrophic failure as the legislators...

ALDE and YABLOKO to conduct a conference on migration problems

Press Release, March 20, 2013

International conference on migration problems will take place in Moscow on April 6. The organizers are the ALDE Party (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) and YABLOKO’s Political Committee.

The conference will discuss the following topics:

- migration dynamics and its political, economic and cultural consequences;
- integration of migrants of the first and further generations: positive and negative experience;
- restraining and regulatory mechanisms: different countries’ experiences and international cooperation;
- regulation of migration: the tasks of the state and the society...

Letter of Anne Breasseur, President of ALDE, CE, to Sergei Mitrokhin on the attack against YABLOKO

March 19, 2013

The ALDE Group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is deeply concerned with the news we are receiving from Russia. The attacks perpetrated against the Yabloko party in Moscow are yet another manifestation of growing intolerance in the Russian society.

The ALDE condemns the perpetrators of these attacks which are not simply an act of vandalism, but also an offence against the freedom of expression. We sincerely hope that the legal proceedings that you have launched will receive appropriate attention both from the judiciary and the political authorities of Russia. Such acts cannot be tolerated.

I would like to assure you that the Monitoring Committee will be duly informed about these deplorable developments...

“Inquisition” by the Orthodox fascists against the YABLOKO party

Press Release, March 17, 2013

Orthodox activists from the God's Will (Bozhya Volya) public movement staged "Orthodox Inquisition against the YABLOKO party". A group of young men burst into YABLOKO’s Moscow headquarters on Friday night, took all the freely available books and booklets published by the party and burned them in the square by Novokuznetskaya metro station which is in 3 minutes walk from YABLOKO’s office. The video entitled "Confiscation and Burning of Waste Paper of the Party of Satanists and Perverts YABLOKO" was loaded by the young people on the Internet...

Violence against women is a persistent stain on our society

Press Release, the ALDE Group, European Parliament, March 7, 2013

Ahead of International Women's Day, Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament (ALDE) call for united international action to combat violence against women. In Europe, 45 % of women will experience some type of violence at least once in her lifetime. Every day one in five women in Europe is a victim of violence. Antonyia Parvanova (NMSP, Bulgaria), ALDE spokesperson on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, participated in the UN summit meeting on 'The elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women', being held from 4 to 15 March in New York. The Bulgarian liberal presented the activities of the European Parliament to eridicate violence against women while highlighting the challenges faced in the EU.

Mrs Parvanova commented "We have to continue to take concrete steps to defend women's and girls' fundamental right to live free from violence. But we won't achieve concrete results if acting alone . The EU has an excellent opportunity to deliver on its commitments by pressing for coordinated international action at the UN Conference"...

Signatures for the resignation of Pavel Astakhov, Ombudsman for Children’s Rights, are sent to Vladimir Putin

Press Release, March 4, 2013

Nikolai Rybakov, member of the Federal Bureau of the YABLOKO party, has sent to Vladimir Putin over 11,000 signatures collected in favour of resignation of Pavel Astakhov, Ombudsman for Children’s Rights (notoriously known for his support of the “orphans law” and calls to return all the Russian orphans adopted abroad back to Russia).

Over 11,000 signatures were collected in just a week, despite ddos-attacks and Internet bots attacking the Demokrator.ru website where the signatures were collected.

"We believe that a man who has cynically exploited the death of a child [adopted by a US family] for his political gain, can not hold the post of Children's Ombudsman," runs Rybakov’s statement.

"I think that the president should not wave away the appeal of 11,000 citizens. Let us at least make him think whether his representative Mr. Astakhov has been acting in an honest and due manner? Our final goal is still there: Russia should have a decent defender of children," Nikolai Rybakov said...

Sergei Mitrokhin called Muscovites to change the Moscow government

Press Release, March 2, 2013

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin called the participants of the Social Manifestation to "change the authorities at the next elections to the Moscow City Duma," rather than ask the Mayor of Moscow team for some "handouts". "We offer the entire civil society to unite for the Moscow City Duma elections and agree to provide our party candidates list for this purpose, and we give half of the list for civil society activists," Mitrokhin said at a rally on Sakharov Square...

Mitrokhin also said that the policies of the Moscow authorities was "authoritarian and incompetent in many areas, but extremely self-confident and based on the most profound contempt for the Muscovites". "The Sobyanin’s team acts as if they came to some kindergarten rather than Moscow. They know what is better for us, and we should wait with our mouths open when they bring happiness to us," Mitrokhin said...

YABLOKO’s Alexei Firsov, head of Kolchuginsky District, the Vladimir region, dismissed from his post

Press Release, February 28, 2013

YABLOKO’s Alexei Firsov, head of Kolchuginsky District, the Vladimir region, was dismissed from his post because of a conflict with the head of the district administration Andrei Mitroshkin. The decision on dismissal was taken at today's meeting of the Council of People's Deputies of the district by 12 votes "for" with three "against."

Most of the deputies of the Council refused to consider the appeal of Governor Nikolai Vinogradov in support of Firsov. Several dozens of local residents came to support Alexei Firsov at the Council meeting, but only a few were allowed into the assembly hall. After voting Firsov thanked his supporters after which the residents together with Firsov left the hall. N
ow Firsov will work in the Council as an ordinary member. His term will expire in two years...

"Smart borders package": A better management of EU external borders

Press Release, the ALDE Group, European Parliament, February 28, 2013

Today the Commission presented its "Smart borders" package. ALDE welcomes this legislative initiative as it will simplify the life of "bona fide" foreigners frequently travelling to the EU, whose number is expected to increase in the future.

ALDE spokesperson of the dossier Nils Torvalds (Swedish Peoples Party, Finland): "It is in the interest of the EU to make it as easy as possible for tourists, business travellers and students to come to Europe. At the same time an easier access to the EU should go hand in hand with preventing irregular migration. The "smart borders" initiative should also help Member states better control their external borders, an important issue for some of them which have to manage a very long portion of the EU external borders"...

Grigory Yavlinsky on the impact of the political system on economic growth

Press Release, February 27, 2013

A roundtable "Democracy and Economic Growth" held within the framework of the second Russian Economic Congress in Suzdal discussed how the type of a political system may affect economic growth.

Grigory Yavlinsky, Professor at the Higher School of Economics and founder of the YABLOKO party, set the tone of the discussion. He noted that economic growth has been considered a key indicator of economic development. However, he stressed that there has been no direct correlation between the economic growth and the type of the political system. Economics can not yet answer the question why the most developed democratic countries do not show sustainable economic growth while some authoritarian states may demonstrate impressive economic growth rates...

Mitrokhin on the attempted murder of Cossack chieftain Nesterenko: shooting of those fighting against criminal authorities has begun in the Krasnodar Territory

Press Release, February 22, 2013

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin believes that the attempted murder on Nikolai Nesterenko, Deputy Ataman of the Anapa City Cossack Community, demonstrates a qualitatively new stage of confrontation between public activists and criminal authorities of the Krasnodar Territory.

Attempted murder on Nikolai Nesterenko was committed in Anapa on February 22. A killer opened fire on the car of the Cossack. Nesterenko was wounded and his driver Viktor Zhuk was killed. Nikolay Nesterenko is one of the leaders of the civil society in Anapa. For many years he has been fighting against unlawfulness, violation of citizens’ rights and abuse of power by businessmen and officials in the city.

"Earlier they have exerted pressure on public activists in different forms, including their unlawful conviction on trumped up criminal cases, but now we can say that, that they begin shooting the most active public figures who do not let them to do lawlessness," said YABLOKO’s leader...

Proved: it is a lie!

Press Release, February 25, 2013

The Democratic Petersburg coalition YABLOKO is member of conducted a raid proving that St.Petersburg authorities did not allow the Democratic Petersburg to conduct rallies in the city on fictitious grounds. The city authorities turned down 20 sites as possible grounds for the coalition rally. "We have collected evidence of the officials’ lies and will file a law suit against them," said the coalition members.

This Sunday, the coalition planned to hold a rally against the federal law on the "gay propaganda". The application was submitted to the authorities four times proposing 20 different locations. However, all the applications were turned down. The organizers were ready to hold a rally at any time from 12:00 to 18:00, but the officials said that all proposed sites were taken by other activities at that time or some renovation works or repairs were conducted there. Each time the rally fell under some ban...

On the support of the initiative group in creation of a free trade union of university teachers in Russia

Statement by YABLOKO's Bureau, February 21, 2013

New laws adopted in the field of education endanger the future of Russia and arouse fair concerns not only from the civil society but also for the professionals working in this sector.

Many teachers decided to actively participate in the public debate and started looking for other forms of communication of their position to the society. One of such forms is creation of a free trade union of university teachers which was initiated by a group of high school professors and teachers. Unfortunately, the voice of this "official" trade union was virtually unheard in discussion of the [government’s] bills, and a broad attack on the rights of workers of the education sector undertaken by the government, has not got due assessment on behalf of the trade union.

The Bureau of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO supports the initiative of creation of the Free Trade Union of Russian University Teachers and believes that position of the professional community should form a basis for a dialogue between the government and society...

Women's Spring 2013: Start of Preparation for the 3rd All-Russian Women’s Congress

Press Release, February 20, 2013

The Independent Press Center invites journalists on February 28 at 12:00 to the press conference "Women's Spring 2013: Start of Preparation for the 3rd All-Russian Women’s Congress".

The participants of the conference are as follows: Dr. Galina Mikhalyova, Chair of YABLOKO’s Gender Faction and Secretary of YABLOKO’s Political Committee;
Natalia Dmitryeva, Co-Chair and Coordinator of the Council for Consolidation of Women's Movement in Russia, Chair of the All-Russian Public Organization "Business Women of Russia"; Natalia Velikaya, Chair of the Social Democratic Union of Russian Women, Dean of the Political Sociology Faculty of the Russian State Humanities University (RGGU);Irina Gorkova, Adviser to the Moscow Region Governor; Irina Rukina, leader of the political party "People Against Corruption," Dean of the Faculty of Large Cities Management of the International University, Moscow...

After YABLOKO’s rally acting Governor of the Moscow Region sent the General Plan of Balashikha Development back for revision

Press Release, February 21, 2013

Andrei Vorobyov, acting Moscow Region Governor, agreed with the demands put forward during YABLOKO’s manifestation and rally and sent the General Paln of the Balashikha City Development for revision.

He made such a statement at his meeting with residents of the city. The manifestation and rally organized by the YABLOKO party were in the city in the past weekend. Participants of the rally marched in the centre of the city. "The new General Plan is a shame of Balashikha" was written on the banner carried in front of the column.

"The Plan aroused outrage of the city residents by its absolute negligence of the needs of citizens and its cynical approach to the urban policy," Vladimir Konnov, the leader of the Balashikha branch of YABLOKO said at the rally...

U.S. Is Russia's Best Friend. By Grigory Yavlinsky.

The Moscow Times, February 19, 2013. Vedomosti, January 28, 2013.

U.S. President Barack Obama took his second oath of office on Jan. 20. The following Sunday, also in Washington, Metropolitan Tikhon was enthroned as the primate of the Orthodox Church in America.
A second major phenomenon largely overlooked by the media is that 1 million Orthodox Americans affirm the importance of upholding their faith in that multicultural "melting pot" — even though most speak English and were not raised according to traditional Russian customs. Although many American Orthodox believers are not Russians or Europeans, and some are not even direct descendents of Russian and European immigrants, they often had an even stronger personal connection to the Russian emigres and anti-Bolsheviks of the 18th and 19th centuries and responded more passionately when the Russian Orthodox Church was driven partly underground...

European Liberal Democrats welcome Borissov resignation

Press Release, the ALDE party, February 20, 2013

Reacting to the resignation this morning of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his government, ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson said: “European Liberal Democrats welcome today’s announcement. We have become increasingly concerned about freedom and the rule of law under Prime Minister Boyko Borissov since he took office in 2009.”

“Together with the likes of Berlusconi and Basescu – Europe’s B team – Borissov has played fast and loose with the rule of law. I hope this B team will not be revived in elections this year”...

2014 European Parliament seat distribution

Press Release, ALDE, February 19, 2012

The vote of the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the European Parliament supported efforts by ALDE MEPs aimed at correcting the worst anomaly in the original proposal of the two rapporteurs (Trzaskowski-Gualtieri) on the apportionment of seats at the next elections in 2014. The Liberals and Democrats argued that to have a two seat gap between Hungary and Sweden on the basis of a difference of population of 475,000 was unjust.
Andrew Duff's proposal that at the next constitutional Convention, likely in 2015, the EU should agree on a fair, durable and transparent arithmetical formula for the distribution of seats was also accepted...

Half of YABLOKO’s candidates for the Moscow City Duma elections will be determined by Muscovites in primaries

Press Release, February 17, 2013

The Conference of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO adopted a Manifesto on compiling of a list candidates for the Moscow City Duma elections (which are to take place in 2014) from united democratic opposition. According to the Manifesto, half of the candidates in the party list will be given to civil activists and representatives from other political forces. Muscovites will determine the nominees in the primaries.

"Moscow has accumulated a critical mass of active people, they awoke from the “sleep’ during Putin's 2000s, and they want to act. They do realise that their children will not have any normal human prospects in this country without changing of the political situation in the country, that is why they want to go into politics. We give them such an opportunity," YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin stated at the Conference.

"A year ago we promised at the rallies that we would propose a definite political mechanism to address different problems. The adopted Manifesto is a direct and earnest answer to all the questions: what people who manifested at Bolotnaya Square and Sakharov Prospect and participated in other mass opposition rallies should do now," said Grigory Yavlinsky, YABLOKO founder and member of the Political Committee. "The time of general discussions is over. It's time to act," he stressed...

YABLOKO to call for nomination of candidates from a united democratic opposition for the Moscow City Duma elections

Press Release, February 14, 2013

On Sunday, February 17, the Conference of the Moscow branch of the YABLOKO party will adopt a Manifest on the creation of nomination of a joint list of candidates from united democratic opposition for the Moscow City Duma elections of 2014.
The Manifesto will appeal to civil society activists and representatives of political forces sharing democratic values to participate in the formation of a joint list of candidates. YABLOKO will provide to such joint candidates half of the number of places allotted to the YABLOKO party nominees, as well as half of places in single-mandate precincts.
The candidates will be nominated via primaries. YABLOKO proposes to hold primaries in all the 22 electoral territories...

Alexei Melnikov: Jingle Bells of the Death Penalty

Alexei Melnikov’s blog in the Live Journal, February 11, 2013

Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev has said today that he supports the death penalty for people who have committed serious crimes, "I fear to bring down the anger of the opponents of the death penalty on myself, but speaking as an ordinary citizen, rather than a minister, I would see nothing wrong [in the death penalty] for such kind of criminals".

It is no good when the high post prevents the expression of civic feelings. After such a statement by Mr. Kolokoltsev, he should have been immediately dismissed. Let him speak out as a citizen not burdened with the weight of public duties. In any case, the dismissal of Mr. Kolokoltsev would have been an adequate measure for the authorities who believe that the purpose of the government is installing of humanity.

Our ruling system suffers from a serious hereditary contempt for human life. Here the concept of a "violent crime", and any crime in general, is like rubber. And just like civil activities in case of a police state are easily transferred into crimes, this notion [of a violent crime] can be transferred into a grave offense. For example, "foreign agents" [which all the NGOs were pushed to turn into according the new Russian law] may be considered traitors and liberal views equated with an ideology targeted at destruction of the state. And the punishment here will be execution...

Liberals upset with renewed Human Rights set-back in Azerbaijan

Press Release, the ALDE party, February 11, 2013

European Liberals strongly condemn the recent clampdown on liberal activists in Azerbaijan. Among others Tofig Yagublu, deputy chairman of ALDE member party Musavat was arrested and charged with “violation of public order”.

Liberals welcome the statement by European top officials and encourage the European Commission to strongly defend fundamental human rights in their bilateral discussions with the Azeri authorities...

Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics: A Celebration of Human Body and Spirit or Complicity in Crimes?

North Caucasus Environmental Watch. Open Letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), February 11, 2013

...A unique environment is being damaged irreparably over a large area. According to our information, functionality of approximately 2000 hectares of the Greater Sochi had been radically changed; radical land expropriation, destruction of natural landscapes and appearance of anthropogenic landscapes have taken place. First of all, this concerns the Mzimta river valley (deforestation) in the area of construction of a combined railroad and highway Adler – Alpinka Service and Imeretinskaya valley, where substantial agricultural lands and wetlands were replaced by compensation housing construction and by transportation infrastructure and storage facilities. Some of the territories of the Western Caucasus (UNESCO World Heritage site) were removed from World Heritage protection, natural heritage sites are being destroyed, and crushed-stone quarries are mined in the reserve areas of the national park. That is, diverse ecosystems were damaged practically irreparably. New threats of landslides, erosion, avalanches, and mudslide have appeared on the slopes of mountain ridge Aibga as a result of continuing deforestation and construction of ski trails, chair lifts and other objects. Disappearance of specific natural habitats, even when there are analogous remote natural habitats, of numerous plant and animal species in Sochi is reaching critical levels and is leading to local extinction of the species, which, in its turn, is leading to impoverishment of biodiversity. This is a consequence of the inability of the affected species to migrate across regions unfit for their survival...

German Liberal MP is the new president of GLOBE Europe

Press Release, the ALDE party, February 8, 2013

Michael Kauch, an FDP MP, is the new president of GLOBE Europe, the European Chapter of the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment. He was elected at the recent General Assembly to succeed the Danish Green Steen Gade, who didn't run for another term. Vice Presidents are Petra BAYER (Austria), Linas BALSYS (Lithuania), Barry GARDINER (UK), Jens HOLM (Sweden) and Arnaud LEROY (France).

GLOBE is a cross-party and trans-national network of MPs, who are committed to the environment and to sustainability. At present, MPs from 88 countries around the world represent their countries in the network. Major activities are global parliamentary dialogues on climate policy, forest protection and sustainable development...

Environmentalists on the Sochi Olympic Year loudly announced by the governments

Press Release, February 10, 2013

On February 7, the day of celebration of the "Year of the Olympic Games" in Sochi, environmentalists from the Kudepasta village opposing the construction of the Kudepsta thermal electric power station in the area and YABLOKO activists of the Sochi branch of YABLOKO conducted an action targeted at drawing public attention to the environmental problems in the region and maintaining of healthy environment...

YABLOKO collects signatures against destruction of a unique Sochi park

Press Release, February 6, 2013

The Sochi branch of the YABLOKO party joined the campaign for collection of signatures under an appeal to the federal and regional authorities to preserve the unique park Southern Cultures, as an asphalt concrete factory is being built by the park.

The construction site is located within the buffer zone of the park. A walk among 60 rare trees enlisted in the Red Book which has become a place interest in Sochi is used now as a road for trucks. And cutting of trees has been going on.

In 2012, the Federal Property Management Agency (Rosimuschestvo) transferred the Southern Cultures Park to the Ministry of Natural Resources. However, in the process of transfer it turned out that a 250-meter walkway connecting the park with the sea shore, was not part of the park any more and was in the disposal of the city administration...

New wave of reprisals against Yabloko activists

Press Release, the ALDE party, February 6, 2013

ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson MEP has expressed the collective concern of European Liberal Democrats to news of a fresh wave of reprisals against members of the Russian United Democratic party (Yabloko).

Sergei Mitrokhin, the leader of ALDE member party Yabloko, has condemned the Federal Security Bureau in the Sverdlovsk region which has interpreted a recent Russian law ‘on the counteraction to the extremist activity’ to obtain a court order permitting Maxim Petlin, Chair of Yabloko’s Sverdlovsk Region branch to be placed under surveillance and for all his all telephone conversations to be monitored. A complaint filed to the Supreme Court was also dismissed.

ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson MEP said: “European Liberal Democrats are increasingly concerned at the instances of persecution facing members of open and fully legal political parties. During its years of existence the Yabloko party has not provided an occasion for it to be equated to extremist organisations. It seems the government regards the words ‘opposition’ and ‘extremism’ as synonyms.”

“European Liberal Democrats and Yabloko call on the European Union to put pressure on Russia and for the Russian government to immediately stop such reprisals and to bring those responsible to justice”...

Stalinisation of the Russian society targets "tightening of the screws"

Statement by the YABLOKO Party, February 6, 2013

...When officials of such a high rank as Vice-Premier Dmitry Rogozin support the idea of returning the name of Stalin to the city of Volgograd and [Chair of the Federation Council] Valentina Matviyenko and [head of the Central Electoral Commission] Vladimir Churov say that a referendum should be conducted on this issue, they think least of all of historical justice. The Battle of Stalingrad is part of the world history, as well as the heroic defence of besieged Leningrad. However, if we speak about returning of previous names to these cities, then we can speak only about their original names, as it was in case with St. Petersburg. And in case of Volgograd this should be Tsaritsyn. And without any referendum.

After all, if [head of the Central Electoral Commission] Vladimir Churov counts the votes, there is no doubt that 146 per cent will vote for returning Joseph Stalin’s name to Volgograd. It willl be done in accordance with the saying attributed to Stalin: "Those who cast the votes decide nothing, those who count the votes decide everything".

The YABLOKO party demands to put an end to the Stalinist sabbath around the anniversary of the victory at Stalingrad. To make it, as President Putin have said, so that Russia "would always be victorious", first we must get rid of the salves complex, which Stalin instilled in the people and condemn the executioners...

On political reprisals against YABLOKO activists

Statement by YABLOKO’s Bureau, February 5, 2013

The YABLOKO party notes with concern a new wave of reprisals against YABLOKO members.

The adoption of the Federal Law "On the Counteraction to the Extremist Activity" encouraged the law enforcement activities that are clearly violating the law: gathering information about the members of the party and their activities, inviting them for ‘conversations’ [in the police], detentions, searches, seizure of documents and institution of criminal proceedings.

According to the Federal Security Bureau Department (FSB) for the Sverdlovsk region, the YABLOKO party is a radical oppositional structure sharply criticising the state authorities and negatively assessing broadening of the proxies of the FSB of Russia. According to FSB, it is a party setting such a goals as changing Putin-Medvedev’s regime, elimination of monopoly in politics, economy and media and the democratisation of the country.

Such a political stance of the party was laid in the basis of the ruling of the Sverdlovsk Region Court giving a permission to wiretap all the telephone conversations conducted by Maxim Petlin, Chair of the Sverdlovsk Region branch of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO, control all his postal, telegraph and other messages and information from technical communication channels, as well as put him on surveillance.

After the decision of the court, further supported later by a judge of the Supreme Court in response to a complaint filed by Maxim Petlin [to the Supreme Court], we can conclude that a political surveillance regime has been introduced in respect of the YABLOKO party, as well as other opposition parties claiming similar goals...

St.Petersburg Governor officially responded to deputies of the St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly on the closure of public hospital with a unique children oncology department

Press Release, January 29, 2013

Boris Vishnevsky, Alexander Kobrinsky and other deputies of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg received an official reponse from Governor Georgy Poltavchenko on the collective parliamentary inquiry about the closure of St.Petersburg public hospital No 31.

The Presidential Administration plan to turn this hospital specialising in treating children with cancer into a medical centre for Russia's top judges arouse public uproar in Russia. YABLOKO deputies initiated several inquiries about the public hospital in the St.Peterburg parliament. The St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO organised collection of signatures in its St.Petersburg headquarters against turning the public hospital into a special medical centre for the judges. St.Peterburg residents conducted a special rally in support of the public hospital and its doctors.

In his letter the Governor stated that “a decision was taken not to station” the medical centre for Russia’s top judges in the hospital...

Russian Gay Propaganda Bill another discriminatory legistation

LI News Bulletin, Issue 317, January 31, 2013

Reacting to the first reading of an LGBT Rights discrimination bill at the Russian Parliament, the leader of Yabloko (LI full member), Sergei Mitrokhin, expressed a concern that the bill in its present version allows for the authorities to limit the civil rights of the LGBT community. The law prohibits gay propaganda among children and it has already been adopted by eight regional parliaments. 'Legislators proceed from an allegation that propaganda can change a person's sexual orientation. However, its adoption will inevitably lead to the deepening of the split in the society and a growing risk of violent collisions between different groups. The application of the law has already demonstrated that there has been a rise of open clashes between the LGBT and the Orthodox activists' said Mitrokhin. Liberal International hosted a public dialogue with Sergei Mitrokhin back in November where he revealed the undemocratic realities of yet another discriminatory legislation in Russia...

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Mikhail Nazarov, leader of the Udmurtian branch of YABLOKO, to Vladimir Putin: lands intended for families with many children were given to officials and police officers in Udmurtia

Press Release, January 25, 2013.

Mikhail Nazarov, leader of the Udmurtian branch of YABLOKO, forwarded a letter to President Vladimir Putin wit ha request to investigate into the distribution of gratuitous plots of land intended for families with many children.

"Our region demonstrates facts of corruption in the distribution of free lands to large families are mass-scale," runs Nazarov’s letter to the President.

Thus, in 2011, Galina Batolova, head of Zaviyalovsky District, was convicted for broad-scale distribution of lands to high ranking officials. However, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Udmurtia sentences her such large scale corruption only to a fine amounting to 200,000 roubles (approximately Euro 5,000). As of to-day, the Investigative Committee of Udmurtia has not conducted an investigation on those who due to fraud with lands received plots of land in the most prestigious neighborhoods. Mikhail Nazarov gave a list of such persons in his letter...

YABLOKO picketed the State Duma against two anti-constitutional bills

Press Release, January 23, 2013.

YABLOKO activists held one-person pickets in front of the State Duma, as the Duma had to consider two unconstitutional projects: one of them had to simplify the procedure of requisition of land title from the residents of the "new Moscow territories" (ex Moscow Region territories) like was the case in the Olympic Sochi, and the other would allow regions to replace election of governors by their appointment...

YABLOKO’s candidate to run for the post of the head of Chudovo, the Novgorod Region

Press Release, January 22, 2013.

A conference of the Novgorod regional branch of the YABLOKO party took place on January 21. Members of the party discussed nomination of a candidate from YABLOKO for the post of the head of the city of Chudovo, Novgorod region. According to the results of the secret ballot, the conference unanimously supported the nomination of Yelena Skorodumova.

To date, YABLOKO’s candidate has been registered in the Territorial Electoral Commission of Chudovo and has begun preparations for the election campaign. Skorodumova’s competitors in the elections will be United Russia’s Andrei Alexandrov, Communist Igor Kovalyov and LDPR member Alexei Maximov...

Grigory Yavlinsky led YABLOKO’s column at the anti-fascist manifestation in Moscow

Press Release, January 19, 2013.

Grigory Yavlinsky, YABLOKO founder and member of its Political Committee, led YABLOKO’s column at the anti-fascist manifestation in Moscow. The action was held in memory of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova killed by Neo-Nazis in the centre of Moscow...

Party activists held a banner "Fascism will not go" and photographs of the killed Stanislav Markelov, Anastasia Baburova, Yury Schekochikhin, Farid Babayev, Anna Politkovskaya and Larissa Yudina.

"Fascism is very dangerous: it emerges all of a sudden and embraces a vast mass of people. This is a huge problem in human history and probably one of the most tragic and terrible pages in the political history of mankind. In our country fascism may be very dangerous especially when linked with Stalinism, so even the slightest movements towards it have to be stopped it. And there are lots of such movements in life and politics now. Therefore, the more people will consciously, openly and loudly oppose fascism, the better it is. And this must be done continuously," said Yavlinsky...

Attempted assassination of Bulgarian liberal leader Ahmed Dogan

Press Release, the ALDE party, January 19, 2013

Sir Graham Watson MEP, President of the ALDE Party expressed the shock of all European Liberals on Saturday at the attempted shooting of Bulgarian liberal leader Ahmed Dogan at the MRF Party Congress in Sofia which Sir Graham was attending. He expressed his relief that the pistol had not gone off as intended.

"Liberals have become increasingly concerned about freedom and the rule of law under Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. The European Union may need to mobilise to put the country back on track."

"I hope the government will move quickly to establish the forces behind this attempted murder and to bring them to justice." Sir Graham Watson said...

YABLOKO to participate in an anti-fascist manifestation

Press Release, January 18, 2013.

The YABLOKO party will take part in an anti-fascist manifestation in memory of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova. The action will be held in Moscow on January 19. Party activists will hold a banner "Fascism will not go". YABLOKO’s column will be headed by Grigory Yavlinsky, YABLOKO founder and member of its Political Committee.

"Nationalism is impermissible in Russia and is far more dangerous than in other countries. Xenophobia and demonstration of the extreme nationalist views is a time bomb for such a multinational country as Russia. I am urging all who oppose fascism in Russia and in the world to come to the manifestation on January 19 and honor the memory of the victims of neo-Nazis," said YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin. He himself will be in Kemerovo on that day, as mayoral elections will be held there in a week.

The manifestation under the slogans "Moscow is an antifascist city" and "For Freedom! Against fascism!" will start at 2 p.m. from the crossing of Tversloy Boulevard and Tverslaya Street (by the Pushkin Square) along Nikitsky Boulevard.

The activists and supporters of the YABLOKO party will gather by the office of the Izvestia paper (Tverskaya metro station) at 1:30 p.m...

Alexey Melnikov: The destiny of a little man

Alexei Melnikov's blog, January 18, 2013.

Tragic news has come from the Netherlands – Alexander Dolmatov who fled from Russia to this country fearing political reprisals committed a suicide. I express my condolences to Alexander’s family and express them support in their grief .

Those of us who have lost their loved ones, know how hurtful it is, as how the world seems to be alien and how one’s life begins to change as one realizes that nothing will be as it once was.

Who is to blame? The Netherland authorities that refused to grant Alexander a political asylum? Those from whom he escaped in Russia, those who have now unleashed reprisals in Russia? Or headless leaders of the protest? If a person is killed in such circumstances, then, in all fairness, no one can shun the responsibility.

A little man wanted to change his country. He was forced to flee. The little man was seeking asylum in another country. But that country calmly turned its back on him. Anger was breathing behind his back, and cold breathed into his face. The little man could not resist. He has gone. But he has remained a Man.

We will remember him.

See also: A Cold Shoulder for Russian Dissidents. By Oleg Kashin.
The New York Times, January 22, 2013

United Russia and the LDPR blocked the law on equipping police stations with video cameras in St.Petersburg

Press Release, January 16, 2013.

The Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg lacked two votes so that to adopt Grigory Yavlinsky’s bill on equipping police stations and cars with video cameras. The initiative was supported by the following factions: YABLOKO, the Communist Party, the majority of the Just Russia. Even Vyacheslav Makarov, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and leader of the United Russia faction, voted for the bill. Thus the bill gathered 24 votes in its favour. However, another 24 deputies present at the plenary session did not participate in the vote and did not allow to adopt the law.

Speaking to the MPs, Yavlinsky mentioned the example of Tatarstan, where the tragedy in one of the police stations where a detained man died of tortures made the President of Tatarstan promise to install video cameras in all the police departments and this promise has almost been fulfilled. "Last year a young man died in one of St. Petersburg police stations," said Yavlinsky...

Grigory Yavlinsky: "Deputies of St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly were right in refusing to consider the bill on rallies”

Press Release, January 16, 2013.

According to Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the YABLOKO faction, adoption of the draft law on rallies with the restrictions it envisaged could lead only to a sharp increase in the number of unauthorized actions and, consequently, increase of tension in St. Petersburg.

"It will not restoration of order, but violation of order," said Grigory Yavlinsky.

According to the BaltInfo agency, this morning, the Governor's bill lacked only one vote so that to be included into the agenda of the Legislative Assembly. MPs from YABLOKO, the Communist Party and Just Russia voted against it".

The bill proposed a ban on rallies, meetings and other events on Nevsky Prospekt, the St. Isaac's and the Palace Squares, and also contained many other prohibitions and restrictions...

Yabloko marches against "orphans" Anti-Magnitsky Law

LI News Bulletin, Issue 315, January 17, 2013

In Moscow the leaders of Yabloko (LI Full Member), Grigori Yavlinski and Sergei Mitrokhin, led a march against the Anti-Magnitsky law. The Anti-Magnitsky law prohibits American citizens from adopting Russian orphans and is widely considered to be a response to US reprisals against those responsible for the killing of Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian human rights lawyer. During the march the crowd held banners and yelled that ‘MPs should fight against corruption, not against children'. At the rally Sergei Mitrokhin stated: “Our government has demonstrated that its main goal is to protect the murderers involved in the Sergei Magnitsky case. The authorities have put a human shield of orphans around this scum.” Mitrkohin continued: “But we will again and again resist this political regime, and again we will go to the streets and use any other peaceful, constitutional means so that to remove the regime from power.' Earlier Yabloko wrote a letter to the now Russian actor Gérard Depardieu, to raise attention of the law and the case of Sergei Magnitsky.

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Sergei Mitrokhin: Moscow Mayor Sobyanin must sack Chief Architect of Moscow who advocates abolishing of public hearings

Press Release, January 15, 2013.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin expressed his satisfaction with the call of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to the deputies of the Moscow City Duma to preserve the institute of public hearings on different construction and development projects in Moscow. Earlier, the Public Advisory Council of Political Parties under the Moscow City Duma severely criticized the amendments introduces by the ruling United Russia and targeted at cancelling of public hearings.

Mitrokhin also noted that the "attempt to cancel public hearings has clearly revealed the utter incompetence of the Moscow City Duma which is ready to obey any orders from the Moscow government, no matter how senseless and harmful for the Muscovites it could be"...

Liberal Democrats delivering in government: 95% of Coalition Agreement on course

Press Release, the ALDE party, January 15, 2013

On 12 May 2010, the leader of the Liberal Democrats (UK) Nick Clegg stood together with the leader of the Conservative party David Cameron in the Rose Garden of 10 Downing Street and outlined the joint programme for coalition, the first full coalition government in the United Kingdom since 1945. Two and a half years later and the coalition have this week published a Mid Term Review with Liberal Democrat party analysis showing that “about 95%” of objectives and policies outlined in the Coalition Agreement are on course...

...Amongst the Top 10 achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government include: reducing the national deficit by 25%, the scrapping of ID cards, the creation of 1 million jobs and 1 million apprenticeships, the delivery of a £600 tax cut for 24 million working people by raising the income tax threshold to £9,440, the cutting of crime by 10% and the creation of a Green Investment Bank to unlock billions of pounds of private investment in renewable energy and create thousands more green jobs...

Sergei Mitrokhin and Grigory Yavlinsky lead YABLOKO’s column at the manifestation against the “Anti-Magnitsky law”

Press Release, Photographs, Video. January 13, 2013.

 


YABLOKO Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin and Grigory Yavlinsky, YABLOKo founder and member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, led YABLOKO’s column at the manifestation against the “Anti-Magnitsky law”.

The march started from the Pushkin square along boulevards to Sakharov Prospect. YABLOKO activists held banners “MPs and officials fight against corruption, not against children!”, “Cannibalistic Duma should be dismissed!” and others.

Yevgeny Bunimovich, Moscow Ombudsman for Children and member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, joined YABLOKO’s column during the march...

YABLOKO calls its supporters to participate in the March against the Anti-Magnitsky law on January 13

Press Release, January 11, 2013.

The YABLOKO party will support the March against the “Anti-Magnitsky law” which will take place in Moscow on Sunday, January 13. Activists will gather by the Izvestia paper office (by Tverskaya metro station) at 13:30. The march along boulevards to Sakharov Prospect will begin at 14:00. The action got a permission from the Moscow authorities.

..."We oppose the barbaric so-called Dima Yakovlev law. We believe that with this law represents a kind of a human shield of orphans put by the government around its corrupt officials. That is, our government has virtually told the world: we will protect our corrupt officials so that the whole world will tremble in terror," YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin said to journalists. According to Mitrokhin, the Anti-Magnitsky law shows that our government is cannibalistic in nature, therefore all the forces of our society that are in favor of a civilized development must unite so that to say 'no' to the cannibalistic state".

He also stressed that it was important that there were no Nazis or leftists among the organizers of the March...

Yabloko writes public letter to Depardieu

LI News Bulletin, Issue 314, January 10, 2013

After having been granted a Russian passport by President Vladimir Putin, French actor Gerard Depardieu last week visited the Russian federal Republic of Mordovia. Vladimir Gridin, the Chairman of the Mordovia branch of Yabloko (LI Full Member) has written a public letter to Depardieu, in which he points the attention of the actor to stringent issues in Russia today. Amongst the issues mentioned by Gridin are electoral fraud and the illegal expropriation of houses without compensation in the Russian republic. Gridin also states Depardieu is used to divert public attention away from the Anti-Magnitsky law, which prohibits Americans from adopting Russian orphans in response to reprisals by the United States against those responsible for the murder of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. In the World Today Resolution, adopted at the 58th Congress in Abidjan, Liberal International 'expressed its extreme concern with the strengthening of Vladimir Putin's authoritarian regime', and called on the Council of Europe 'to respond adequately to Russia's breach of its obligations as member of the Council'.

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YABLOKO’s Alexander Kobrinsky sends an art reproduction of the painting "Taking a Snow Town" by Vasily Surikov to Governor Poltavchenko

Press Release, January 9, 2013.

Alexander Kobrinsky, deputy of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg from the YABLOKO faction, sent a letter to St.Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko in connection with dispersing of the "Snow Battle" flash mob organised by young people in Marsovo Polye (Champ de Mars), St.Petersburg.

St.Petersburg police dispersed several hundreds of young people who gathered for a traditional snowball fights at Marsovo Polye on January 6. Several people were detained by police.

In his letter YABLOKO’s MP asked the Governor to give an answer whether he would go on with "tightening of the screws" and whether the principle "more than three people make a crowd" would become fundamental for St.Petersburg dwellers.

Alexander Kobrinsky urged the Governor to give an assessment to the actions of the police and demand from the heads of the St. Petersburg interior to change their attitude to the city residents who gathered to play snowballs.

"Such harmless actions are held without any problems and permissions all over Europe," Kobrinsky wrote. In confirmation of his words Kobrinsky set the Governor a reproduction painting by Vasily Surikov "Taking a Snow Town" (1891), depicting ancient Russian fun game, noting that the same game was banned by St.Petersburg police three days ago...

YABLOKO to support the March against the “Anti-Magnitsky law” on January 13

Press Release, January 9, 2013.

The YABLOKO party will support the March against the “Anti-Magnitsky law” which will take place in Moscow on Sunday, January 13.

YABLOKO has consistently opposed the so-called Dima Yakovlev law prohibiting Americans to adopt Russian children. YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin called this law "profoundly anti-human." "Adopting the Anti-Magnitsky law all the branches of power demonstrated their willingness to protect their corrupt officials in such a way that the whole world was left horrified," Mitrokhin said.

YABLOKO’s MPs in the Legislative Assemblies of St. Petersburg and the Pskov Region opposed the bill, but were not supported by the parliamentary majority. Activists from the Youth Yabloko conducted a series of one person pickets by the Federation Council on the day the senators had to examine the law. The slogan of the action was "Children are frozen in the Cold War". Four party members were detained by police and now they face large fines or community service works...

Open letter to actor Gerard Depardieu from Vladimir Gridin, leader of the Mordovia branch of YABLOKO

January 8, 2013

Dear Mr. Depardieu,

In connection with your plans to settle in Mordovia, let me ask you a few questions as so to say your new compatriot.

1. A few days ago you visited Mordovia and, as you put it, you were stunned by the hospitality shown to you there. Vladimir Volkov, President of the Republic of Mordovia, offered you in a handsome gesture an apartment or a plot of land under a house. The generosity of the head of the region struck many people in the republic, especially the residents of Tambovskaya street in Saransk...

The leader of the Dagestan branch of YABLOKO: the police are lying about the break of the cordon so that to justify their unlawful actions

Press Release, December 27, 2012.

The police released Artur Babayev, the leader of the Dagestan branch of YABLOKO, who had been previously detained in Makhachkala. The politician stated that the press service of the republican Interior Ministry lied that he had allegedly tried to break through the cordons into the building. Allegedly the building was cordoned as explosives had been found in the roof...

A police officer in the police department took Babayev’s fingerprints and photographed him allegedly "on suspicion of the previously committed crimes". In his report the policeman who brought Babayev to the police department wrote an obvious lie that the politician had tried to “break the cordon". Later this lie was broadcasted by the Interior Ministry.

Later Babayev was released, but the police refused to give him any documents proving the fact of his detention.

YABLOKO is considering the possibility to appeal against the police actions, as the law envisaged that only those "suspected of committing a crime, accused of a crime, convicted of a crime or subject to administrative arrest" are subjects to mandatory fingerprinting.

The leader of the Dagestan branch of YABLOKO detained and the party's office in Makhachkala is surrounded by police cordons

Press Release, December 27, 2012.

Artur Babyev, leader of the Dagestan branch of YABLOKO, is detained in Makhachkala. The party office is surrounded by police cordons.

About an hour ago Babayev came to the party office at Yusupova, 53. The building was surrounded by police. When Babayev tried to clarify the reasons of police cordons, one of police officials told to detain him and escort him to the Leninsky police department of Makhachkala...

Grigory Yavlinsky: “This law is an immense government’s and human meanness against defenseless orphans”

Grigory Yavlinsky’s address to the deputies of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, December 26, 2012

The Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg did not put into the agenda the address to the Federation Council calling the latter to reject the so-called Dima Yakovlev law (the "orphans law"). The address was initiated by ten members of the Legislative Assembly, including the YABLOKO faction. An appeal from Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the YABLOKO faction, was distributed among deputies before the plenary session. Here comes the complete text of the appeal...

The Ministry of Education and Science is inefficient, not universities

Statement by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin in connection with dismissal of Sergei Baburin, Rector of the Russian University for Trade and Economy (RGTEU), December 26, 2012.

At present we can observe an attack against the remnants of independence of the Russian university education. Sergei Baburin, Rector of RGTEU, was dismissed from his post by the order of the Ministry of Education on December 24. This decision is an act of political violence by the Ministry of Education against the rector, who demanded from the Ministry to explain why and under what criteria his university had been listed as "inefficient" and had had to be merged with another university.

I believe that the dismissal of Sergei Baburin, Rector of RGTEU, is unlawful and only aggravates the situation around the merger of universities. I
t is surprising that federal television channels are employed in the fight against the students and the former rector RGTEU. The pieces of news broadcasted by TV diminish the role and significance of Sergei Baburin as an academic...

Protesters against the Anti-Magnitsky Law by the Federation Council face huge fines and compulsory community service works

Press Release, December 26, 2012.

Activists of the Youth YABLOKO protesting this morning by the Federation Council against the so-called Dima Yakovlev law (“the orphans law”) are facing administrative fines amounting to RUR 30,000 (approximately USD 1,000) and compulsory community service works. Cases of administrative violations are filed against four activists.

A series of pickets against the approval by the Federation Council of the law prohibiting American families to adopt children from Russia started an hour before the plenary session of the Federation Council. In order not to violate the law, as only one-person pickets can be conducted without getting a prior permission from the authorities, the protesters planned to picket in turn changing each other every ten minutes and passing the banners "Senators, fight against corruption, not orphans" and "Children freeze in the cold war” from hand to hand...

YABLOKO to picket against the “orphans law”

Press Release, December 25, 2012.

Tomorrow, on December 26, YABLOKO activists will conduct a series of one-person pickets against adoption by the State Duma of the “orphans law” (the “Dima Yakovlev law”).

The action will be held under the slogan, “Senators, fight against corruption, not against orphans!”

The picket will be held by the Federation Council, as senators will be considering the law on December 26.

The picket will begin at 9:30 a.m...

Boris Vishnevsky: Have you voted for "anyone" but the ruling party? Now get the consequences

Boris Vishnevsky's blog at the Ekho Moskvi web-site, December 22, 2012.

"Vote for anyone but the [ruling] United Russia! ", this is how Alexei Navalny tried to persuade people on the threashold of the State Duma elections [in December 2011]. Such a variant of voting was supported then by Eunegia Chirikova, Grigory Golosov, Andrei Buzin, Artemiy Troitsky, Grigory Chkhartishvili [Boris Akunin] and others.

A large part of the protest electorate followed that advice, thus the Just Russia and the Communist party candidates got into the Duma (whereas their results were much higher than they had expected). However, YABLOKO did not get into the Duma, as many people chose to vote for the Just Russia so that “not to vote in vain”. And another part of those who could have supported the democratic opposition and get it into the Duma spoiled their ballots tempted by persuasions by Boris Nemtsov, Vladimir Ryzhkov, Viktor Shenderovich, Dmitry Bykov, Andrei Piontkovsky and others to choose the “off with all of you” strategy. Which, as I recall, its authors proudly called "a real threat to the government" and "the only correct strategy leading to a change of government and restoring of fair elections"...

A year has passed, and that the Duma adopts the "law of scoundrels" [i.e. the law on orphans]. [The ruling] United Russia and Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s faction and the communists and the Just Russia factions vote in unison on a single impulse: 420 of 450 votes "for" the law is almost an unprecedented result for parliament. Everything is clear with the Zhirinovsky’s faction and the communists. But some people vested hopes in the [socialist] Just Russia. But how did the latter vote?..

The ban on adoption of Russian children by US citizens is immoral

RIA Novosti, December 24, 2012.

St.Petersburg, Dec. 24, RIA Novosti. Alexander Shishlov, Human Rights Commissioner in St. Petersburg, considers the adoption of amendments to the draft law "On measures against persons involved in violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms, rights and freedoms of citizens of the Russian Federation" prohibiting the adoption of Russian orphans by U.S. citizens, immoral...

"The adoption of the amendments prohibiting adoptions of orphaned Russian children by U.S. citizens seems to me a very cynical act. The authors of the amendments virtually propose to apply "sanctions" not against the individuals involved in human rights violations (which, as follows from its title the draft law targets at), but against Russian children who can not find a family in Russia at present, " said Shishlov...

YABLOKO demands actions from the Krasnoyarsk government on the Boguchanskaya Hydroelectric Power Station

Plotine.net, December 21, 2012.

On December 20, representatives of non-parliamentary parties spoke to the deputies of the Krasnoyarsk Region Legislative Assembly. Oksana Demchenko, Chair of the Krasnoyarsk regional branch of YABLOKO, urged the lawmakers to oblige the owners of the Boguchanskaya Hydroelectric Power Station to evaluate and compensate for the damage caused to the environment and local people, as well as conduct an environmental assessment of their further development of the Lower Angara River area.

According to Demchenko, the creation of powerful new industries in the area (an aluminum plant, a timber complex and wood-chemical and pulp and paper mills) is impossible without a strategic environmental assessment, otherwise the present practices of development of the territories will inevitably lead to an imbalance between the industrial development and the environment. "The lack of a strategic environmental assessment of the investment projects does not allow to create a model of a rational use of natural resources in the region," she said in her speech. Oksana Demchenko also recalled that six weeks ago, the federal Political Council of the YABLOKO party sent a special message to the Legislative Assembly of the Krasnoyarsk region, noting disturbing examples of negligence of the standards of social and environmental responsibility in the Lower Angara area...

We demand that prosecution of Suren Gazaryan be stopped

Statement by the YABLOKO party, December 21, 2012.

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses a categorical protest against the prosecution of Suren Gazaryan and putting him on the federal wanted list. Suren Gazaryan is a well-known environmentalist, an organizer of public actions against outrageous environmental violations in the Krasnodar region, the initiator of the resonance investigations of unlawful construction of permanent facilities in the natural reserves, Gazaryan plays an important role in the socio-political life of the region and criminal prosecution of Gazaryan represents nothing but a revenge of the authorities to him for his civil and political activity...

Considering the prosecution of Suren Gazaryan politically motivated, the YABLOKO party demands from Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, to check the actions of his subordinates in the Krasnodar region who have been fabricating the second criminal case against Suren Gazaryan on absolutely fictitious grounds.

YABLOKO calls on all opposition forces, all the honest people to switch into the campaign in defence of Suren Gazaryan. Let us not allow the authorities to imprison him!

Changes to Khodorkovsky's jail sentence must not deflect EU from asking tough questions of Russia at today's summit

Press Release, ALDE, December 21, 2012

ALDE spokeswoman on Russia Kristiina Ojuland MEP today expressed satisfaction at news of the two-year reduction in the prison sentence of businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky but warned EU leaders at today's EU-Russia summit not to be misled...

"This welcome news on the Khodorkovsky case should not be allowed to obscure the profound deterioration in the rule of law in Russia"...

YABLOKO conducted a round table on Russia’s migration problems

Press Release, December 19, 2012.

The YABLOKO party invited experts to discuss migration problems in Russia. Opening the round table, Boris Misnik, Coordinator of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, outlined the key issues for the discussion, including control over residence and registration, their legal basis, living conditions in the country of residence, everyday xenophobia and others.

Galina Mikhalyova, Secretary of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, stressed that YABLOKO realized the complexity of the migration problems.

"We have invited experts so that they would help us to develop a clear position on this issue. Because a social-liberal political party offering an alternative to the government’s policy, can not avoid this complex problem," she said...

Sanctions against Russian orphans

Grigory Yavlinsky's Live Journal, December 19, 2012.

The issue on the [Russian Duma] ban on adoptions of [Russian] orphans by Americans is important. I am very sorry for the children.

It is a significant law. Not only it gives another proof of stupidity and the resulting cruelty, but also demonstrates the Bolshevik and Stalinist nature of the Russian political system. A kind of capitalism with a Stalin's face.

Bolsheviks and Stalinists always take a "revenge" on their enemy in such a way that it brings a huge and often irreparable damage to the citizens of Russia, in this case to desolate and helpless children, whom they regard as their property, as serfs, as inanimate objects...

The sanctions against Russian orphans imposed by the State Duma are a disgusting, cruel, unfair and cowardly decision adopted in a unanimous pseudo-patriotic frenzy...

State Duma’s revenge on the US affects only Russian orphans

Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, December 18, 2012.

The YABLOKO party expresses its resolute protest against the intention of the State Duma to adopt an amendment into the controversial draft law "On measures against persons involved in the violation of the rights of citizens of the Russian Federation" (the so-called "Dima Yakovlev Law") as a “response” by the Russian authorities to the Magnitsky Act adopted in the US. The amendment bans the adoption of Russian children by US citizens

We do not think that the adoption of the Magnitsky Act was right, as the "punishment" in the form of a refuse to issue visas is not based on a court decision. Actually in dealing with this foreign policy issue the US abolished a juridical approach they are guided in the solution of domestic issues.

However, the "response" of the Russian Duma turned out to be not even more unlawful, but simply disgusting. The victims of legal nihilism of the Russian lawmakers are not Americans (who will simply adopt children in other countries), but the most vulnerable category of the Russian citizens – the orphans...

Liberals - the engine of European integration of Moldova

Press Release, the ALDE party, December 19, 2012

On Saturday 15 December, Mihai Ghimpu MP, President of the Liberal Party of Moldova, Corina Fusu MP, Deputy President of the Liberal Party and Elena Prus, President of the Institute for Liberal Studies opened the conference "Liberals - the engine of European integration of Moldova" . Sir Graham Watson MEP, President of the ALDE Party addressed conference participants in a video message. He encouraged Moldova's European integration aim and appreciated the efforts of the MPs and ministers of adjusting the national framework to European standards and values...

Yabloko Party representative in the Russian Federation, Galina Michaleva, spoke about the relationship between Russia and the EU and about the problems of the post-Soviet countries in the process of EU integration. The Expert of the Foreign Policy Association, Eugen Revenco spoke about the role of civil society in Moldova's European integration...

The State Duma should abolish the adoption of the law on homosexual “propaganda”!

Statement by YABLOKO's Gender faction, December 18, 2012.

On December 19, 2012, the State Duma is going to pass a bill targeted against a part of our society, namely, people belonging to the LGBT community (Lesbian - Gay - Bisexual - Transgender) under the pretext of taking care of children who for some reason should not know about people with other view points and habits.

In the West and other parts of the world the states have ceased to look under their citizens’ blankets prescribing how and with whom they should have sex. Moreover, many countries have legalised gay marriages, and even adoption of children by such couples.

This shameful law against different people disseminating hatred and ousting part of our compatriots into ghettos is virtually accusing them of inferiority. The adoption of such a law means returning of the Soviet law on "sodomy" envisaging criminal prosecution or even refers to the Nazis’ "final solution of the problem" of homosexuality in gas cameras...

Grigory Yavlinsky: reduction of corruption in St.Petersburg implies transparency of financial procedures and control of the St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly over the city budget

Press Release, December 17, 2012.

Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of YABLOKO’s parliamentary faction in St.Petersburg, introduced his amendments to the Rules of the Budget and Finance Committee of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg. These amendments are targeted at improving the transparency of the Committee, as well as enhancing control over the budget planning. According to Yavlinsky, adoption of these amendments would reduce abuse in the field of public funds.

"We need to qualitatively change our approach to the [city] budget. The whole process should be modern and transparent. Only in this case it is possible to reduce corruption," Yavlinsky said. He proposed to the city MPs to publish the agenda of the Committee and all the relevant documents at the web-site of the Legislative Assembly. Also he noted that the agenda of the Committee should be approved in advance...

"[At present] most of St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly MPs vote for the budget without its detailed analysis or control over expenditures, being satisfied by redistribution of less than one per cent of the budget for their own goals within the frameworks of the Committee. It resembles an exchange of services: MPs do not control the budget, and the officials allow them to spend 0.5 per cent of the budget at their discretion. This is a pattern of political corruption," Yavlinsky said...

Grigory Yavlinsky: depriving of officials of their bonuses for failing to implement the budget for St.Petersburg for 2012 is a correct, but insufficient measure

Press Release, December 17, 2012.

Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the YABLOKO faction in St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, commented on the Governor’s decision to deprive a number of city officials of their bonuses for poor implementation of the budget for 2012.

"Implementation of the budget lies in the direct responsibilities of the Government of St. Petersburg. Year after year, we have observed non-implementation of the law [on the budget]. The authorities regularly proclaim that the budget is ‘socially oriented’, however also regularly do not implement the key items of the budget: do not build social facilities such as schools, kindergartens and hospitals, they do not to build roads and other infrastructure facilities. St.Petersburg dwellers pay taxes, and the government in exchange for this promises them mountains of gold, however, in the last minute the government reports that citizens will not receive even what has been planned. The residents of the city quite correctly perceive this as a deceit and their trust to the government drops," Yavlinsky said...

The Supreme Court authorised a total wiretapping of the opposition leaders

Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, December 13, 2012.

The Supreme Court of the RF adopted a resolution announcing wiretapping of any opposition member absolutely lawful.

The resolution was adopted on the Maxim Petlin case. The highest court recognised the sanction of the court on listening to Petlin’s telephone conversations and spying on him lawful, as he is member of the YABLOKO party.

The decision of the Supreme Court, which will clearly form a precedent for the entire court system was based only on Petlin’s participation in the work of the YABLOKO party and, therefore, can be applied to any member of our or any other opposition party.

The court ruled out that participation in the activities of a political party held "some evidence of crime as envisaged by Article 280 of the Criminal Code [namely] "public calls for extremist activities".

Indeed, the YABLOKO party, as was indicated by the court, was aiming at “changing the Putin-Medvedev regime” organizing protest actions, and, which is the worst thing, giving a negative assessment to the "broadening of the proxies of the Federal Security Service of Russia”...

Reduction of budget funding for treatment of cancer patients means genocide!

Statement by the Social Democratic Faction of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO, December 12, 2012.

We are outraged by the statement made by Maxim Mishchenko, leader of the [pro-Kremlin] Young Russia movement, on the need to reduce budget expenditure on treatment of cancer patients. The former MP from the United Russia faction intends to introduce his criminal initiative at the hearings of the Public Chamber devoted to paid medical services, after which he intends to send the draft to the Ministry of Healthcare.

We regard the initiative proposed by the leader of United Russia's youth organisation as an open manifestation of fascism and violation of the Constitution of the Russian Federation guaranteeing all citizens the right to life and free health care.

We demand that the ruling party stop its mockery of Russia’s people and the attack on the right of citizens to high-quality free education and free health care, as well as curbing of the social responsibilities of the state taking place against the background of an unprecedented in Russia's history growth of oil and gas revenues...

If EU leaders are not prepared to agree on how to end the crisis, they should stay at home

Press Release, ALDE, December 12, 2012

"Tomorrow's EU summit in Brussels lacks ambition", according to ALDE group leader, Guy Verhofstadt, addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg today.

"Last June, the European Council decided that by the end of the year 'a time bound road map for the achievement of a genuine economic and monetary union' would be agreed, yet expectations of any agreement at this week's summit are so low that EU leaders might as well stay home."

"Meanwhile the crisis is not over, spreads remain above 400 base points for Spain and the mere prospect of a return of Berlusconi to politics in Italy sends shock waves through the markets"...

Sharon Bowles (UK, Lib Dem), chairwoman of Parliament's economic and monetary affairs committee, underlined the cost of delay: "Delay may be politically convenient but it has a high cost - not just in financial terms, but in the human cost and the blight of uncertainty that lies over the plans of individuals and businesses across Europe"...

Romania: ‘I now foresee a period of difficult cohabitation’

Press Release, the ALDE party, December 12, 2012

On Monday morning, ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson MEP hosted a breakfast for members of the press and presented a liberal view on the latest headlines around Europe before answering questions.

He first welcomed the result of the elections in Romania, remarking: “despite the low turnout, early indications are the ruling USL social-liberal alliance in Romania has won a large majority of the popular vote which could rise to as much as 70%. I now foresee a period of difficult cohabitation in the country.”

“I see a lot of parallels with the situations in Romania and in Italy,” he continued. “I regret the pulling of support by Silvio Berlusconi's People of Liberty party for the government of Mario Monti and I fear that in the aftermath of this election, the pressure for economic discipline could slip. The last thing we need at this time are crises in those two economies which are bigger than Greece’s.”

Sir Graham also answered questions on the UN Climate Summit in Doha, Qatar, that concluded on Sunday and which he attended...

YABLOKO’s Elena Dubrovina receives the Lawyer of the Year award

Greetings from Sergei Mitrokhin, December 9, 2012.

Dear Elena Pavlovna,

For and on behalf of the YABLOKO party I am pleased to congratulate you on awarding you the Lawyer of the Year prize. This prize is especially valuable because it is awarded to you by your colleagues. This represents, though to a small extent only, the recognition of your high qualification, your commitment to principles and independence. Your respect for the law, which characterises your professional activity, may serve as a model for all lawyers.

We are proud that our views coincide and that we have been working together...

The third action of Vladimir Putin supporters in front of the Krasnodar YABLOKO office is marked by burning of effigies of Sergei Mitrokhin, Evgenia Chirikova and Alexei Navalny

Press Release, Video, December 6, 2012.

On December 4, 2012, the third action of Vladimir Putin supporters took place in front of the Krasnodar office of the YABLOKO party. The action was organised by the Social Justice public organisation uniting Vladimir Putin supporters. The participants of the action burned the effigies of Sergei Mitrokhin, Evgenia Chirikova and Alexei Navalny.

 


About 50 people participated in the ‘puting’ (a word coined of two words - “Putin” and “meeting” - and meaning a loud action in support of Vladimir Putin). Most of them were elderly people. They stated that “YABLOKO was trying to destroy Russia”, and that “YABLOKO was fungus and moldiness parasiting on Russia’s healthy body”...

YABLOKO’s candidate for the post of the head of the Krymsk District in the South Russia is removed from elections due to a provocation from the authorities

Press Release, December 4, 2012.

YABLOKO’s candidate for the post of the head of the Krymsk District in the South Russia, removed from elections due to a sly provocation from the authorities
A few days ago the Krymsk District Court imposed a fine amounting to RUR 2,000 on a Mr.Petrenko, who pretended to campaign for Yugeny Vitishko distributing food-stuff allegedly on behalf of Vitishko. Vitishko did not know the campaigner and therefore did not interfere into the trial or challenge the court’s decision.
However, due to this decision, the Court was able to remove Vitishko from the elections because bribing of voters was allegedly conducted on behalf of Vitishko. This decision was made by Judge Galina Yurchevskaya on December 4...

Membership of WTO is not a blank cheque for Russia in its trade relations with the EU

Press Release, ALDE, December 5, 2012

At the initiative of Silvana Koch-Mehrin (FDP, Germany) and Kristiina Ojuland (Reform Party, Estonia), the ALDE group held today a seminar on the trade relationship between EU and Russia with the key participation of Pascal Lamy, General Director of the WTO, and Karel de Gucht, EU Commissioner for Trade. Russia is the EU's third largest trading partner. In a resolution adopted during last October's plenary session, the European Parliament stressed that its accession to the WTO should accelerate reforms in Russia, including the fight against corruption and application of the rule of law...

European Liberals warn against attempts to limit internet freedom

Press Release, the ALDE party, December 5, 2012

"The internet is borderless and it is its decentralised organisation that has created so much value for billions of people worldwide", said ALDE Party President Sir Graham Watson as the delegates of the world conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) gathered for the opening in Dubai discussing a revision of a global treaty governing the internet.

Many states and corporations seek a tight grip on the internet to suppress people or pursue vested business interests but the internet must remain free to allow people to freely create and innovate, organise and influence economic progress and societal development.

For many centuries "European Liberals have always been the guardians of individual liberties offline. We will continue doing so also online as well ", added the President of European Liberal Democrats referring to a strong resolution on the preservation of global digital freedom adopted by the ALDE Party at its recent Congress in Dublin...

YABLOKO to conduct lectures for electoral commission members with a casting vote

Press Release, December 3, 2012.

Next week YABLOKO launches a series of lectures on the work of electoral commission members with a casting vote. All candidates to electoral commissions (those registered at the party web-site and those not registered yet) can listen to the lectures.

A law on formation of precinct electoral commissions for next five years came into force on November 1. These commissions will work at elections of all levels until April 2018. YABLOKO goes on recruiting candidates for nomination as members of precinct electoral commissions with a casting vote...

A “memorial action of the deceased fair elections” took place by the Central Electoral Commission Moscow office and in other cities

Press Release, December 4, 2012.

A “memorial action of the deceased fair elections” has begun by the Central Electoral Commission Moscow office and in other cities. The action was launched by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin by laying flowers to the Central Electoral Commission Moscow office at noon...

Today YABLOKO activists have been laying white carnations to electoral commissions in Ufa, Saransk, Kazan, Izhevsk, Voronezh, Kirov, Penza, Pskov, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tula, Vladimir, Vologda and Novgorod.

Sergei Mitrokhin: Churov has not realized what happened a year ago

Press Release, December 4, 2012.

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has not realized what happened in the parliamentary elections on December 4, 2011. It was not the YABLOKO party which stole the votes, votes were stolen from the YABLOKO party. This is how YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin commented on the statement from the CEC press service running that if YABLOKO did not recognize the results of the voting, then it would be "logical" for YABLOKO to refuse state financing [allotted to all the political parties in Russia that obtaining over three 3 per cent at the elections].

Sergei Mitrokhin compared such a proposal on behalf of the CEC for YABLOKO to give up state financing with a situation when a police would suddenly demand money from a robbery victim as they can not find the robbers.

YABLOKO leader also noted that the party had filed hundreds of complaints to courts, but they had been rejected, despite obvious evidence of violations – election carousels, stuffing of fraudulent ballots into ballot boxes, ousting of observers from polling stations and faking of final voting protocols.

Mitrokhin also said that he applied to Gennady Zyuganov, Communist Party leader, in April 2012 with a proposal to file a joint lawsuit demanding cancellation of the elections. "Only a few days are left until this plan can be realised," Mitrokhin said...

People will be bringing flowers in memory to the Central Electoral Commission in memory of the deceased fair elections for the whole day on December 4

Press Release, December 3, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin proposed to commemorate the death day of the most important democratic procedure – fair elections – on the one-year anniversary of the parliamentary elections of 2011...

The Tula regional branch of YABLOKO also calls on all supporters of fair elections bring white carnations to the 6th entrance of the Government of Tula Region office, where the Electoral Commission of the Tula region is located. The action will be held on December 4, from 12:00 to 13:00.

The Vladimir branch of the YABLOKO party will lay flowers to the office of the Oktyabrsky District Administration in Vladimir on December 4. The territorial electoral commission is located in this building. On December 4, 2011, this commission adopted and counted six thousand fraudulent votes from the "Ladoga" resort complex. All the votes were cast for the ruling United Russia party.

A rally in support of hundreds of deceived farmers to take place in Mozhaisk, the Moscow region

Press Release, November 30, 2012.

On Saturday, December 1, a rally in support of hundreds of deceived farmers organised by the YABLOKO party will take place in Mozhaisk, the Moscow region. YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin will participate in the action.
In 1992, 827 workers of the farms Pavlishchevo and Klementevo received documents confirming their right of collective share on land. Each of the workers received 6.64 hectares of land.
In 2001, the companies management persuaded about 600 farmers (mainly elderly people) to give their documents to the Registration Chamber allegedly for mandatory registration of their rights. According to the victims, the deputy head of the rural settlement who had the right to notarize documents forged the powers of attorney and transferred the land to the companies without any pay to the farmers. Head of the Registration Chamber was bribed and signed the deal...

Sergei Mitrokhin: December 4 marks commemoration of fair elections

Sergei Mitrokhin’s blog at the Ekho Moskvi Radio Station web-site, November 28, 2012.

December 4 marks a mournful date. A year ago our country suffered a terrible loss: elections to the State Duma which took place on this day hammered the last nail in the coffin of fair elections.

Deeply regretting this and we are urging all of you to commemorate the death day of the most important democratic procedure.

We invite all those grieving with us to participate in the mourning ceremony. Let us honor the memory of the deceased – please bring white carnations to the main entrance of the Central Electoral Commission office (Bolshoi Cherkassky pereuluk, 9, Moscow).

If access to the main entrance is blocked, the flowers can be left anywhere by the Central Electoral Commission office.

YABLOKO activists plan to lay flowers starting from 11:00 a.m., I will come to the ceremony at 12:00...

Aung San Suu Kyi Meets with US President Obama in Burma

LI News Bulletin, Issue 309, November 28, 2012

LI Prize for Freedom Laureate and Leader of the opposition National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, met with US President Barack Obama in Burma earlier this week which further solidified the remarkable democratization progress that the country has been undergoing for the past year. Her welcoming speech to the President was marked with concern as she clearly stressed that while the on-going reforms by the Burmese government are certainly encouraging one should use caution and remember that many prisoners of conscience still remain behind bars...

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Members of the YABLOKO faction in St.Petersburg parliament voted against the law on the St. Petersburg budget for 2013

Press Release, Video, November 28, 2012.

According to Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the YABLOKO faction in St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, the city budget was implemented only by 51 per cent for the first nine months of 2012. This had been announced by St.Petersburg government on the eve of discussion of the budget in the parliament. This means that many social facilities, roads, etc. were not built.



According to Yavlinsky, failure to implement the budget in 2012 demonstrates the overall work of the government. "This non-implementaiton of the budget shows that the government of St. Petersburg fails in solving its main task. If this non-implementation goes on, then what is the point in the social obligations declared by the city government? If these tasks are never fully implemented? What's the point in the continuous discussions that there is no enough funding for this or that thing? If the money is in the treasury, then what it is spent on? What's the point in raising taxes, excise taxes, etc.? " Yavlinsky said...

Ombudsman Lukin: Hunger strike over in the Kopeisk prison

Interfax, November 27, 2012.

The situation at Prison No.6 in Kopeisk near Chelyabinsk, and in the region as a whole, has returned to normal, Russian human rights commissioner Vladimir Lukin told Interfax.

"We have just talked with our colleagues who said that all prisoners have started accepting meals and voluntarily gathered for a roll-call," Lukin said on Tuesday.

Law enforcement officials earlier denied reports that inmates had gone on a hunger strike, but human rights activists claimed some of the inmates had rejected food...

Sergei Mitrokhin: Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachyov much be charged with negligence in the case of a flood in Krymsk resulting in many victims

Press Release, November 27, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin said that not only officials from district and city governments, but also officials from the Krasnodar Territory Administration and Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachyov much be charged with negligence in the case of a flood in Krymsk resulting in many victims.

“I am satisfied with the fact that a charge was brought against the local authorities, but this is not enough. We have convincingly shown that the regional authorities have failed to implement their duties, however, none of the officials incurred the responsibility. Why Governor Tkachyov guilty of criminal negligence should remain in his post for another five years endangering the population of his territory? “ Mitrokhin said...

A picket in support of Suren Gazaryan held in Kazan

Press Release, November 27, 2012.

On Saturday activists of the YABLOKO held a picket in support of YABLOKO’s Suren Gazoryan facing several years of imprisonment for standing up against Governor Tkachyov’s unlawful seizure of public lands in the Black Sea Coast.

About 15 people participated in the picket in Kazan. Nailya Biktimirova, representating of the Social-Ecological Union, said that this summer she met with Gazaryan in Moscow at the award ceremony of the Presidential Council for Civil Society Development and Human Rights. At that time Gazoryan was sentenced to three years of probation for graffiti and “damaging” of the fence around Governor’s cottage built on public land. However, a new case against Gazaryan may lead to his imprisonment, as accordikng to the investigators, YABLOKO’s activist had allegedly threatened to kill the three guards of the so-called Putin’s Palace.

"I think any environmental activist may be imprisoned now, as the authorities have been trying to defend the territory they did not have any right to sale and develop,” said Naila Biktimirova...

Convergencia remains largest force in Catalan elections

Press Release, the ALDE party, November 26, 2012
Convèrgencia i Unió (CiU) continues to be the leading political force in the Catalan parliament with 50 seats after last Sunday's elections. While Party leader Artur Mas will have to form a coalition agreement in order to hold a parliamentarian majority, he does “not regret his decision to call for new elections, since it was necessary to find out where the majorities were,” according to Mas. With a strong economic programme to propel Catalonia out the financial crisis and a pledge to call for a referendum on the future status of Catalonia, CiU is expected to lead the future coalition government...

YABLOKO faction formed in the Municipal Council of the Presnensky district, Moscow

Press Release, November 27, 2012.

The YABLOKO faction has been formed in the Municipal Council of the Presnensky district, Moscow. It consists of three municipal deputies: Ekaterina Kalatskaya, Sergei Bocharov and Yuri Novikov.
Despite the fact that municipal deputies decided to create a faction immediately after the elections in March 2012, they have managed to implement this only now. Normally formation of a faction does not require a decision from a municipal council, however, YABLOKO’s deputies had to face resistance from the chairman and some deputies of the Council...

To investigate the reasons behind the prison riot in the Chelyabinsk region

Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, November 26, 2012.

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO demands investigation of the events that led to the riot in the Penal Colony No 6 in the city of Kopeysk, the Chelyabinsk region, on November 24, and unjustified cruelty in suppressing of the riot and use of riot police (OMON) for dispersing prisoners’ relatives and human rights activists who gathered by the prison.

So far, the Russian society has not received any coherent explanation from the prison administration and the heads of the Federal Service for Execution of Punishment. However, there is no doubt that such a large-scale confrontation between prisoners and the prison administration can not occur all of a sudden. Unfortunately, Penal Colony No 6 has been notoriously "famous" for a series of scandals involving the deaths and tortures of prisoners. Information coming from the administration and the Federal Service for Execution and Punishment of "an unlawful demand of 250 prisoners on weakening of the regime" does not look credible. We see the prisoners’ calls for help, excessive use of force by the riot police against prisoners’ relatives and human rights activists...

Women demanded from the State Duma to protect women from domestic violence

Press Release, Photographs, November 25, 2012.

An action against violence against women was held in Moscow on November 25. The participants demanded from the State Duma to urgently adopt a law protecting women from domestic violence.

YABLOKO’s Gender faction had been conducting such actions for the third year already on the first day of the UN campaign "16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women"...

The authorities want to put YABLOKO’s candidate to the Mayor of Krymsk into prison

Press Release, November 23, 2012.

Yugeny Vitishko, a renowned environmentalist and civil rights activist, member of the Regional Council of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO and member of the North Caucasus Environmental Watch, is running for the post of head of the Krymsk District in South Russia (the district which suffered from a large flood this summer) from the YABLOKO party. The elections will be held on December 9.
This summer, Vitishko was sentenced due to fraudulent evidence to three years probation for the "damage to the fence" around the Governor Tkachyov’s cottage. The lands under the cottage and the fensed beach nearby still registered as public are virtually in the Governor’s property. Now new charges are invented so that to withdraw a strong candidate from the election campaign. The authorities threaten to replace a suspended sentence by a real imprisonment...

Stop discrediting Russia!

Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, November 22, 2012.

The campaign of mobbing of renowned human rights organisations - the "Memorial", Transparency International, the Moscow Helsinki Group, the Foundation for Economic and Legal Development USRF and "For Human Rights" movement - unleashed by pro-Kremlin youth movements is unlawful and immoral.

Similar actions are taken in respect of the YABLOKO party. On November 19 a second rally by the pro-Putin organisation called "Social Justice" was held by the Krasnodar office of the YABOKO party. Vladimir Putin’s supporters try to make our party to "publicly apologize for the insulting leaflets against the elected President"...

A second action in support of Vladimir Putin takes place in front the Krasnodar office of the YABLOKO party

Press Service by the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO, Videos, November 21, 2012.

On November 19, a rally of public non-governmental organisation Social Justice (supporting Vladimir Putin) took place in front of the in front the Krasnodar office of the YABLOKO party.
The organizers of the rally tried to make the Krasnodar YABLOKO "publicly apologize for the insulting leaflets against the elected President".

This is already the second action against YABLOKO organised by Krasnodar supporters of Vladimir Putin. The first action in a form of a pocket was held in front of the office of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO on November 1. The pro-Putin rally gathered about 50 participants who carried slogans "The Krasnodar Territory supports Putin" and "Social justice." The overwhelming majority of the participants were elderly women. Several supervisors registered those who came to the rally so that to give them remuneration for participation in the rally...

YABLOKO activists, in turn, spread among the protesters different materials about Putin, including the booklet "The Black Sea Palaces and Their Hosts" and "Life of the Galley Slave" and other booklets (‘anti-government’ from the point of the view of the organizers of the rally). The booklets went like hotcakes, despite of active counteraction of the organizers who tried to snatch the booklets from the hands of their own activists. But the participants of the pro-Putin rally turned out to be interested in alternative information about Putin and carried away about 100 "anti-government’s" booklets...

YABLOKO and Muscovites inspected Ostankino park

Press Release, November 19, 2012.

Activists of the YABLOKO party, led by party leader Sergei Mitrokhin, together with the residents of the Ostankino district, Moscow, held a public inspection of natural and historical park Ostankino.
The inspection revealed a large number of violations of environmental legislation in the interests of unknown businesses and officials from the administration of the park and the city authorities...

Women on Boards: Liberals and Democrats back EU gender quota plan

Press Release, ALDE, November 14, 2012

Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament (ALDE) firmly support Commissioner Reding with regard to her EU-wide gender quota plan to increase the number of women in leadership roles presented today. In March 2012 ALDE called for such binding measures to reverse the insufficient progress made towards better gender-balance in corporate management boards. The liberals acknowledge that quotas are a very blunt instrument but a necessary evil at the same time because voluntary measures have proven unsuccessful in addressing the equality gap. The legislation put forward today includes clear quotas to increase female representation in companies' boards to 40% by 2020...

Do not write on a non-existing fence

Gogol.tv, November 19, 2012

Suren Ghazaryan, PhD, is a speleologist and biologist studying bats in the Institute of Ecology of Mountain Territories of the Kabardino-Balkar Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, member of the Northern Caucasus Environmental Watch non-governmental prganisation. His and Yegeny Vitishko’s participation in the public campaign against the seizure of forest and coastline at the Black Sea (near the village of Dzhubga) by Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachyo resulted in criminal prosecution against Ghazaryan and Vitishko and three years of a suspended sentence for the "damage to property" ("This is our forest", "Alexander is a thief!" was written on the fence around the Governor’s cottage).

However, earlier environmentalists had got several answers from the Public Prosecutor’s Office where the latter had been denying the existence of any fence around the Governor’s cottage located at unlawfully seized public lands...

LI Public Dialogue with Yabloko's Mitrokhin

LI News Bulletin, Issue 308, November 16, 2012

Continuing the series of LI Public Dialogue events, the leader of the Russian liberal party Yabloko (LI full member) Sergei Mitrokhin addressed the assembledaudience in London focusing on the current trends in Russian politics and the perspectives of future democratic development of his country.

In his speech Mitrokhin warned that Russia had 'a similar situation exactly 100 years ago', and continued: 'Today we observe a new wave of reprisals in Russia against opposition activists and all dissenters against the backdrop of the curb on human rights and freedoms; suppression of the freedom of speech; use of the law enforcement and the judiciary as a tool for reprisals.'' Hosting the event in the Houses of Parliament Simon Hughes MP, Deputy Leader of LibDems (LI full member) and Lord Alderdice, immediate past LI President, expressed concern about the ongoing deterioration of civil rights and liberties in Russia. They praised Mitrokhin and Yabloko for their peaceful, but decisive actions in fighting to safeguard the freedoms of the Russian people, guaranteed by the international European instruments that Russia has ratified.

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Grigory Yavlinsky: education and health care should be among the priorities of the state policy

Press Release, November 14, 2012.

Such a statement was made by Grigory Yavlinsky, founder of the YABLOKO party and leader of the YABLOKO faction in the St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, during an open lesson on social studies for senior students in St.Petersburg School No 526 on November 13, 2012.

According to Yavlinsky, health care and education are the most fundamental sectors for the future of Russia. He criticised the policies of the present Russian government, "Recently Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that the expenditures on education in the coming years will be the same as expenditure on the defence. First, this is not quite true, consolidated defence expenditures are considerably higher. Second, these things can not be compared. Indeed, the security of the country virtually bases on the high quality of education"...

A Russian Deja-Vu. The Political Development and the Objectives of the YABLOKO party

Sergei Mitorkhin's lecture in the British Parliment. London, November 12, 2012

...Soon it will turn a year since the beginning of mass protest rallies in Russia. For many people these rallies meant hopes for rapid democratic changes. Frankly speaking, I have never shared such an optimistic point of view.

For me, it was clear that Vladimir Putin would consider the awakening of the society as disorders and side-affects of the "liberalization" carried out by ex President Dmitry Medvedev. And this meant that Putin’s only possible response to the mass protests could be "tightening the screws" or, in other words, increase of reprisals.

This is how Vladimir Putin’s regime tries to avoid the fate of his Middle Eastern counterparts. Obviously, Putin has been very concerned of the fates of his colleagues from the Arab world, and this makes him take up preventive measures against the Arab Spring scenario in Russia...

Sergei Mitrokhin made a speech in the Houses of Parliament in London

Press Release, November 12, 2012.

In his speech in the Houses of Parliament in London YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin stated that policies of the Russian government towards an anti-European way of development had been changing the situation in the country. In his speech Mitrokhin touched upon such topics as political reprisals, toughening of the laws, clericalisation of the state and the problems of the opposition.

“A conflict with the West has become more apparent and moreover demonstrative. Cultivation of xenophobia and hostility to the outside world allows the regime to feel more confident when rejecting accusations of election fraud, destruction of an independent judiciary, and so on,” Mitrokhin stressed.

Sergei Mitrokhin’s briefing was held on the initiative of Lord John Alderdice. The meeting was hosted Simon Hughes MP, Deputy Leader of LibDems, and Lord Alderdice, immediate past LI President. British MPs from the Liberal Democratic Party and their supporters and students from the London School of Economics and other British Universities participated in the meeting...

Natalia Yevdokimova and Andrei Babushkin become members of the Human Rights Council

Press Release, November 12, 2012.

Prominent YABLOKO’s activists Natalia Yevdokimova and Andrei Babushkin have been appointed members of the Presidential Council for Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights. They were recommended to the Human Rights Council basing on the results of an Internet voting. Presidential decree on the appointment of new Council members has been signed and published today.

"The Council has been an effective mechanism, it has revealed to the public many violations of civil rights," said Andrei Babushkin, Chair of the "Committee for Civil Rights" and YABLOKO Bureau member.

"I am convinced that such a large number of human rights activists in this body, its openness to the public, and, I hope, President's attention to this body can help in work of protection of human rights. The Council I will do the same thing [I have been engaged with for many years] - development of the law on public control [over the governments] and spread of the institute of amending judicial errors. We will seek so that the removal of judicial errors would became a part of the Criminal Administrative Code and subordinate legislation and regulations," noted Babushkin.

"Hopefully, it will be easier to work for us because we feel a friend’s shoulder,” says Natalia Yevdokimova, Executive Secretary of the Human Rights Council of St. Petersburg and YABLOKO member. “The Council joins together many well-known human rights activists, and for us it is an opportunity to cooperate with them and discuss things with experienced people"...

Sergei Mitrokhin and Liberals in Russia

Politicus, November 12, 2012

Being a Liberal in Russia is a risky vocation, as putting one’s head above the parapet politically is an invitation to harrassment, arrest, criminal proceedings and heafty fines or imprisonment. High profile anti-establishment activists such as Pussy Riot get lots of foreign media attention and noises of sympathy from the outside world, of course, but even in their case that did not stop two of their number being sentenced to two years detention each in different gulags. Alas, as the leader of Russia’s Liberal Party Yabloko, Sergei Mitrokhin, detailed in a speech at Westminster this lunchtime, the long arm of President Putin’s law is getting firmer. He highlighted three aspects of particular concern regarding the current political situation in Russia and the crackdown against Liberal forces...

On YABLOKO’s initiative the Congress of European liberals condemned reprisals against Russian opposition

Press Release, November 10, 2012.

The Congress of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) adopted an urgency resolution “On reprisals against YABLOKO activists and dissenters in Russia”.

The resolution was submitted by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin who was delegate of the Congress.

ALDE (the earlier name ELDR) joins together all the European liberal and democratic parties. The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO has been full member of ALDE since 2006. The ALDE Congress is held in Dublin, Ireland, on November 8-10, 2012.
The resolution marks a new wave of reprisals in Russia against opposition activists and all dissenters against the present government’s policies against the backdrop of the curb on human rights and freedoms; suppression of the freedom of speech; use of the law enforcement and the judiciary as a tool for reprisals”.
The ALDE Congress called on the ALDE groups to raise the issue in the European Parliament and the Council of Europe and draw the attention of the Russian government to the inadmissibility of persecutions for criticism...

On reprisals against YABLOKO activists and dissenters in Russia
Urgency Resolution submitted by the YABLOKO party and adopted by ALDE Congress on November 9, 2012

 

ALDE

Noting

- a new wave of reprisals in Russia against opposition activists and all dissenters against the present government’s policies against the backdrop of the curb on human rights and freedoms; suppression of the freedom of speech; use of the law enforcement and the judiciary as a tool for reprisals;

- persecution against YABLOKO activists and candidates to the regional parliament Suren Gazaryan and Yenegy Vitishko, who have been charged with a criminal offence that could lead to their imprisonment for criticising Krasnodar Region Governor Alexander Tkachev for his unlawful seizure of public lands and their fight for human rights and environmental safety in the region

Calls

- On the ALDE groups to raise the issue in the European Parliament and the Council of Europe and draw the attention of the Russian government to the inadmissibility of persecutions for criticism, in violation of Russia’s obligations relating to its membership of the Council of Europe and in direct contrast with the statements of the Russian authorities on adherence to democratic values;

- On the Russian government to stop the reprisals against Gazaryan and Vitishko and revoke the unlawful court decisions against them and punish those guilty of giving false evidence and prosecutions.

Antrag der Fraktionen der CDU/CSU und FDP
Durch Zusammenarbeit Zivilgesellschaft und Rechtsstaatlichkeit in Russland starken

Deutscher Bundestag Drucksache 17/11327
17. Wahlperiode 06. 11. 2012

Der Bundestag wolle beschliessen:

I. Der Deutsche Bundestag stellt fest:
Russland ist ein zentraler Partner fur Deutschland und Europa. Als standiges Mitglied des Sicherheitsrates
der Vereinten Nationen, als Mitglied der G8 sowie des Europarates und der Europaischen Menschenrechtskonvention, strategischer Partner Deutschlands und wichtigster Energielieferant Europas
ist Russland von besonderer Bedeutung; regionale und globale Herausforderungen konnen nur mit und
nicht gegen Russland bewaltigt werden. Russland ist unabdingbar fur eine gesamteuropaische Friedensordnung...

Liberal International adopted YABLOKO’s resolution on combating rise of extremism and xenophobia among youth
Press Release, November 1, 2012

The 58th congress of Liberal International which took place in Abidjan, Cote-d’Ivoire, on October 17-21, adopted YABLOKO’s resolution "Combating Rise of Extremism Among Youth". The resolution was submitted to the congress by the YABLOKO party, LI full member.

The resolution expresses deep concern of a global rise of extremism and xenophobia among youth stating that liberals must tackle these challenges “basing on liberal values of human rights, individual freedoms, rule of law, respect for the individual, tolerance and civil and moral responsibility of each person”.

Form now on the resolution prepared by YABLOKO Bureau members Ivan Bolshakov and Alexander Gnezdilov and Dmitry Ilyushin, Federal Council member, will become a guidance for the liberal parties all over the world.
Earlier the resolution had been approved by a joint YABLOKO-ELDR conference, which took place in Moscow on April 21, 2012.

Sergei Mitrokhin at the Returning of the Names action: the modern Russian state still uses Joseph Stalin’s political methods

Press Release, October 29, 2012.

The Russian state still uses Joseph Stalin’s political methods, said YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin at the Returning of the Names action which is annually held in the centre of Moscow by the Solovetsky Stone monument. People commemorate the victims of the Great Terror and read out loud the names of the people shot during those years.

"The roots of Stalinism have not been removed from our society and our state. Commemorating the victims of the terror we must also recognize our responsibility so that this will never happen again," Mitrokhin said after reading out loud the names of the people shot in 1937 – 1938...

YABLOKO Bureau expels Chair of the Bryansk branch of YABLOKO who supported Governor Denin during elections

Press Release, October 28, 2012.

The Federal Bureau of the YABLOKO party expelled from the party Andrei Ponomaryov, Chair of the Bryansk branch of YABLOKO, and three members of the Regional Council of the Bryansk branch of YABLOKO. The Ponomaryov’s decision to withdraw his candidacy from the gubernatorial elections and support the incumbent Governor Nikolai Denin was recognized as inflicting political damage to the party.

Despite of the decision of the governing bodies of the arty, Andrei Ponomaryov withdrew from the election race for the post of Governor of the Bryansk Region and supported acting Governor Nikolai Denin, candidate from the ruling "United Russia" party...

YABLOKO leader spoke at the Moscow Perspectives forum

Press Release, October 27, 2012.

On October 27, YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin participated in the socio-political forum Moscow Perspectives organized by the Democratic Choice party. Other reports on the prospects of Moscow development were made by representatives of the Moscow Mayor Office, political parties, as well as research centres and business associations.

Vladimir Milov, organizer of the Forum and leader of the Democratic Choice party, told about the need to involve Moscow residents in the solution of the different tasks. Milov stated that municipalities lacked real power and bureaucratisation of the city prevented development of small and medium businesses and, consequently, the middle class – the major contributor to the city budget. According to Milov, there is a need of a dialogue between the society and experts with the city administration so that to create a strategy of Moscow development. "Moscow can set the right direction to the rest of Russia", said Vladimir Milov...

"The Moscow government in Moscow should create a platform for a dialogue with the public about the development of the city. Public hearings are a good method here. But the chief architect of the city and Sergei Sobyanin [the Moscow Mayor] government apparently believe that Muscovites are not ready for this and do not conduct hearings on the most important issues of Moscow development, " Mitrokhin stressed...

YABLOKO paid tribute to the memory of Moscow theatre hostages

Press Release, October 26, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Galina Mikhalyova, Bureau member, paid tribute to the memory of hostages of a Moscow theatre who came to watch the Nord-Ost musical (in Dubrovka district, Moscow). They laid flowers to the memorial plaque with the names of the victims set by the Theatre Center.

Ten years ago, on October 26, 2002, security forces stormed into the building where terrorists held the actors and the audience of the Nord–Ost musical. According to the official data, 130 hostages were killed.

Human rights prize awarded to Iranians in recognition of their struggle for freedom

Press Release, ALDE, October 26, 2012

Iranian lawyer and human rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh and Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi have won the Sakharov Prize 2012 which is the annual human rights prize of the European Parliament. They were nominated for the award by the ALDE group and other MEPs in recognition of their exceptional courage in exposing state-sponsored persecution and Human Rights abuses.

Ms. Sotoudeh (Tehran, 1963) was arrested in September 2010 on suspicion of spreading propaganda and conspiring to harm state security. She is currently serving a six-year jail sentence, in solitary confinement, in the notorious Evin prison, in addition to disbarment and a ten-year ban on leaving the country. Jafar Panahi is an Iranian film director whose films focus on the hardships of children, the impoverished and women in Iran...

Sergei Mitrokhin demands from the Investigation Committee to file a criminal case on the abduction and tortures of Leonid Razvozzhayev

Press Release, October 24, 2012.

Sergei Mitrokhin demands from Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Investigation Committee, to file a criminal case on the abduction and tortures of Leonid Razvozzhayev, Assistant of oppositional Duma MP Ilya Ponomaryov. (Ed. Leonid Razvozhayaev together with Sergei Udaltsov were accused of preparing a coup d’etat in Russia with the help of Georgian money after a notorious film The Anatomy of Protest-2 picturing all the opposition figures as criminals). Mitrokhin insists that the criminal case should be opened in accordance with three articles of the Criminal Code “abduction” (Article 126), “threat of murder or grievous bodily harm” (Article 119) and “compulsion of evidence” (Article 302).

Mitrokhin also applied to Sergei Kudneyev, Public Prosecutor of Moscow, demanding to immediately explain the circumstances of the detention of Leonid Razvozzhayev and how it was announced Rozvozzhayaev had “voluntarily admitted his guilt and surrendered”...

The State Duma amends the law on state secrets according to Joseph Stalin’s model

Statement by the YABLOKO party, October 23, 2012.

...Charges may be brought now against any person or organisation whose activities seem dangerous for the secret services. Punishment envisaged by the draft law for links with an international non-governmental organisation, rendering of “financial, material, technical, consultative or other assistance” spread of information in the Internet which can later be recognized as a state secret by the intelligence, toughening of punishment for violations take us back into the period of mass reprisals and resemble Stalin's methods of dealing with political opponents and lead to the formation of a new "iron curtain."

Any person - an ordinary public activist or a federal level official who may arise discontent – may get under the sanctions of the new law. Russian special services are interested in obtaining a legal basis for the arrests of the dissenting...

Open Vld leader becomes Belgian Deputy PM
ELDR News, October 22, 2012.

Open Vld Leader Alexander De Croo replaces Vincent Van Quickenborne as the new Pensions Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in the Belgian federal government. He was sworn in by King Albert II on Monday. The appointment of Alexander De Croo will allow him to take part in the difficult discussions on next year's budget.

Van Quickenborne will become the new Mayor of the city of Kortrijk, where he ended 150 years of Christian democrat rule...

YABLOKO leader visited Krasnoyarsk

Press Release, October 19, 2012.

Oksana Demchenko, ex-deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Krasnoyarsk Region, was elected new chair of the Krasnoyarsk branch of YABLOKO. The conference of the regional branch of the party took place on October 21. The conference also elected members of the Regional Council and a representatives of the regional organization in YABLOKO’s Federal Council.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin participated in the conference. He set the following for the delegates: to participate and win in the elections. The next election – to the Krasnoyarsk City Council - will be held in September 2013.

After the conference, Mitrokhin held a roundtable with Krasnoyarsk entrepreneurs and discussed the prospects of development of small businesses in the Krasnoyarsk region and in Russia in general.

This morning Mitrokhin met with Sergei Ponomarenko, First Vice-Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. They specifically discussed the upcoming elections. Deputy Governor expressed his hope that the YABLOKO party will be able to create a faction in the City Council of Krasnoyarsk then...

YABLOKO’s Olga Vlasova made a report in the Federation Council on violations in the recent regional elections

Press Release, October 22, 2012.

Olga Vlasova, member of YABLOKO Bureau, made report in the Federation Council on mass-scale violations in the recent regional and municipal election campaign.

The report was made within the framework of a round table discussion on "The Results of the Elections in the Russian Federation as the Prospect for Improving the Electoral Law" which took place on October 18. The meeting was attended by members of the State Duma, the Federation Council, representatives of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court, the Public Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, representatives of the Russian Central Electoral Commission and electoral commissions of the regions.

In her speech Olga Vlasova focused on the following three main points:

1. Mass-scale violations in all the Russian regions where elections were held. YABLOKO observers documented widespread ballot stuffing, "carousel" votings, illegal refusals to allow observers to the polling stations and use of administrative resources. On voting day, regional electoral commissions turned into battle fields for upholding the rights of observers to be at the polling stations. In one of the polling stations in Tula YABLOKO observer was broken a finger...

YABLOKO leader met with Chairman of the State Duma

Press Release, October 19, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin handed to Sergei Naryshkin, Chairman of the State Duma,
an amendment to the Housing Code which would guarantee voluntary financing of capital repairs of blocks of flats by ordinary citizens. The government had envisaged that the costs of the capital repairs should lie exclusively on the people.

Also Mitrokhin personally handed to the Duma Speaker a file with 1,000 signatures against introduction of mandatory payments for capital repairs and in support of YABLOKO’s amendment. Other 11 files with 15,000 signatures from people from 36 Russian regions will be sent to the State Duma Mail Department on Monday...

Persecution of political opposition must be stopped

Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, October 15, 2012.

Searches in the apartments of Sergei Udaltsov and his parents are deepening the political crisis in the country and reinforce the split between the state and the society.

Sergei Udaltsov is not a criminal and he did not commit any economic crimes.

He is a politician representing the left radical political opposition.

The search in the apartment of a political opponents of the government in connection with his political activities is a repressive act of political revenge.

The state carrying out such actions abolishes the democratic basis of its legitimacy and declares itself a police and repressive state.

The authorities that decided to go to such actions must realise that degrading effects of fear and tyranny will affect the entire country, the entire state system, rather than one or several persons.

We express our resolute protest against the police searches on political grounds and urge the authorities to stop this immediately...

Hands off from Sergei Udaltsov!
Sergei Mitrokhin's blog at the Ekho Moskvi web-site, Ocotber 1
7, 2012.

Searches in the apartments of Sergei Udaltsov and his parents deepen the political crisis in the country and reinforce the split between the state and the society.

The campaign of reprisals against Sergei Udaltsov and other opposition activists resembles as of its scenario Stalin's trials against "enemies of the people". Starting with a public denunciation as a very questionable film "Anatomy of a Protest-2" [depicting opposition activists as spies or bought up puppets] further under the screams of lickspittles and “denunciators” from the United Russia party this campaign has transferred into the phase of direct reprisals with the prospects of many years of camp life [for Udaltsov].

Searches in the apartment of a political opponent to the government in view of his political activities represents a repressive act of political revenge.

Not sharing Sergei Udaltsov’s political views, I think it unacceptable to use such methods for "neutralisation" against any representative of the political opposition.

The YABLOKO party demands to immediately stop this openly ordered campaign by the investigators against Sergei Udaltsov, Nicholai Kavkazsky and other people arrested in accordance with the so-called "Bolotnaya Square protesters case"...

YABLOKO demonstrates success in small cities: YABLOKO factions will appear in Yaroslavl, Pervouralsk, Berezovsky and Elektrogorsk

Press Release, October 15, 2012.

According to the results of voting on October 14, YABLOKO factions will appear in four Russian cities: Yaroslavl, Pervouralsk, Berezovsky in the Sverdlovsk region and Elektrogorsk in the Moscow region.

The best result YABLOKO obtained in Pervouralsk - 20.4 per cent. YABLOKO came second here after the ruling United Russia with 37 per cent. Konstantin Drigin topping YABLOKO’s will also get a mandate. Drigin with 35 per cent of the vote won over Valery Treskin, the ruling party’s candidate, who got 25 per cent of the vote.

In Yaroslavl, the party has overcome the 5 per cent threashold. The candidates running in single mandate electoral districts failed to deputies of the Yaroslavl City Council, however Galina Sokolova came second in her district with almost 26 per cent of the vote, and another eight candidates came third in their districts getting from 7 to 19 per cent of the vote.

In the Berezovsky city, the Sverdlovsk region, 6.6 per cent of the electorate voted for YABLOKO, and now the party will have the right to form a faction in the Council of Deputies.

In Elektrogorsk, the Moscow region, YABLOKO’s candidates got 9.2 per cent which also means that YABLOKO can form a faction in the municipal assembly in the city...

YABLOKO came second with 21 per cent of the votes in Pervouralsk

Press Release, October 15, 2012.

According to the preliminary data, YABLOKO’s list candidates in the elections to the City Duma of Pervouralsk, the Sverdlovsk Region, received 21 per cent of the vote and thus came second after the ruling United Russia party (37 per cent).

YABLOKO’s observers reported to YABLOKO’s call centre the results from 58 of the 79 district electoral commissions of Pervouralsk. Just Russia came third with 14.6 per cent of the vote, and the Communist Party came fourth with 11.7 per cent. Also the Patriots of Russia (9 per cent) and the LDPR (5.7 per cent) overcome the 5 percent threashold. The list of RPR-PARNAS was supported by 0.8 per cent of the voters. It should be noted that the local branch of RPR-PARNAS had applied to court so that to withdraw YABLOKO from the election.

Thus, the YABLOKO party is to get three of the fourteen mandates distributed among the party lists.

In addition, two YABLOKO’s candidates in the binominal precincts – Konstantin Drygin and Vitaly Listratkin - have very good chances to get their mandates. Drygin confidently wins in his precinct...

YABLOKO leader sends a complaint on violations in regional and municipal elections to the Central Electoral Commission and Public Prosecutor General

Press Release, October 14, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin has sent the first complaint on violations in regional and municipal elections to Vladimir Churov, Chair of the Central Electoral Commission, and Yury Chaika, Public Prosecutor General, demanding to examine the violations identified by observers and candidates of the YABLOKO during elections in 11 subjects of the Russian Federation and punish the vote riggers.

The complaint contains information about the most serious violations in 28 polling stations, such as ballot stuffing, "carousel" voting, withdrawing of observers from the polling stations, buying of votes, etc.

The complaint refers to violations in regional elections in the Krasnodar Territory and municipal elections in the Maritime Altai territories, Bryansk, Ryazan, Irkutsk, Saratov, Tula, Moscow and Yaroslavl regions.

In addition, the document runs that observers from “non-administrative” candidates and parties were not let to over half of the polling stations in Tatarstan under a pretext that their papers lacked some stamps...

Stuffing of ballots in favour of the ruling party in the Krasnodar Territory

Press Release and a Video, October 14, 2012.

 

YABLOKO’s candidates and observes report multiple violations at the elections to the Krasnodar Territory Legislative Assembly.

YABLOKO observer filmed Yelena Sluchevskaya, Chair of Electoral Commission No 4822 (Novopekhovskoye village), stuffing of packages of ballots. The 18 minute video demonstrates several episodes of ballot stuffing...

Also stuffing of ballots was recorded at polling stations No 2230, 2231, and 2228 in Krasnodar. In Ust-Labinsk Chair of the Electoral Commission stuffed the rigged ballots at polling station No 5603. YABLOKO’s commission member was ousted from the room under some pretext...

Dmitry Gutov, YABLOKO’s observer at polling station No 2054, was beaten when he attempted to photograph the participants of a “carousel” who arrived to the polling station by car (No AOBO62, 23). Dmitry was threatened with murder and the attackers snatched his press card.

Also “carousel voting” was reported at polling stations No 2047, 2055,2056, 2215, 2216 and 2213...

Ballot-riggers broke a finger to the electoral commission member who tried to prevented stuffing of fraudulent ballots

Press Release, October 14, 2012.

Ballot-riggers broke a finger to Ludmila Yegorova, electoral commission member with an advisory vote from the YABLOKO party, who prevented ballot stuffing in the election to the City Duma of Bogoroditsk, the Tula region.

About an hour ago, two young men tried to stuff a package of ballots to the polling box. Ludmila Yegorova, YABLOKO’s representative in the electoral commission, managed to prevent it. There turned out to be 80 fraudulent ballots in the package: 40 marked for the ruling United Russia and 40 for candidate Fyodorov...

Liberals and Democrats in Lithuania score a convincing victory
Press Release, ALDE, October 15, 2012

Following announcement of the preliminary results of the Parliamentary elections in Lithuania, Guy Verhofstadt made the following statement:
"I am very pleased to acknowledge that Liberal and Democrats in Lithuania have scored a convincing victory in the Parliamentary elections. I would like to congratulate Viktor Uspaskich (ALDE MEP) and his Labour Party (Darbo partija) that has doubled its support and with 20% of the vote, as the largest political party is poised to form the incoming government. This is an excellent result for the Labour Party that in the opposition party has worked vigorously and consistently in support of its electorate."
"The Liberal Movement (Lietuvos Respublikos liberalu sajudis) has got the highest evaluation for the work it has done in the outgoing government. After 4 years in the government, taking the lead on difficult and sometimes controversial areas of public life, the Liberal Movement has further increased its support. That is both a recognition and an encouragement to continue promoting liberal agenda in Lithuania."

YABLOKO in the regional and municipal elections on October 14, 2012

Press Release, October 12, 2012.

Regional and municipal elections will take place in Russia on October 14, 2012. The YABLOKO party nominated its candidates for the elections in 22 Russian regions.

In the Krasnodar Territory, the list of candidates to run at elections to the Legislative Assembly represents a coalition of opposition forces in the region. Well-known representatives from different democratic parties and movements, environmentalists, human rights activists, independent journalists and public figures join together under the banner "Yabloko - United Democrats of the Krasnodar Territory". The joint list of candidates includes: Andrei Rudomakha, Chairman of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO and coordinator of the North Caucasus Environmental Watch, Yegeny Vitishko, Chair of the Tuapse branch of YABLOKO, Suren Ghazaryan, member of the North Caucasus Environmental Watch, Lenid Malyavin, ex Chair of the Krasnodar branch of the party RPR-PARNAS party, and Dmitry Pupynin, Chairman of the Krasnodar branch of the Democratic Choice of Russia movement. The party list totals to 36 candidates...

...According to the Central Electoral Commission, YABLOKO has registered 600 candidates for elections on October 14, 2012.

"Peace Prize is well deserved but we cannot rest on our laurels"
Press Release, ALDE, October 12, 2012

Reacting to the Nobel peace prize being awarded to the European Union, Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE group leader in the European Parliament said: "We strongly welcome the recognition by the Nobel Peace committee of the contribution that the European Union has made over the last 70 years to turn a previously war ridden continent into a peace project...

Grigory Yavlinsky visits Kaliningrad to support YABLOKO’s candidates in the mayoral elections

Press Release, October 11, 2012.

On October 11, Grigory Yavlinsky visited Kaliningrad so that to support Alexandra Yakovleva, YABLOKO’s candidate in the mayoral elections and head of the party branch in Kaliningrad.

Answering the journalist’s question how Grigory Yavlinsky accesses the chances of a woman going into Russian politics, he answered that he came to support a talented professional rather than a women running against men in the elections. He also added that speaking about professional qualities people should be divided into “talented people and all the other”, rather than men and women. “Alexandra Yakovleva is a talented person, she has talents in many fields”, she was even a Soviet film star but decided to change her brilliant film carrier and went to a university once again for studying state and municipal governing. Yavlinsky noted her experience in management of complex systems (such as large modern airports) and expressed his certainty that this experience would help Yakovleva to manage Kaliningrad and to make it a convenient and modern city, a centre of tourism and investment...

Dismissal of Radio Liberty journalists and staff is a political mistake

Statement by Sergei Mitrokhin and Grigory Yavlinsky, October 10, 2012.

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses its deep concern with the situation around the Radio Liberty Russian Service. Mass dismissal of the key journalists of the Moscow Bureau endangers the very existence of Radio Liberty as an objective and high-quality media.

The official version about transfer to the new digital technologies and abolishing of broadcasting on the medium waves is beyond any criticism.If this were the real reason, then the Radio Liberty management would not have fired in the first ranks the staff of the Radio Liberty web-site, which made the Radio Liberty web-site one of the most respected and quoted political resources of the Russian segment of the Internet.

Apparently, this demonstrates a bureaucratic error turning into a political error. Bureaucrats from mass media were solving their narrow tasks and did not take into account the political consequences, which are as follows: the Russian audience is deprived of the source of information they have trusted for decades, and it is obvious that the reputation of the media is, above all, the reputation of its journalists...

PARNAS removes YABLOKO from the election race

Press Release, October 10, 2012.

RPR-PARNAS applied to the Supreme Court of Russia asking to cancel the registration of YABLOKO’s list of candidates in the election to the Pervouralsk City Duma.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin said that in this way the Sverdlovsk branch of PARNAS defends the interests of the ruling United Russia party.

"I have no complaints about PARNAS leaders. We realise that they are not in control of their regional branches. But the actions of the Sverdlovsk branch of PARNAS are connected with their strong dependence on the ruling United Russia, which uses them in its fight with a very dangerous rival in the Pervouralsk elections- the YABLOKO party," that is how Sergei Mitrokhin commented on the situation...

Two new publications increase calls for federal Europe
ELDR News, October 8, 2012.

In two recent publications released this month, prominent liberal MEPs Guy Verhofstadt and Andrew Duff make the case for a more federal Europe. Last week, ALDE Group Leader Mr Verhofstadt launched his book ‘For Europe: a manifesto for a postnational revolution in Europe’ alongside co-author Green MEP Daniel Cohn-Bendit.“What we have tried to describe, is what a more federal Europe means,” Mr Verhofstadt said. “That means more than a discussion on policy, it means you build a real European government, a European democracy. “

British Liberal Democrat MEP Andrew Duff, the ALDE group’s coordinator on constitutional affairs in the European Parliament, has also launched a new pamphlet on economic government at the EU level entitled ‘On governing Europe’. In this pamphlet he reflects on how the EU has reacted to date in light of the financial and economic crisis and argues that the lack of a credible discernible government of the political economy has become a problem and requires a new sort of federal economic government...

Tougher rules against market manipulation
Press Release, ALDE, October 9, 2012

...Wolf Klinz (FDP, Germany) ALDE spokesperson said: "Recent events have shown that the current legislation on insider dealing and market manipulation urgently needed a review. We need to keep pace with market and technological developments and ensure that new markets, platforms and instruments are all covered. Markets have become more integrated and we have observed an increasing tendency of cross-border market abuse, which has a serious impact not only on market confidence but also on financial stability and the real economy. Market integrity needs to be guaranteed. That's why we proposed to establish functioning cross border surveillance mechanisms to detect market manipulation taking place across several venues"...

A motor rally with participation of Sergei Mitrokhin detained by traffic police

Press Release, October 7, 2012.

A motor rally from Izhevsk in Votkinsk, Udmurtia, organized by the Udmurtian branch of YABLOKO within the framework of the regional election campaign, has been detained by traffic police. YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin also participates in the rally. According to the police, the reason for the detention is that the action has not had a permit from the local authorities. At present Sergei Mitrokhin is trying to convince the police that the rally is lawful...

Alexei Arbatov, foreign policy expert: Russia has obviously taken a course towards alienation from the USA and Western Europe

Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe, September 28, 2012.

A nervous reaction displayed by the Russian authorities for the PACE resolution on the implementation of Moscow’s obligations on the democratic development [of Russia] which has not been promulgated yet, is caused, according to experts, by two main factors. First, the Kremlin reorients its foreign policy and foreign economic strategy from Europe to Eurasia. Secondly, the recent repressive policies towards the civil society will inevitably affect [Russia’s] behaviour on the international arena. Alexei Arbatov, international relations expert and Director of the Center for International Security of the Russian Academy of Sciences, talks about this in his interview to the Radio Liberty...

Grigory Yavlinsky on the 20th anniversary of privatization in Russia

Grigory Yavlinsky's blog, October 3, 2012.

 

Dear friends,

This is a part of the interview I gave on Friday to Channel 1 on their request for Sunday night news on the 20th anniversary of privatization in Russia. The channel did not show it… It is a pity, as the topic is important and the fruits of this ill-conceived privatization have been still affecting our living.

Here comes the answer to the journalist’s question whether there was any alternative privatization program.

Yes, there was another programme which I developed. This programme envisaged that all the money accumulated by people in the Soviet period had to be used for purchasing of assets. At that time money in the hands of the population amounted to about 10 trillion roubles, [this was money] in different forms including population’s savings in the Savings Bank that, according to conservative estimates, amounted to approximately 315 billion roubles. According to the dollar/rouble rate of 2007, the savings, and not only those kept in the Savings Bank, but all kinds of savings, including the State Insurance Bonds and securities, reached, according to the recent estimates, about 350 - 380 billion roubles. This is what had been cumulated throughout the Soviet period.

My programme implied that the money should be spent on the purchase of, as it was called then, the "means of production" or, as it is today called, the assets. Then there was a very large imbalance between the amount of money in hands and the commodity weight. In fact, the commodity weight reached only 14 kopeks per a rouble of savings. This means that a person intending to spend a rouble could find goods only for 14 kopeks. However, if our privatization programme had been implemented, then hairdressers’, small shops, trucks, that is, all what constituted small and medium privatization could have added to the traditional goods (such as suits, sausage, or whatever was sold in the Soviet Union then)...

Liberals in the driving seat in peaceful transition of power in Georgia
Press Release, ALDE, October 2, 2012

Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE Leader welcomed the results of the parliamentary elections in Georgia which saw liberals greatly reinforce their position in the Georgian Parliament...

YABLOKO to publish information on purchases of luxury cars by state institutions and calls to a discussion on the feasibility of such purchases

Press Release, October 1, 2012.

The YABLOKO party has launched a unique project: now all the government’s purchases of luxury cars can be tracked in real time at the party website.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin in his blog suggested a public debate which could lead to developing a norm who of the state servants should have a car, what the price of such a car can be and how often such a state servant can replace the old car be a new car.

At present yabloko.ru/auto has published information on 42 buyers of 145 luxury cars totaling RUR 1.5 bln. Last Friday, the Presidential Administration announced that it was going to purchase 60 BMW 7 Series, RUR 5 mln each. Also Oktabrskiy Concert Hall in St.Petersburg is going to buy a Range Rover for USD 5.5 mln. Among the regional authorities the most blatant example came from penal colony ? 1 in the Chelyabinsk region. They needed a Land Cruiser for RUR 3.5 mln...

Sergei Mitrokhin on a libel case against him: Let us find out in court who from MPs is engaged in unlawful activities running business companies

Press Release, September 30, 2012.

Following YABLOKO’s inquiries to the State Duma and the Investigative Committee to conduct a fair investigation on all the MPs’ businesses (in view of the recent deprivation by the United Russia faction of oppositional MP Gennady Gudkov of his mandate under a pretext of his running a business), Vladimir Zhyrinovsky LDPR party threatened to YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin of going to court and filing a libel case against Mitrokhin. In his letter to the State Duma and the Investigative Committee Mitrokhin had given facts on several United Russia and LDPR MPs...

...“I am glad that members of the LDPR party decided to find out in court who from their faction was engaged in businesses. We will have more opportunities to find out the truth in court, as the State Duma Commission has been working in camera and it is unclear what audits they have conducted,” Mitrokhin said...

Police are trying to disrupt the meeting of Sergei Mitrokhin and YABLOKO’s candidates for the forthcoming elections with the residents of Ilsky village

Press Release, September 28, 2012.

A meeting of YABLOKO’s candidates to run in the regional and local elections (the voting day on October 14) with the residents of the Ilsky village, the Krasnodar Territory, is taking place now. According to YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin, provocateurs from the local administration and the police are trying to disrupt the meeting.

The main issue of the meeting is the discussion of the situation around environmentally unfriendly Ilsky refinery, which is a factor of serious pollution in the area. Expansion of the plant and violation of environmental standards have led to a sharp increase of morbidity in the area and growth of the death rate. All this provokes fair indignation of the local population. The residents of the area demand that unlawful expansion of refinery should be stopped.

YABLOKO candidate Murad Nurmuradov severely beaten in attack
LI News Bulletin, Issue 302, September 27, 2012

Russian lawyer and liberal candidate Murad Nurmuradov was badly attacked in the city of Tver on 25 September. Nurmuradov is one of the top figures on the YABLOKO (Russian United Democratic Party, LI full member) list of candidates for elections to the Tver City Duma. According to reports, two unidentified men in masks and camouflage uniforms entered Nurmuradov's office and attacked him. This has led to Nurmuradov being hospitalized with a broken arm and other multiple injuries, including to his head. In a statement Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO chair and opposition member of the Moscow City Duma, said: “Members of the Tver branch of YABLOKO do not rule out the political causes of the case — an attack against a principled lawyer attorney and increasingly popular politician. An open attack against a registered candidate is a challenge to the city and its residents. We demand a thoroughly investigation of this case by the law enforcement. The goal of the crime was clearly intimidation. But they will not scare us!”

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State Duma Commission to conduct investigation on deputies’ commercial activities on Sergei Mitrokhin’s inquiry

Press Release, September 27, 2012.

Today, the State Duma Commission on the audit on the data submitted by MPs on their incomes and property will consider the case of five more Duma deputies on the inquiry of YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin. The audit will be conducted on the cases of four United Russia MPs: Andrei Skotch, Vasily Tolstopyatov, Grigory Anikeyev, Airat Khairullin and LDPR’s Vladimir Semyonov...

It would be more difficult of the Duma to apply double standards in dealing with these cases. "If the Investigative Committee conducts a careful investigation, than the circumstances of violations demonstrated by the United Russia deputies will not differ from the “Gudkov case” at all,” Mitrokhin said.

The Commission will consider the cases of nine deputies. Five cases will be considered dealing with Mitrokhin’s inquiry and four more cases (of "United Russia" MPs Yelena Nikolayeva, Alexei Knyshev, Vladimir Pekhtin and Ilya Kostunov) will be considered for on Sergei Mironov’s inquiry.
The Commission meeting is scheduled for 13:30, it will be held in camera.

YABLOKO candidate to run in the elections in Tver severely beaten

Press Release, September 26, 2012.

On September 25, 2012, Murad Nurmuradov, a lawyer and one of the top figures in YABLOKO’s list of candidates for elections to the Tver City Duma was attacked in Tver.

Two unidentified men in masks and camouflage uniforms entered Nurmuradov’s office and severely beaten him. Nurmuradov was hospitalized with a head injury, broken arm and other multiple injuries.

According to the results of the audits conducted by Nurmuradov in seven municipal companies, all seven directors of these companies were dismissed and personnel changes in the Tver city administration were underway...

Opposition forces united so that to fight election fraud in the Yeisk district, Krasnodar Territory

Press service of the Krasnodar YABLOKO, September 25, 2012.

Candidates from the opposition parties who will run in the elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Krasnodar Territory and Municipal Council of the Yeisk District created a joint Coordinating Council for counteraction to violations in elections.

Total defiance of the law and constitutional rights and liberties of the citizens has turned into everyday practices in Russia. The authorities in Yeisk have already tried to prevent the candidates from the opposition from campaigning. The opposition parties decided to join their efforts in the fight against election fraud and created a Single Centre for Response to Violations at elections.

On September 23, YABLOKO initiated a meeting of the opposition. The meeting was attended by the candidates from the YABLOKO party, the Communist Party, the Just Russia party, and independent candidates.

The meeting established a Coordinating Council which should get all information on violations in campaigning and voting and make decisions on counteracting these violations. Also it was decided that a joint training of election observers should be held, and feed-back with members of electoral commissions should be established...

Dutch parliament elects new President
ELDR News, September 26, 2012.

On Tuesday, Dutch liberal MP Anouchka van Miltenburg was elected as the new President of the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch Parliament. Before, Van Miltenburg was Deputy leader of the VVD parliamentary group. Two other candidates stood in the election, Khadija Arib (Social Democrats) and Gerard Schouw (ELDR member D66).

VVD Group Leader Stef Blok welcomed her election: "We're proud Anouchka won the election. The Parliament will have a tough, fair and cheerful chairwoman. I wish her all the best."

The State Duma once again demonstrated double standards

Press Release, September 20, 2012.

...The Commission did not find “any grounds for launching an investigation” on the four deputies. However, YABLOKO had laid claims to three of the MPs – Demchenko, Reznik and Lebedev – the same as the claims laid by the Duma to oppositional MP Gennady Gudkov.

“The Duma decided that MPs can set up new businesses during their term, however, they are not allowed to change directors of these companies (Ed. Gennady Gudkov was deprived of his mandate exactly for voting for a new director of a company set up before his term of office). This is a clear manifestation of double standards,” Mitrokhin noted...

...An inquiry on Adrei Skotch was filed in July 2012. A person from the Forbes list did not possess any property or income as of his official income statement. Skotch explained this discrepancy between the declared and the real property by transferring his business to his father. He also added that he lived as a dependant of his father. YABLOKO insisted that Skotch had to declare the assets allocated to him by his father.

Organisational Committee “Democratic Petersburg” created a permanent democratic coalition

Press Release, September 19, 2012.

Coalition "Democratic Petersburg" will coordinate and conduct mass-scale public actions of the democratic forces, as well as other events. In the near future the coalition plans to organise the traditional "March Against Hatred" which normally takes place in late October. In addition, the coalition will support the initiatives and projects of its member organisations.

Also the coalition will continue collection of signatures for per-term elections to the State Duma and the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg. This work began at the rally on Saturday.

The coalition adopted a special statement on the Democratic March and a rally that took place on Saturday, September 15...

Grigory Yavlinsky: A clue to changing the country is "not to lie and not to steal"

Russia-1 TV channel, September 10, 2012.

 

...Solovyov: Grigory Alexeyevich, we have been actively discussing the beginning of the political season here. What is your forecast for this autumn - what issues will be most important...?

Yavlinsky: ... But speaking about the forecast, it is, unfortunately, not very difficult. What forecast can be given, if it is obvious that laws in the country function very relatively? That court is not independent. That property rights depend on the power and the power and property have merged into one entity.

But more than that, what forecast can be made, if a dramatic decline of culture, political culture and general culture, in the country has become an absolute fact?

And it is reflected, for example, in the structure of [Russia’s] budget. Simply look how much is allotted on education and how much on health care and the development of the country, and how much on other directions... Well, what forecast can you make proceeding from this? Maybe only for the next two months?

These are strategic issues.

Solovyov: Does this mean that you see the coming disaster?

Yavlinsky: I would say it is a disaster, but large hardships are definitely ahead...

EP takes steps towards concrete actions on human rights abuses in Russia
Press Release, ALDE, September 20, 2012

Kristina Ojuland, ALDE Spokesperson on Russia and the rapporteur on ‘Magnitsky Law’ for the European Parliament welcomed broad support from the Foreign Affairs Committee this morning for her report recommending to the Council establishing common visa restrictions for Russian officials involved in the Sergei Magnitsky case. This report will now come before the whole European Parliament for vote in October...

Putin's majority rids Duma of any credibility
Press Release, ALDE, September 14, 2012

Guy Verhofstadt: "Today's dismisal of Gennady Gudkov, Member of the State Duma for Just Russia opposition party demonstrates clearly that in Putin's Russia there is no space for dissent and opposition. Putin's majority in the Duma appears to be there for rubberstamping decrees. That is not in accordance with the norms of a Council of Europe member state"...

Mitrokhin questions the legal basis for depriving Gennady Gudkov of his mandate while saying nothing about 29 MPs running businesses

Press Release, September 5, 2012.

..."The authorities accuse Gennady Gudkov of acquiring a business when he was an MP. They say that an MP can not be represented on the board of a commercial organization. However, if one gets a share in a open liability company, he or she can not avoid it, - Mitrokhin wrote in his blog. - If an MP has run such a business for a long time, and he promptly gave it in trust, than [head of Russian Investigation Committee] Bastrykin considers that such a person has not violated the law”.

"I think that such an interpretation of the law seems too broad. Perhaps it would be wise to clarify the requirements of the law first, and after punish deputies. But one thing is clear: if Gudkov is deprived of his mandate, than United Russia MPs must follow. Otherwise it is a selective enforcement of the law, " Mitrokhin concluded.

ALDE congratulates both Dutch liberal parties on election results
Press Release, ALDE, September 13, 2012

Guy VERHOFSTADT, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament, congratulates VVD-leader Mark Rutte, who again won the Dutch elections last night and D66-leader Alexander Pechtold, after an election campaign in which Europe played a leading role. "I warmly congratulate Mark Rutte on achieving the best ever results for the VVD and Alexander Pechtold on increasing the number of seats for D66 for the fifth time in a row.
I am looking forward to continue working with them in the months and years ahead"...

A leader of public movement against the construction of the Kudepstinskaya thermal plant dies under unclear circumstances

Press Release, September 12, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin expressed condolences to the family and friends of Anatoly Makhnovsky, Chairman of the Territorial Council of local self-government for Kudepsta residential district, who suddenly died yesterday.

Makhnovsky, aged 70, died on September 11 about 1 p.m. under unclear circumstances.

According to one of the versions, he was talking to a local woman at a bus stop, stumbled, fell down, hit his head and died. However, there is additional information: two police officers were standing next to him and their role was unclear. Moreover, a folder with documents on the disputed Kudepstinskaya thermal plant he had with him during the accident suddenly disappeared.

It is not ruled out that Makhnovsky’s death was connected with his fight against the construction of the Kudepstinskaya thermal plant...

YABLOKO to control and monitor elections to the Penza Legislative Assembly together with the Civil Control movement

Press Release, September 10, 2012.

The Penza regional branch of YABLOKO and the Civil Control movement signed an agreement on the joint organization of civil control over voting and counting of votes in the elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Penza region.

According to Olga Sorokina, Deputy Chair of the Penza branch of YABLOKO, "The tasks of the party during the pre-election period and the elections coincide with the aims of the Civil Control movement, and we will definitely involve members and supporters of the party, especially its young members and public activists to the civil control over elections and counting of votes"...

Over 500 people participated in a rally against Kudepstinskaya heat power plant

Press Release, September 10, 2012.

On September 9, a rally against construction of a thermal power plant in Kudepsta near Sochi brought together over 500 residents of Sochi. YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin asked the developer to submit the permission documentation.

Local residents oppose the construction of environmentally hazardous industrial facilities, the operation of which will result in air pollution, noise and other factors posing a serious threat to the health of tens of thousands of residents and holiday-makers in Sochi. Sochi administration and the Olympstroy company plan to locate the thermal plant in the centre of a densely populated resort area...

Grigory Yavlinsky wants independent television channel Dozhd to come to St. Petersburg

Press Release, September 7, 2012.

Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the Yabloko faction in the St. Petersburg’s parliament, proposed to the largest cable operator in the city to include television channel Dozhd (Rain) into the basic package of TV channels offered to braod public.

Grigory Yavlinsky expressed his certainty that St.Petersburg viewers would be interested in receiving honest news and discussion programmes, as well as live broadcasts by the channel, such as had been done by Dozhd from winter and spring mass-scale rallies in Moscow and on the flooding in South Russia.

YABLOKO leader also added that audience would be interested in the views of the leading journalists of the Dozhd channel, including Leonid Parfyonov, Pavel Lobkov, Mikhail Kozyrev, Mikhail Fishman, Mikhail Zygar and Ksenia Sobchak...

Sergei Mitrokhin fined for talking to bloggers and journalists

Press Release, September 7, 2012.

Olga Zatomskaya, Judge of a Moscow court of the first instance, imposed a RUR 2,000 fine of YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin for his talking to journalists and bloggers during the protest action of June 6. The court's decision bases on a false testimony of witnesses and police. The party intends to appeal against this decision...

YABLOKO presented its publications at the 25th Moscow International Book Fair

Press Release, September 5, 2012.

The YABLOKO party presented its publications at the 25th Moscow International Book Fair, which opened today at the Exhibition Centre.

Irina Kopkina, Deputy Chair of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO, noted that “there is no other party which would publish annually dozens of new books, research papers and useful booklets”...

YABLOKO to present its publications at the Moscow International Book Fair

Press Release, September 4, 2012.

YABLOKO will present its publications at the 25th Moscow International Book Fair which will take place on September 5 – 10 at the Exhibition Centre.
On the opening day, September 5, YABLOKO’s authors will present their books in Hall 75 "A" (reception hall). The presentation will be attended by the party Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin, Bureau members Andrei Babushkin, human rights activist, and Galina Mikhalyova, Gender faction leader, and Tatyana Ovcharenko, head of the Party School of Active Citizen. The presentation will begin at 13:00. Visitors of the Fair can get YABLOKO’s books at stand E70 Hall "A" any day.

Lists of municipal candidates from “YABLOKO – United Democrats” submitted to electoral commissions of the Tver region

Press Release, September 3, 2012.

Local electoral commissions of the Tver region confirmed the receipt of lists of municipal candidates from “YABLOKO – United Democrats”. The candidates from the bloc will run in the elections to the City Duma of Vishny Volochok city and the Legislative Assembly of Udomelsky District.

In Vishny Volochok the party lost is topped by Vladimir Tarasov, ex head of a poultry farm. Tarasov is well-know in the city as a professional in farming and also in the utilities sector.

Other candidates also represent small businesses. Young people under 35 constitute 75 per cent of the list which is regarded as a competitive advantage by the “YABLOKO – United Democrats” bloc...

YABLOKO’s candidates have to compete against their namesakes at Yeisk elections

Press Release, September 1, 2012.

YABLOKO’s candidates Alexander and Ekaterina Baturinets have to face an new obstacle in running in the elections in Yeisk, the Krasnodar region. They have to compete against their namesakes (a guard and a shop assistant residing in a different district) at the Yeisk elections.

The election campaign to the Legislative Assembly of the Krasnodar region is in full swing - the elections will take place on October 14. The regional authorities have been closely observing campaigning by the candidates from the opposition - the electoral bloc "YABLOKO - United Democrats". Representatives of YABLOKO, the Republican Party of Russia (PARNAS), the Democratic Choice, Solidarnost, and a large number of non-partisan civil society activists and oppositional public figures are on the list of candidates from the bloc. The authorities have begun employing a variety of political strategies to prevent the oppositional candidates from running in the elections.

Alexander Baturinets from Yeisk is one of the strongest candidates from the "YABLOKO - United Democrats" bloc. He is known for the public campaign "Public Protest: for Yeisk without Oil Terminals". He is also a deputy in the Yeisk District Council. Baturinets has been named a leader of the race by public opinion polls being ahead of a candidate from the ruling United Russia by several per cent...

Organisational Committee "Democratic Petersburg" applies for the "March of Millions"

Press Service of St. Petersburg YABLOKO, August 31, 2012.

On August 31, on the first day of submitting an application in accordance with the law, the Organisational Committee "Democratic Petersburg" applied for conducting of the "March of Millions" on September 15. The public action will consist of a demonstration (a march) and a rally. The march will begin at 1 p.m., a rally will be held at 2 p.m. The exact route of the procession and a place for the rally will be announced later after obtaining an approval from the city administration.

The demands and slogans of the "March of Millions" in St. Petersburg will be as follows: change of the present political regime, fair elections, protection of human rights, provision of real social equality and protection of historical part of the city. The organizers expect that the number of participants in the march will amount to about five thousand people.

The Organisational Committee "Democratic Petersburg" was created on August 28 and comprises representatives from political parties, social, human rights and political organisations, YABLOKO, the Republican Party of Russia – PARNAS, the Christian Democrats, the Libertarian Party, the Russian Socialist Movement, the People's Labour Union of Russian Solidarists, the Russian Social Democratic Union of the Youth, Student Action, Vikhod (Exit), the LGBT Initiative, the Women Voters League, Youth Human Rights Group and the Alliance of Heterosexuals for the Equality for LGBT...

Electoral Commission of the Penza region registered YABLOKO’s list of candidates to run in the elections to the regional Legislative Assembly

Press Release, August 31, 2012.

On August 28 the Electoral Commission of the Penza region registered YABLOKO’s list of candidates to run in the elections to the regional Legislative Assembly.

YABLOKO’s list contains 22 candidates. It is topped by Sergei Oleinik, President of the non-profit foundation AntiSPID (AntiAIDS). Other top candidates are Sergei Illiyev, deputy of local self-government, and Yuri Voblikov, human rights activists.

The elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Penza region will take place on October 14, 18 regional deputies will be elected according to the parties lists.

YABLOKO leader meets the leader of Alleanza Liberali, Malta

Press Release, August 31, 2012.

On August 28, 2012, YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin met with John Zammit, leader and founder of Alleanza Liberali, Malta. The meeting was also attended by Galina Mikhalyova, Deputy Chair of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO and the Executive Secretary of the Political Committee and Olga Radayeva, YABLOKO International Secretary.

John Zammit spoke about the current political situation in Malta and the activities of Alleanza Liberali. The party was founded in 2006. Today Alleanza Liberali has an observer status in the ELDR and is going to become a full member of the ELDR this year. Alleanza Liberali focuses on fight against corruption, protection of civil rights and freedoms, including fight against restrictions imposed on the citizens of Malta by the Catholic Church (e.g. bans on divorce and abortions). The party has been also active in education and environmental protection...

Sergei Mitrokhin to Governor Tkachyov: after a terrible flood in South Russia money should be allotted to creation of the alerting system, not only to cleaning of rivers’ beds

Press Release, August 30, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin said that measures scheduled by the regional administration for prevention of floods in the Krasnodar Territory are insufficient. Yesterday Governor Alexander Tkachyov announced that regional administration was going to allot 3 billion rubles for cleaning and deepening of rivers’ beds, however, he did not say anything about creation of a system which would alert the population in case of a coming flood...

...YABLOKO has been demanding resignation of Alexander Tkachyov who bears full responsibility for the consequences of the tragic July floods leading to numerous human victims. The party is seeking a thorough investigation into the Governor's actions.

YABLOKO’s environmentalist Suren Gazaryan faces several years of imprisonment due to a new case launched against him

North Caucasus Environmetal Watch. Press Release, August 30, 2012.

Russian authorities have launched a new criminal probe against environmental activist Suren Gazaryan after he led an inspection of a public shore near what we believe is President Vladimir Putin's Black Sea dacha for violations. The proceedings are an attempt to stop the activist's efforts to expose illegal palaces built on public funds or land and cutting off access to a public shore...

Suren Gazaryan is required by police to attend a session of questioning regarding the alleged death threat on September 4. He can be kept in custody before trial which has turned into a common practice for persecution of Russian opposition activists.

Sergei Mitrokhin: "Vladimir Putin's promise to evacuate residents from the flooding area in Krymsk has remained unfulfilled"

Press Release, August 26, 2012.

On August 25, YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin held a series of meetings with the residents of Krymsk area which suffered a terrible flood in July.

The meetings had to identify the cases of non-fulfillment by the authorities of their obligations to the residents who lost their property in the flood. People reported red tape in getting compensation for lost property and money for repairs, continuous “losing” by officials of their documents submitted in order to get a compensation and small size of compensations insufficient for repairs. The residents resented such bureaucratic formalism when people were denied compensation...

The police tried to debar Mitrokhin from meeting the residents. Also several cars with representatives of local administration followed YABLOKO leader at the meetings. At the end Mitrokhin managed to make the local officials cooperate in the solution of the problems of the Krymsk residents.

Yavlinsky to Court: Cancel the verdict on Pussy Riot
LI News Bulletin, Issue 297, August 23, 2012

Commenting on the two year sentence given to the Russian Pussy Riot punk group, LI 2004 Prize for Freedom laureate and former leader of Yabloko (LI Full Member), Grigory Yavlinsky said: “The political protest by Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samutsevich has in fact very serious grounds. It is a protest against election fraud conducted to usurp power, and against censorship in the media, the lies and corruption, hypocrisy and injustice. The long term of imprisonment of the girls, forcing the atmosphere of unforgiveness and vengeance, does much more harm to the Russian society than their outrage in the temple.” Yabloko has condemned the controversial trial of the three members of the Russian band since their arrest on charges of hooliganism and religious hostility after performing a protest song against President Vladimir Putin at Moscow's main Cathedral. Yavlinsky expressed hope that the Russian High Court will cancel the wrong verdict and set the girls free as this will correspond both to the interests of the country and the goals of the Church.

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DA calls for resignations after mineworkers’ strike massacre
German Liberal Minister fights for same-sex adoption rights
ELDR: “Moldova must continue democratic reforms”

Sergei Mitrokhin demands from the interior to investigate the lawfulness of policemen’s actions during detention of Garry Kasparov

Press Release, August 21, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin applied to Anatoly Yakunin, head of the Moscow interior, demanding to conduct official investigation of the lawfulness of policemen’s actions during detention of Garry Kasparov, Russian opposition figure and ex World Chess Champion, by Khamovnichesky court during the Pussy Riot trial. In his appeal Mitrokhin refers to the documentary ‘The Term’.

The authors of the documentary filmed the detention of the ex World Chess Champion. "Obviously, the police had no reasons to arrest Garry Kasparov," Mitrokhin wrote in the letter. Indeed, during a few seconds before his arrest Garry Kasparov was talking to reporters and was not breaking the law. Garry Kasparov was detained by Khamovnichesky in Moscow on August17 during the hearing of the court verdict on the controversial action by punk band Pussy Riot at the Christ the Savior Cathedral...

In his letter YABLOKO leader also responded to the initiative of Anton Tsvetkov, head of public organization "Russian Officers", who had proposed to introduce criminal liability for non-obeying police. According to Mitrokhin, another measure should be introduced toughening the liability for policemen for lying. "First of all police officers must be punished for lying. In can tell that when I or my colleagues were brought to a police department there was not a single case when policemen did not use lies to achieve their goals. Therefore it is necessary to introduce a very large penalty for policemen for lying with their subsequent disqualification from the service," Mitrokhin told to Interfax on Tuesday.

Grigory Yavlinsky on the Pussy Riot case
Grigory Yavlinsky’s Live Journal, August 17, 2012

...Organizing the lawsuit in the form that we have the misfortune to watch, the authorities are aiming at intimidation.

This is not good for the country, and it is harmful to the Church. Intimidation is not the solution. Perhaps fear may drive the protest depthward for some time, but it will not disappear, and at some circumstances it will come to the surface in a much more radical forms that are more dangerous for the society. This may be compared with a fire in the peat fields which goes only depthwards when they are trying to put it out not correctly, and at hot weather it comes powerfully to the surface as even a greater fire.

From the legal point of view, the court should have determined whether the girls’ action had caused considerable harm to the society and whether their action had displayed the signs of public danger in the sense of a criminal law, and base their conclusions not on manipulative reasons...

YABLOKO activists conducted pickets for resignation of Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachyov

Press Release, August 3, 2012.

Today YABLOKO activists conducted a series of pickets for the resignation of Alexander Tkachyov, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory. The action was held by the Permanent Mission of the Krasnodar Territory in Moscow. YABLOKO activists were standing in turn by the Mission with slogans “Tkachyov, go!”

“After the tragic flood in Krymsk, [South Russia], Tkachyov have to resign. The liability for the failure to alert the residents of the coming flood lies directly on the government of the Krasnodar Territory. I am ready to stand here 24 hours a day until Tkachyov leaves post,” told Sergei Sokolov, participant of the action and the deputy of Municipal Council Konkovo...

Yabloko condemns controversial Pussy Riot Trial
LI News Bulletin, Issue 294, August 2, 2012

Yabloko's leader Sergei Mitrokhin (LI Full Member, Russia) voiced his concerns that the violation committed by Pussy Riot members does not constitute grounds for keeping them in custody. He said: “The developments demonstrate once again that we can hardly speak about any genuine liberalization of law-enforcement in Russia. Considering the political roots of the incident we cannot rule out that such tough measures are a mere revenge of the authoritarian state who are using juridical mechanisms as a reprisal instrument used on personal motives.” In a statement condemning the arrest of three female members of the Russian band “Pussy Riot”, Yabloko expressed clear disagreement with the charges of hooliganism and religious hostility brought against them, calling on the authorities for their immediate release, especially since two of them are mothers of small children. The members of the group were arrested in February after performing a protest song against President Vladimir Putin at Moscow's main Cathedral. If convicted the women could spend up to seven years in prison.

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YABLOKO office opens in Novouralsk, Sverdlovsk Region

Press Release, August 1, 2012.

YABLOKO office opened in Novouralsk, Sverdlovsk Region. Maxim Petlin, head of the Sverdlovsk Region branch of YABLOKO, Galina Mikhlyova, YABLOKO Bureau member, and Kirill Gontcharov, leader of the Youth YABLOKO in Moscow, visited the office.

Vladimir Plyusnin, well-known environmentalist and chair of the YABLOKO branch in Pervouralsk, greeted the guests in the new office. Plyusnin told the guests about the economic and political situation in the city on the threashold of elections to the local Council on October 14.

YABLOKO’s Regional Conference which will take place on August 5 has to nominate party candidates to run in the elections. It is expected that well-known public figures in the city, businessmen and local party activists will be included into YABLOKO’s list.

YABLOKO: Governor Tkachyov and government of the Krasnodar region should be held liable for the tragedy in Krymsk

Press Release, July 31, 2012.

Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachyov, his deputies and officials of the regional Emergency Ministry Department should be included into suspects in investigation of the causes of flooding in Krymsk, South Russia. Such a statement was made by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin at today's press conference, which drew up the first results of YABLOKO's investigation of the causes of the flood.

Activists from the North Caucasus Environmental Watch, Andrei Rudomakha, leader of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO, Yugeny Vitishko, chairman of the Tuapse branch of YABLOKO and Yugeny Pimkin, resident of Volgograd region whose son died in a flood in Gelendzhik trying to save people, also participated in the press-conference. According to YABLOKO's activists, a natural calamity coupled with negligence of the governments lead to such a large number of casualties in Krymsk. No system for public notification in case of emergency had been created in the region prone to flooding. Possible negative consequences of economic activities in the region that may lead to flooding had been also neglected. The governments learned nothing from the experience of the disaster in 2002, when a flood in Krymsk killed 62 people...

Was Russen auf die Straße treibt

Weser Kurier, 27.07.2012.

Von Solveig Rixmann

In Russland protestieren Bürgerinnen und Bürger seit Monaten gegen ihre Regierung. Trotz erheblicher Gegenwehr der Regierungspartei "Einiges Russland" und obwohl die Polizei gegen die Demonstranten vorgeht, verstummen die kritischen Stimmen nicht. Die Bevölkerung ist unzufrieden und Putins überdrüssig – wie Galina Michaleva während der Russland-Tage der Uni Bremen berichtete...

YABLOKO demands from the Interior Ministry to disclose the criteria behind awarding gratuitous flats to the policemen participating in dispersing of a rally at Bolotnaya Square, Moscow, on May 6

Press Release, July 27, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin sent an appeal to the Moscow police chief Anatoly Yakunin asking disclose the criteria behind awarding gratuitous flats to the policemen participating in dispersing of a rally at Bolotnaya Square, Moscow, on May 6...

YABLOKO sent the inquiry to the Moscow Government as early as on May 25. The answer received from the officials ran that the city annually allocated housing to the Interior Ministry, however, distribution of the flats was carried out by the ministry...

To release all the detained protestors of the demonstration of May 6!
Statement by YABLOKO Chairman
, July 26, 2012.

Today Russia’s Investigative Committee has detained two more protestors of May 6, including Nikolai Kavkazsky, ex YABLOKO activist, member of Committee for Human Rights.

The number of persons made liable and the ways in which the Investigative Committee acts towards the suspects in violation of the laws during the opposition march on May 6, clearly demonstrate that the authorities have been returning to the Stalinist practices of intimidation and reprisals against active citizens...

Sergei Mitrokhin studied the problems of the Kolchugin District, Vladimir Region

Press Release, July 24, 2012.

On July 23 YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin visited Kolchugin District, Vladimir Region, headed by Alexei Firsov, member of the YABLOKO party. In March 2011, Alexei Firsov, leader of the local branch of YABLOKO was elected head of the Council of Deputies of Kolchugin District. Firsov won I nthe elections with 29.72 per cent of the vote, YABLOKO’s party list got 20.56 per cent of the vote at the election.

Mitrokhin began his visit from Kindergarten No 10. Firsov and kindergarten director told him that opening of this kindergarten helped to reduce “the queue” for a place in a kindergarten by 120 kids, however, the queue had still contained 300 children...

YABLOKO made it into the legislative assembly of Kasimov despite fraud
Statement by YABLOKO Chairman
, July 23, 2012.

The YABLOKO party made it into the Duma (legislative assembly) of Kasimov. According to official data, the party overcame the threashold into the Duma. However, our real vote, despite of the stuffing of ballots in favour of the ruling party, is much more.

These elections were a failure for Russian falsificators. And this is largely due to the work of independent volunteers – the observers who worked in Kasimov. YABLOKO expresses its gratitude to all of them and admiration of their life stance...

Never before had the evidence of crime been so conclusive. YABLOKO will seek to get all those engaged in rigging the elections to justice.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin: Governor Tkachoyv should be among those suspected in negligence inflicting deaths of people in the flood in South Russia

Press Release, July 22, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin expressed his opinion that regional government officials and Alexander Tkachyov, Governor of the Krasnodar Region and top officials of the regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, should be made liable for the negligence resulting in mass victims during the recent flood in the Krasnodar region...

In his blog Sergei Mitrokhin analysed the legal acts related to the prevention of emergencies in the Krasnodar region and came to the conclusion that regional authorities did not fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to them by law.

In particular, Governor Alexander Tkachyov did not commission any of his deputies to supervise the implementation of the regulations "A system of warning and informing of the public about the threat of emergencies". After publication of the regulations in 2005, the control over its implementation was entrusted to A. Ivanov, however, now there is no such a Deputy Governor with such a name.

In addition, for the past seven years the regional government has not allotted any funds for creation of a system for alerting citizens about emergencies. This should have been made from the regional budget, however, each year, the regulations of 2005 did not contain such a clause. Also since 2005 they have prolonged the regulations of 2005 without including a clause on funding of the system.

"In any normal state an official responsible for such criminal negligence would be immediately dismissed. Only in Russia such an official can retain his gubernatorial post for another five years presenting a threat to millions of people living in the region governed by him," Mirokhin wrote in his blog.

What does the opposition want: to win or die heroically?
Moskovsky Komsomolets web-site, July 11, 2012.
Interview with Grigory Yavlinsky by Yulia Kalinina. (A complete version).

...MK: Yes, the protest movement was preoccupied mainly with creativity: a competition of funny banners and photoshopped pictures. It was too busy with this to think about elections.

GY: Because the people who took on the role of organisers of the protest movement were developing the form without filling it with content. That is why the rallies demonstrated an abundance of inventions, funny posters and performances. But by the spring the main "faces" of the protest have already partially changed. The new "faces" have quickly realized that it was necessary to leave the glamour and creativity – it was a deadlock. They tried to make camps by the fountain at the Pushkin square, breakthrough to the Manezh square, put forward incredible demands to the authorities and socialize at the boulevards. But this was also development of one form only, without any content, including the "Occupy Abai" action (Ed. "Occupy Abai" was a camp in the centre of Moscow by the monument to Kazakh poet and philosopher Abai Kunanbayev). It was clear what "Occupy Wall Street" was about. Wall Street is the personification of the type of living the "occupants" protest against. And what does "Occupy Abai" mean? Again, it is an interesting form of protest but not filled with so much needed political content.

MK: A transition from the ideological to the physical opposition was a natural development of the protests. Is not is how they should grow - from coming to rallies to creation of permanent camps of the dissenting? from peaceful methods and slogans to violent clashes?

GY: No, it isn't. Because in case of physical and violent confrontation with the authorities the protest movement would immediately lose and in general can be even permanently destroyed. The organisers of rallies must understand that this is unacceptable. In addition, if you invite people to an [officially] permitted rally, they should not get into trouble - people can not be victimized. If one is professionally engaged in the organisation of mass-scale peaceful protests and wants precisely this, this can be done. If one has other goals, than it will be the other way.

MK: Do you think "the other way" prevailed during protests on May 6?

GY: The desire for exploring "another heroic way" has been there for all these months. However, after the first attempt on December 5, this thrust was marginal, inferior to the general belief in the power of peaceful mass protests. But the protest did not yield immediate results as tangible concessions from the government, or provided a coherent perspective that could have been indicated by the political leadership. Thus, the lead was taken by the left, nationalists and supporters of the thesis "you cannot make an omlette without breaking eggs". The question of responsibility for the health and lives of people was either redirected to the government or simply removed from the agenda. They said that under the current conditions the true organisers of mass actions were Twitter and FaceBook...

Three villages in the Krymsk District were flooded due to uncontrolled activities of the Private Hunters' Club

Press Release, photographs by Andrei Rudomakha, July 19, 2012.

..."There is no doubt that economic activity of the Private Hunters' Club played a negative role in the flooding of Armyansky, Sheptalsky and Novoukrainsky villages," noted EcoWatch experts. These villages located in the valley of the Psyzh River are outside the influence of the flood from the Adagum River affecting Krymsk abd Nizhnebakanskaya and Neverdjayevskaya villages. However, these three villages were also serely affected. In addition to destruction and damaging of housing the flood led to human victims there.

On July 16 YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin demanded from Yury Chaika, Public Prosecutor General, to bring to justice the officials whose negligence and lack of action led to flooding of three settlements in the Krymsk district.

President of Russia must take investigation of the attack against Muslim leaders in Tatarstan under his personal control
Statement by YABLOKO Chairman
, July 19, 2012.

For and on behalf of the YABLOKO party I am conveying condolences to the relatives and next of kin of Valiulla Yakupov, head of Educational Department of Spiritual Directorate of the Muslims of Tatarstan, who was murdered by criminals. I am also conveying condolences to residents of Tatarstan and the entire Muslim community of our country. I wish speedy recovery to Ildus Faizov, Mufti of the Republic of Tatarstan, who was injured during explosion of his car.

We strongly condemn this crime and demand from the President of the Russian Federation to take the investigation of the attack under his personal control.

We hope that the criminals will not escape punishment...

Mitrokhin demands from Public Prosecutor General to bring to justice the officials responsible for flooding of three villages of the Krymsk district

Press Release, July 16, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin demanded from Yury Chaika, Public Prosecutor General, to bring to justice the officials whose negligence and lack of action led to flooding of three settlements in the Krymsk district. Local residents warned the officials and prosecutors about improper condition of a dam of one water reservoirs, but received no reply. In the night of July 6-7 the dam burst, and the flow of water went to the villages.

On July 9 Mitrokhin along with the activists of the party and the North Caucasus Environmental Watch held a public inspection of the area around Armyansky and Sheptalsky villages and Novoukrainsky town...

As early as on March 28 E.Andruhovich, resident of Armyansky village, applied to the Department of Natural Resources of the State Environmental Supervision of the Krasnodar Territory. He complained about improper exploitation of the forest lake, which created a threat of flooding of private lands in a flood prone period. A similar application was sent to Public Prosecutor of the Krasnodar Territory...

Pickets against the law on non-profit organisations and the libel law held by the State Duma

Press Release, July 13, 2012.

Today YABLOKO activists conducted by the State Duma a series of one-person pickets against the law on non-profit organisations and the libel law considerably worsening the situation for civil society activists. YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin who also participated in the action said that the State Duma should concentrate on the creation of a commission for investigating the causes of the tragic flood in the Krasnodar Territory, rather than consideration of reprisals prone amendments to the law on non-profit organisations and restoring liability for libel as a criminal offense.

YABLOKO activists in turn held a banner picturing Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Heinrich Himmler, Felix Dzerzhinsky, Lavrenty Beria and Vladimir Putin with a subscription "Amendments to the law on non-profit organisations. Fascists are for it! KGB people are for it!"
Sergei Mitrokhin also participated in a journalists' picket against the libel law. He drew a placard "No to the libel law" at site...

Yugeny Vitishko: "We are working 24 hours a day. We have made bunks and sleep in turn". Yugeny Vitishko about the Aid Centre in Krymsk.

Special for the YABLOKO web-site, July 10, 2012.

...Vitishko: We are working 24 hours a day. We have made bunks and sleep in turn. I have not slept since yesterday (laughs). We have about 20 people working here. Our camp is divided into sectors: sectors for delivery and provision of food, clothing, electricity, etc. Now the city is completely de-energized, only we have a generator. People are continuously coming to charge phones or boil tea.
In the coming days we are planning to examine the streets we have not visited yet. We will be walking around with a megaphone, and will look for those who have not received aid yet. I am afraid there will be such people – there are many pensioners and elderly in the city who have difficulty to move independently.

Question: Humanitarian aid is coming to you from all over the country. How do people respond to help?

Vitishko: They express their thankfulness. They asked who we are and where do we come from...

Flood in the Krasnodar Territory

Press Release, July 11, 2012.

On July 5 - 6 July a natural disaster broke out in several regions of the Krasnodar Territory. A heavy flood led to numerous victims among the local residents. Resort city Gelendzhik and Novorossiysk suffered from the disaster, however, but the most affected was the Krymsk District.

In the evening of July 6 YABLOKO and North Caucasus Environmental Watch activists organized a Public Aid Centre in Krymsk for providing aid to the residents of the city and the district. It is located at the address: Krymsk, Sverdlov street 9/1 (in the building of kindergarten No 19). Tel: +7 953 116 81 62 (Alexei Mandrigelya), +7 953 074 73 98 (Victoria Zolotaryova from 7.00 a.m. of July 9).

On July 8 a Coordination Centre was opened in YABLOKO’s office in Krasnodar. Address: Gogol Street 74, Office 20, 2nd Floor, tel: +7 861 275 26 77, +7 861 274 30 58, +7 961 515 69 94 (Igor Kharchenko). The centre is opened from 9:00 to 22:00.

Aid collection points in St.Petersburg:
St.Petersburg Observers office
Address: Liteyniy 31 (red door in the basement), tel: +7 911 954 9121 (Olga)
The office of Grigory Yavlinsky and YABLOKO supporters.
Address: Mozhayskaya 15, tel.: +7 921 700 2664 (Madina) from 8:00 to 23:30.

Humanitarian aid collection centre was opened in YABLOKO’s office in Voronezh. Address: Svobodi 59 bld 5. The first dispatch of the collected aid is scheduled on July 14-15. Tel: +7 920 210 95 98 (Tatyana Shkred).

YABLOKO’s Aid Centre for the victims of the flood in the southern Russia keeps working in Krymsk

Press Release, July 10, 2012.

Public Aid Centre for the victims of the flood opened by YABLOKO's activists and EcoWatch in the North Caucasus the next day after the flood keeps working in Krymsk. The Centre is situated at Adagumskaya Street 153 in front of the shop Magnit.

Trucks with humanitarian aid arrive here from different cities of the South Russia. For example, today Alexei Mirukov, head of the Anapa branch of YABLOKO, and Victor Krivoshapkin, a civil activist, brought medications and food-stuffs.

A truck carrying a large tent where the Centre will be located is on the way from Novorossiysk. Yet the activists have been working outside day and night. Local government gave neither a tent nor a room to the volunteers...

Flood victims left without help in Krymsk held a spontaneous rally

Press Release, July 9, 2012.

Flood victims left without help in Krymsk are holding a spontaneous rally. People state they may go to extreme measures such as blocking the main street of the city so that to draw attention of the government to their situation.

Such information has been released by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin who is now in Krymsk. According to Mitrokhin, it turned out that about 200 residents of the city (from Chernyshevsky and Lunacharsky streets) waiting for help for three days already have not got any help from the authorities, as well as food or fresh water. Their houses are flooded, but water is not pumped out, and since the beginning of disaster they have received no assistance whatsoever from either the administration, or the Emergency Situations Ministry...

YABLOKO leader arrived in Krymsk with a truck of humanitarian aid

Press Release, July 9, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Andrei Rudomakha, head of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO, arrived in Krymsk, the Krasnodar Territory, severely ruined by flood. They brought a truck with humanitarian aid to the Aid Centre for victims opened by YABLOKO's activists and the EcoWatch close to Adagumskaya Street 153 on July 6. This part of the city was most affected by the flood.

The party members brought to the aid centre canned food, salt, rice, macaroni, milk, water, tea, baby food, clothes, shoes, soap, other hygiene aids and medicines.

After their visit to Krymsk YABLOKO activists and Sergei Mitrokhin plan to go to other affected areas were help has not arrived yet...

Criminal negligence of officials led to deaths of people in the Krimskiy district, the Krasnodar Area
Statement by YABLOKO Chairman
, July 7, 2012.

A natural disaster leading to numerous victims took place in some parts of the Krasnodar Area (southern Russia) yesterday and today. The YABLOKO party expresses condoles to the relatives and next of kin of the victims.
Resort city Gelindgik and Novorossiysk suffered from the disaster, but the most affected was the Krymsk Area with the highest number of victims. The tragedy was caused by torrential rains leading to a flood which inundated a large number of settlements. However, in the case of Krymsk and Neberdzhayevskeya village the tragedy was caused not only by weather conditions but also the actions of the authorities who had not taken the necessary precautions to prevent the disaster.

As was found out by the activists of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO, the dramatic lifting of water in the Krymsk city last night was caused by an emergency discharge from the Neberdzhayevsky water-storage pond situated in the mountains above the city. The population was not alerted about that discharge which became one more reason for the tragedy...

YABLOKO held a series of one-person pickets against toughening of the law on non-profit organisations

Press Release, July 6, 2012.
On 6 July activists of the YABLOKO party held a series of one-person pickets protesting against the amendments giving a status of a "foreign agent" to a number of Russian non-profit organisations. The action was held outside the main entrance to the State Duma which plans to pass the amendments at first reading.
YABLOKO activists including Sergei Mitrokhin, party leader, Galina Mikhalyova, YABLOKO Bureau member, and Kirill Gontcharov, leader of Youth YABLOKO, picketed the State Duma entrance in turn with a banner "The amendments to the law on non-profit organisations are way to a fascist state"...

Grigory Yavlinsky: "We will win over Vladimir Putin at any elections, whenever they may take place".

Press Release, June 17, 2012.

The YABLOKO party is preparing to parliamentary and presidential elections that may take place any moment. Such a statement was made by party founder Grigory Yavlinsky at YABLOKO's congress held in the Moscow region this weekend.

"We fully admit that new elections may be held not in five or four years, but much earlier, and this period will depend on the moods of the people and their attitude to what has been happening in the country," said Grigory Yavlinsky.

He also stressed that neither his presidential campaign, nor YABLOKO's fight for creation of the party faction in the State Duma did not stop. "In the recent parliamentary elections, even according to the official figures, we received a mandate from the 2.5 million voters who do not want to live in lawlessness, corruption and continuous lies, and we must live up to this mandate," Yavlinsky concluded...

On the threat of the destruction of unique natural complexes of the World Natural Heritage Site "The Western Caucasus"

The 17th Congress of YABLOKO, June 18, 2012.

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO calls the World Heritage Committee at its forthcoming session, which will be held in St.Petersburg in late June, to pay special attention to the critical situation in the field of preservation of World Natural Heritage Site "The Western Caucasus".
"The Western Caucasus" based on the Caucasian Nature Reserve is a unique natural area, that is not only a national treasure of Russia, but also the natural heritage of all the mankind. Throughout the period since 1999 up to the present, when "The Western Caucasus" was included in the list of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site this object had been endangered by different projects that could destroy it...

Grigory Yavlinsky led YABLOKO's column at the March of the Millions

Press Release, June 12, 2012.

YABLOKO's activists and supporters participated in demonstration of the opposition in Moscow. Party members formed a column under the banner "We demand new elections!". The column was led by party leaders Grigory Yavlinsky, Valery Borshchyov, Anatoly Golov, Yugeny Bunimovich, Galina Mikhalyova, leader of the Youth Yabloko Kirill Goncharov and other.

"We participate in today's demonstration because millions of people do not agree with the policies pursued by Vladimir Putin, as well as lawlessness [in the country]. We received a mandate from our voters - and only according to the official data, there are over two million of such people ¦µ“ for a continuous political struggle for a different system: for fair elections, an independent judiciary, equality before the law and the inviolability of property rights," Grigory Yavlinsky said to journalists...

Mass demonstrations in Moscow are first shoots of a Russian political Spring
Press Release, ALDE, June 12, 2012

In reaction to the protests in Russia today which saw one hundred thousand people take to the streets to demand reforms, Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE Leader says the Russian authorities should take immediate concrete steps to implement reform...

Kristiina Ojuland, ALDE Spokesperson on Russia said: "The recent decision by the State Duma to drastically increase persecution of peaceful protesters is not in line with European standards and international practice as authorities claim. There is nothing democratic about the 200 fold increase in fines for those willing to express their views freely and peacefully. This boils down to yet another effort by the authorities to tighten their grip on power and suppress further fundamental rights of Russian citizens."

Mitrokhin about searches in the homes of Russian opposition figures: the country has moved to an open dictatorship regime

Press Release, June 11, 2012.

Based on Echo Moskvi reports

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin commenting to the Echo Moskvi radio station the searches in the homes of Alexei Navalny and other opposition activists noted that police reprisals also affected YABLOKO¦µ™s activists:

"Our activists are affected, in particular, such psychological pressure was used against Kirilll Gontcharov, leader of the Moscow branch of Youth YABLOKO, as police tried to get into his home yesterday. Now he has to hide. Our activists also suffer from this impudent police pressure, which is not connected to any violations and is not based on law.

I believe that after the adoption of amendments to the law on rallies the country transferred to an open dictatorship regime. Putin ceased imitating democracy, he abandoned all his masks. Searches and other police actions are the links of the same chain."

YABLOKO's congress to take place on June 16-17

Press Release, June 9, 2012.

The 17th Congress of the YABLOKO party will be held in the Moscow region on June 16 - 17, 2012. The congress will elect new party leadership and adopt party programme for 2012 - 2016.

On the first day the congress will listen to a report by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and will elect the party leadership. The delegates have to elect party Chair, Political Committee members, the Bureau, the Audit Commission and the party Arbitrage.

On the second day the congress will discuss the party aims and goals for 2012 ¦µ“ 2016.

About 140 delegates from 72 regional party branches will take part in the congress...

YABLOKO to protest against the new law on rallies at the March of the Millions

Press Release, June 9, 2012.

The YABLOKO party will participate in the March of the Millions on June 12 where it will protest against signing by President Putin of the new law on rallies virtually putting a ban on street actions.

YABLOKO activists will form a column under the slogan "The law on rallies is a way to a fascist state". All YABLOKO's previous protest actions were conducted under this slogan when the draft law was examined by the State Duma and the Federation Council. Then YABLOKO protested at all the stages of the legislative process - by the Duma, the Federation Council and the Kremlin.

YABLOKO activists will bring banners illustrating the reprisals prone nature of the law: picturing Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Heinrich Himmler, Felix Dzerzhinsky, Lavrenty Beria and Vladimir Putin with a subscription "Fascists are for it! KGB people are for it!"...

Spokesperson of HR/VP Catherine Ashton on Russia's new law on rallies
June 8, 2012.

From Ms Maja KOCIJANCIC, Spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

The EU has noted the adoption of a bill yesterday by both houses of the Russian Federal Assembly that significantly increases fines and reinforces other forms of punishment for violations during public events, i.e. rallies and demonstrations.

The EU is concerned about the possible implications of this bill, many of which have already been underlined by many Russian politicians, journalists and civil society actors.

We understand that the signing of this bill by the President is still under consideration. We have also taken note of the President¦µ™s intention to consult further and hear all views before taking a final decision on this bill.

As a neighbour and as Russia's Strategic Partner, the EU believes that the recent civic activism offers a valuable opportunity for the state to engage in a constructive dialogue with civil society which could bring benefits to both sides. In our view regulations that discourage civic engagement are not conducive to achieve this objective. However, some encouraging reforms have been announced by the Russian government, and this process should be taken further...

The EU is concerned by reports that 18 peaceful protesters, including some prominent Yabloko members, were arrested during a peaceful demonstration against the new bill on public rallies outside the State Duma.

The EU recalls Russia's international commitments as a member of the Council of Europe and the OSCE to guarantee the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin to visit Omsk

Press Release, June 9, 2012.
...On June 11, Mitrokhin will participate in the conference of the regional branch of YABLOKO.

On June 12, he will meet students, political scientists and other citizens in the conference hall of hotel Tourist at 11:30. The topic of the meeting is "Omsk on the threashold of mayoral elections". Address: Str. Broz Tito, 2.

Then YABLOKO leader will join the rally in support of Moscow's March of the Millions.

A public inspection on problematic sites of the city will take place at 15:13: Ptichya Gavan (Birds¦µ™ Harbour) ¦µ“ Zyelyoniy Ostrov (Green Island) - Metro ¦µ“ Silicon plant.

On June 13 (at 15:00) Sergei Mitrokhin, Alexander Korotkov, YABLOKO's candidate for mayor of Omsk, and Tatiana Ovcharenko, renowned expert in the field of protection of citiznes' rights in the housing and utilities sector, will participate in the press conference "Challenges before Omsk on the Threashold of the Mayoral Elections". The press conference will take place in the press center of the Komsomolskaya Pravda paper.

Mitrokhin: signing by President Putin of the law on rallies represents an actual ban on street actions

Interfax, June 8, 2012.

Signing by Russian President Vladimir Putin of amendments into the law on rallies and the Administrative Offenses Code toughening punishment for violations during mass public actions represents an actual ban on street political actions, said YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin.

"Virtually this represents a ban on rallies and political actions. Everyone ¦µ“ organizers, activists and all public persons from all the sides are under blow," Mitrokhin told Interfax on Friday night.

He also noted that YABLOKO will not hold street actions against the law in the nearest time.

"Everyone may be sentenced to a slave labour or a huge fine from now on. I can not call people to come to a rally realizing that they can be sent to the galleys from there," the oppositional politician added.

Yabloko Leader Gets Arrested in a Peaceful Walking Protest
LI News Bulletin, Issue 286, June 8, 2012

In an unprecedented turn of events, Yabloko (LI full-member) leader Sergei Mitrokhin, along with 12 activists, was arrested by the police in a peaceful walking protest against the recently proposed controversial 'law on rallies.' All of the activists wore T-shirts with the slogan of the action 'The Law On 'Rallies' is a way to a fascist state.' The law in question will increase fines on demonstrators who violate public order. Mitrokhin was detained in a separate room and his lawyer was not allowed to visit him or be present for the interrogations by the state police. According to Mitrokhin, the amendments into the law on rallies and the Administrative Offences Code adopted recently by the State Duma are installing a dictatorship in the country. 'Today the government has signed a verdict for itself. If the protest cannot be expressed by peaceful and legal means, then it will find a way out through other means,' said Mitrokhin. Yabloko's International Officer Olga Radayeva called the arrests 'absurd' and urged for the immediate release of the party's leader and activists.

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Official Russian human rights bodies condemn the new law on rallies

Based on Interfax reports, June 7, 2012.

Russian Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin called for the new law on rallies to be sent back to the State Duma Committee for revision, while the Council for Human Rights under the Russian President published an expert assessment saying that the law violates Russian Constitution, Interfax reported on June 7.

According to Lukin, "the study of the law has shown that the document is hasty and contradictory, lacking a strict concept or clear criteria." "Instead of developing the procedure for agreeing the terms of public events and increasing the responsibility of officials for declining to agree, the focus is on proscriptive and prescriptive measures," the statement goes on. It warns that this is "likely to lead to a rise in the number of un-agreed, radical and sometimes extremist rallies", while the widely expected future convictions of rally organisers will "rightly be seen by citizens as unlawful and sometimes repressive"...

Picketing against toughening of the law on rallies took place in Novosibirsk

Press Service by the Novosibirsk branch of YABLOKO, June 7, 2012.
The Novosibirsk regional branch of YABLOKO oraganised a one-person picket (which does not require prior notification or obtaining a permission from the authorities) against toughening of the law on rallies stipulating sharp raising of fines for violations at rallies and demonstrations.
About ten activists participated in picketing changing each other in turn for several hours in the centre of the city.

Police stopped the procession to the monument to Pushkin because of the T-shirts with protest slogans

Press Release, June 6, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and 12 activists of a protest action by the walls of the Kremlin were arrested only because they refused to obey the police order to take off their T-shirts. For 40 minutes of YABLOKO¦µ™s and other civil society activists were walking in Manezhnaya Square in white T-shirts with inscriptions "The law on rallies is the way to a fascist state". And only when Sergei Mitrokhin proposed to walk along Tverskaya Street to the monument to famous Russian poet Pushkin, the police asked the activists to take off the T-shirts and on hearing refuses the police began detentions...

Arrests of protesters have begun at Manaezhnaya Square, Moscow

Press Release, June 6, 2012.

Arrests of protesters have begun at Manaezhnaya Square in the centre Moscow. YABLOKO activists planned to begin a protest action in the Alexander Gardens by the Kremlin wall, however, it was "suddenly" closed an hour before the action. Therefore it was decided to protest at the Manegnaya Square nearby.

All the activists wearing T-shirts with the slogan of the action "The Law "On Rallies" is a way to a fascist state."

Sergei Mitrokhin and 11 activists (four girls among them) were taken by police to the patrol wagons...

Activists protesting against the law on rallies arrested in Volgograd

Press Service by the Volgograd branch of YABLOKO, June 6, 2012.

People gathered by the President¦µ™s reception office in Volgograd at 2 p.m. today. The participants of the gathering were protesting against the adoption of the law on rallies and were trying to get into Vladimir Putin's reception office so that to hand in a petition proposing that the President should veto the bill passed by the State Duma yesterday. The police arrested six people: Nikolai Belikov, Sergey Mazanov, Boris Stikhin, Artyom Panenko, Yulia Vlasenko and Leonid Makhinya. Some of them were YABLOKO members other represented public movement "For Fair Elections" and independent media...

Pickets against the law raising fines for rallies has taken place by the Federation Council

Press Release, Photos, Video. June 6, 2012.

According to YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin, the amendments into the law on rallies and the Administrative Offences Code adopted yesterday by the State Duma and proved by the upper chamber of the parliament ¦µ“ the Federation Council ¦µ“ today are installing dictatorship in the country. Mitrokhin has made such a statement today by the Federation Council. Today YABLOKO has conducted a series of one-person pickets (that do not require a permission from the authorities) against the adoption of the such amendments.
Activists of the Youth YABLOKO, Sergei Sokolov, municipal deputy from the YABLOKO party, and Sergei Mitrokhin stood in turn by the main entrance to the Federation Council with a placard "The law on rallies is a way towards a fascist state!" The placard also pictured portraits of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Heinrich Himmler, Felix Dzerzhinsky, Lavrenty Beria and Vladimir Putin approving the new law. "Fascists are for it! KGB people are for it!" ran the placard...

Restrictions on freedom of assembly in Russia upset European liberals
ALDE-PACE, Statement, June 6, 2012

6.06.2012 Ahead of new opposition protests scheduled for next week, around 20 activists, including Mr Mitrokhin, leader of Yabloko, protesting against a bill toughening responsibility for organisation of and participation in mass rallies were arrested yesterday in Moscow.

The new law has been approved by the Russian Parliament and is awaiting promulgation by President Putin. The bill punishes organisers and participants of any mass public gathering - even those lacking formal attributes of a political protest - for any acts that perturb the circulation of pedestrians or vehicles, drastically raising fines from max. 5000 rubles (120 Euro) to max. 300000 rubles (over 7000 Euro).

"Participation in mass rallies cannot be the privilege of the rich. The Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly will certainly be informed of these worrying developments in Russia. President Putin has the right not to sign the bill. And I sincerely hope that he will use this right, taking account of the criticism voiced by lawyers, civil society and opposition parties, as well as the demands to engage into public consultations. Another mechanism available to all member states of the Council of Europe is the legal opinions of the Venice Commission. In order to avoid the violation of Council of Europe standards, it would be appropriate if the Russian authorities requested such an opinion on the draft law before it comes into force," said Anne Brasseur, President of ALDE-PACE.

Russian law to increase fines on demonstrators should be dropped, say PACE co-rapporteurs
PACE, Statement, June 6, 2012

Strasbourg, 06.06.2012 ¦µ“ The co-rapporteurs for Russia of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Andi Gross (Switzerland, SOC) and Gy¶¶rgy Frunda (Romania, EPP/CD) today expressed their serious concern at the adoption by the lower chamber of the Russian Parliament of a controversial bill designed to increase fines for orchestrating unauthorised demonstrations. They called on the upper chamber ¦µ“ which is due to debate the draft law today ¦µ“ to reject it and called on the President not to sign it into law.

The law provides that organisers of unsanctioned protests can be charged up to the equivalent of 39,000 euros and participants up to 13,000 euros.

"This measure would undermine freedom of expression and freedom of assembly," said the co-rapporteurs. "It would symbolise a lost opportunity to strengthen the democratic process in the Russian Federation as it would close the window of opportunity opened in the last six months following the massive demonstrations by the Russian population. The dynamic activity of society should be used to implement reforms instead of being suppressed."

The co-rapporteurs said that in their view fines of a considerably lower value may be imposed on the organisers of authorised demonstrations or individual participants in justified cases when the latter cause material damage or use violence, and they should always be decided by the courts. "There are well-established democratic standards in this respect, and they should be followed," they said.

"The advantages of exercising the right to freedom of expression outweigh by far any possible disadvantages caused by those who abuse this right. These advantages considerably contribute to the development of a pluralistic and democratic society," the co-rapporteurs concluded.

Russian United Democratic Party leader Sergey Mitrokhin arrested as "a hooligan".

EU Reporter, June 5, 2012. Video.

By Anna Vvedenskaya
Today police have begun arrests among the participants of walking protests against adoption of the law restricting the constitutional right to assembly and protest. YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin, Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of YABLOKO s Political Committee, Kirill Gontcharov, leader of the Youth YABLOKO, Sergei Sokolov, municipal deputy from the YABLOKO party, - 18 people in total, nine of them are YABLOKO members - are arrested by the State Duma. The police have also used violence in arresting several civil activists. At present the police are going on detaining activists...
At this moment in time all of them are realised but the are faicing charges of "hooliganism"...

See the article at the EU Reporter web-site.

Liberals condemn heavy-handed police intervention against peaceful protesters in Russia
ELDR Press Release, June 5, 2012.

Sir Graham Watson MEP, President and Astrid Thors MP, Vice-President of the ELDR Party jointly voiced the concern of European Liberals about the arrests of ELDR member party Yabloko's activists and other civil society organisations protesting today against a further limitation of the right to assembly and to express your opinions freely.

This is particularly disappointing for European Liberals as this happens only one day after the EU-Russia Summit where President Vladimir Putin ironically informed the world that "everybody is walking freely now" who protested against the rules regulating mass protests.

"We do agree with European Council President Herman van Rompuy and Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso that we need to build closer relations with Russia, however, as a signatory to the Council of Europe, Russia must abide by European standards of democratic participation for its citizens if it wants to build a relationship based on shared values as much as on common interests."

It is not acceptable to fine people for exercising the fundamental right of assembly on grounds of disrupting public order as also reported by Human Rights Watch.

Russian crackdown on civilian protesters is a slap in the face for EU
Press Release, ALDE, June 5, 2012

Russian police earlier today arrested 18 civilian activists just outside the Russian State Duma, including Sergei Mitrokhin and a number of prominent Yabloko party members, who had assembled for a peaceful demonstration, ironically against a proposal for a law which seeks to enforce tough penalties on civil protesters. The incident occurred just one day after the EU-Russia summit in St Petersburg in which issues of democracy and human rights were kept off the agenda.

"This heavy-handed police intervention against peaceful protesters shows, with tragic clarity, that Putin now is trying to crush what remains of civil action. The promises of reforms from last winter's large-scale demonstrations were just smokescreens to secure his re-election" said Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the ALDE Group.

"The lack of any outcome from the EU-Russia summit on 3rd and 4th of June in St Petersburg shows that the EU needs a new policy for dealing with Russia, based on objective criticism and on an insistence that democratic standards and the rule of law must be respected before Russia can be regarded as a true strategic partner and move forward on issues like visa free travel"

"The new legislative proposal that calls for excessive sanctions against all protesters and today's arrest of Sergei Mitrokhin and others are clear signs that the Kremlin does not take into the account the large scale internal and external criticism over the lack of democracy and rule of law in Russia. Just last weekend during the EU-Russia Summit, president Putin indicated that Russia is a country where everybody's civil rights are guaranteed. Unfortunately the reality continues to be different. Thus the EU will have to sharpen the way it deals with Russia and realize that the brutal reality is far from the marble halls and palaces President Putin likes to display for visiting EU delegations" said Kristiina Ojuland, ALDE Group spokesperson on Russia.

YABLOKO to continue protesting against adoption of the law raising penalties on rallies by the Federation Council and in Alexander Gardens by the Kremlin

Press Release, June 5, 2012.

The YABLOKO party will continue protesting against adoption of the law raising penalties on rallies by the Federation Council and in the Alexander Gardens by the Kremlin. Two actions will be held in Moscow tomorrow. At 11:00 activists of the Youth YABLOKO will hold a series of pickets by the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, which has to give its approval to the law. At 19:00 YABLOKO invites all the people to come to Alexander Gardens by the Kremlin wall so that to appeal to President Putin.

It is expected that tomorrow, on June 6, the Federation Council will consider amendments to the law on rallies and the Administrative Code, which have been adopted by the State Duma in the second and third reading today. At 11 a.m. Youth YABLOKO activists will come to the Federation Council so that to remind the senators: toughening of penalties for rallies is a way towards a fascist state. The activists will hold placards with portraits of dictators and torturers who would have supported the draft law initiated by the ruling United Russia party: fascists Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Heinrich Himmler, as well as KGB people Felix Dzerzhinsky, Lavrenty Beria and Vladimir Putin.

As there are not doubts that the Federation Council will, as usual, support the reactionary amendments, YABLOKO calls all the people to Alexander Gardens at 19:00 so that to appeal to President Vladimir Putin.

The action in the Alexander Gardens will take place without any political symbols and placards, so yet it does not require approvals from the authorities...

YABLOKO leader and 17 activists arrested by the State Duma

Press Release, June 5, 2012.

Police have begun arrests among the participants of walking protests against adoption of the law restricting the constitutional right to assembly and protest. YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin, Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of YABLOKO¦µ™s Political Committee, Kirill Gontcharov, leader of the Youth YABLOKO, Sergei Sokolov, municipal deputy from the YABLOKO party ¦µ“ 18 people in total, nine of them are YABLOKO members - are arrested by the State Duma. The police have also used violence in arresting several civil activists. At present the police are going on detaining activists...

 

...This YABLOKO¦µ™s action was supported by the Moscow branch of Solidarnost and number of other organisations. Earlier Sergei Mitrokhin had called the organizers and the participants of mass-scale protest actions to come to the State Duma on the day of hearing of the law and offer rebuff to such initiatives by the ruling party...

Russia: Reject Restrictions on Peaceful Assembly. Duma to Consider Big Fines for Public Gatherings

Human Rights Watch, June 4, 2012.

...The proposed amendments would significantly increase the fines for violating rules for holding public events and impose various other restrictions that will make it more difficult and costly for those opposed to government policies to engage in public protests, Human Rights Watch said. The proposed amendments increase the maximum penalty for individuals from 1000 rubles (US$60) to 300,000 rubles (US$9,000). Penalties for legal entities would reach a maximum of 1 million rubles (US$30,000)...

YABLOKO's Commission on Education and Children resumes work

Press Release, June 4, 2012.

On the International Children's Day, June 1, a joint meeting of YABLOKO's Commission on Education and Children under the Bureau of the party (which resumed work in May 2012) and Women's (Gender) Faction of YABLOKO took place in YABLOKO's office in Moscow.

The renovated Commission has considerably expanded its topics, adding new issues to already existing direction of work with orphanages, orphans and foster families.

Commission members and party activists discussed the key problems the party will work at in the field of education and protection of children. The meeting was monitored by Vyachslav Glinchikov, Commission Chair and famous educator, and Galina Mikhalyova, leader of YABLOKO's Women (Gender) Faction...

YABLOKO paid tribute to the victims of shooting in Novocherkassk in 1962

Press Release, June 2, 2012.

YABLOKO paid tribute to the victims of shooting in Novocherkassk which took place 50 years ago in 1962. Activists of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO brought flowers to the Solovetsky Stone by the KGB/Federal Security Service building in Lubyanka, Moscow.

On June 2, 1962, the Soviet interior forced shot peaceful demonstration of workers and other residents of Novocherkassk. According to the official data, 26 people were killed. They were secretly buried in other cities of the region. Later the court sentenced seven "organizers of mass disorders" to death and 105 people were sentenced to 10 ¦µ“ 15 years in maximum security penal colonies.

Workers protests took place after raising of retail prices on food-stuffs (a 25 per cent rise). Simultaneously the directorate of the plant raised the productivity standards for workers resulting in the reduction of their wages. The workers and residents of Novocherkassk went on a demonstration under the slogans "Meat!", "Bread!" and "Milk!"...

YABLOKO supported the rally against commercialisation of education and merger of Moscow schools

Press Release, June 1, 2012.

A mass rally against commercialisation of education and merger of Moscow schools was held in the centre of Moscow on the International Children's Day, June 1. About 400 people - teachers, parents, students, initiative groups of parents, schools and kindergartens, as well as museums and libraries workers - participated in the rally. The organizers of the rally were Trade Union Teacher, Public Council "In Protection of the Education Sphere in Moscow", an initiative group of students and staff from the Moscow State University, the Moscow Parents movement and the OkkupaiMoskva movement.

Olga Vlasova, member of YABLOKO Bureau, post-graduate of the Moscow State University and member of the Coordination Council Against Merger of Moscow Schools, made a speech at the rally on behalf of the party. She noted in her speech that "fraud had already come to schools"...

No to cutting of a city garden under construction of a new parliament¦µ™s building!

Statement by the Moscow branch of the YABLOKO party, June 1, 2012.

The State Duma Commission on construction of a new parliament's center announced the plans to cut an apple garden at Kutusovsky prospect in the centre of Moscow under a construction site.

YABLOKO together with the residents of this Moscow district have repeatedly repulsed the attacks on this old unique garden in Moscow.

The intentions of the Duma deputies once again demonstrate that they are ready to eliminate gardens and parks worsening living conditions of Muscovites or take children's playgrounds for the sake of their own comfort.

The Moscow Regional Branch of YABLOKO states that it and the citizens will spare no effort so that to defend the apple garden from the deputies...

Irish endorsement of Fiscal Treaty an important step in restoring confidence in Europe's economy
Press Release, ALDE, June 1, 2012

Early indications show that the Irish people have backed the European Stability Treaty in a nation-wide referendum held yesterday. ALDE welcome this result underlining that the significance of an Irish "Yes" cannot be underestimated. Saying "No" would have lowered Ireland's credibility in the financial markets and have cut Ireland off from ESM funds which would have been disastrous...

Let us protect Article 31 on the freedom of assembly of the Constitution on June 5!

Open letter by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin to organisers and participants of street protests, May 31, 2012

To organisers and participants of street protests
at Bolotnaya, Sakharov and Pushkin Squares, Chistiye Prudi, Novy Arbat, the participants of the movements ¦µ´Strategy 31¦µ±, ¦µ´The White Ribbon¦µ±, ¦µ´March of the Millions¦µ± and other protest actions: Boris Akunin, Dmitry Bykov, Genadi Gudkov, Dmitry Gudkov,
Eduard Limonov, Alexei Navalny, Sergei Parkhomenko, Vladimir Ryzhkov,
Lev Ponomarev, Sergei Udaltsov, Yugenia Chirikova and others

Today, on May 31, the day when actions in protection of Article 31 of the Constitution guaranteeing RF citizens the right to assemble peacefully, without weapons, hold rallies, demonstrations, marches and pickets are normally held [in Russia].

On this day, I am turning to you calling you to pay very close attention to the amendments prepared by the State Duma to the Administrative Offences Code and Federal Law No 54 "On Assemblies, Rallies, Demonstrations, Processions and Pickets". These amendments are prohibitive and maximally limit the constitutional right of citizens to protests.

Not only do they set high penalties [for the rallies], but also make any form of street activity impossible and broaden the possibilities for abuse by the police providing grounds for absurd accusations...

Dmitry Medvedev's statement on political reform made under the pressure of mass protests turn out a simulation and even a mockery

Statement by the YABLOKO Bureau, May 25, 2012.

This is most clearly demonstrated by hasty appointments of governors in a large number of regions. The "filters" built-in into the nomination of governors made it virtually impossible to nominate candidates from the opposition. In addition to the presidential recommendations, there were adopted extremely tough requirements to collection of signatures from municipal deputies in support of [nominated] candidates. A formally possible nomination of alternative candidates at a time when the vast majority of municipal deputies are representatives of the ruling party or its affiliated groups in reality results in the creation of an insurmountable barrier for the opposition or independent candidates in entering the election race.

A number of regional legislative assemblies where the positions of "the United Russia are particularly unstable hastily pass laws fixing the most stringent of the proposed regulatory frameworks for the candidates from other parties"...

Liberals label Egyptian Presidential Candidates as "worst possible scenario"
LI News Bulletin, Issue 285, May 31, 2012

Commenting on the unofficial Presidential election results in Egypt, liberals expressed concern that two main Presidential candidates, Mohammed Mursi (Muslim Brotherhood) and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, are a ¦µ´worst possible scenario¦µ± following the revolution in the country last year. Mohamed Nosseir, member of the Political Bureau of FEP, and Mohamed Abbas, Secretary-General of DFP (LI full member), explained that ¦µ´the results of the first round of the elections are a clear indication that the majority of voters do not wish to see the Muslim brotherhood or the old regime take control again¦µ± as around 9 million Egyptians decided to vote for the alternative Presidential candidates (Hamdeen Sabbahi and Abuo Al Fotoh). Nosseir added that the Egyptian political forces that account for the remaining votes have met on June 28 and decided to work together which has resulted in submitting a document that defends and promotes the revolution's demand for an Egyptian civil state. The opposition is hoping that this document will be endorsed by the Egyptian intellectuals, political leaders, and artists, and will eventually become obligatory for whoever wins the coming election.

Moscow Mayor Sobyanin supports YABLOKO's proposals
Press Release, May 30, 2012.

Moscow Mayor Sobyanin partially supported the proposals made by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin to delegate municipal assemblies the right to coordinate some issues of urban planning.

On April 22, Moscow hosted the Municipal Deputies Forum which supported Sergei Mitrokhin's draft law on introducing amendments into the law "On the organization of local self-government in Moscow."

Speaking today at the Congress of the Moscow Municipalities Councils Sergei Sobyanin proposed to expand the powers of urban municipalities relating to construction of new facilities.

"I propose to grant the municipal assemblies the right to coordinate construction of facilities that have to serve the needs of the residents of specific areas," said the Mayor...

Muscovites dismantle the fence around an unlawfully seized beach at Serebryanniy Bor
Press Release, May 30, 2012.

A meeting of the residents of the West and North-West of Moscow who oppose unlawfully seizure of Moscow beaches will take place in Serebryanniy Bor on Thursday, May 31. The residents will dismantle un unlawfully erected fence.

On May 28 YABLOKO¦µ™s public inspection which also included environmentalists and journalists managed to get inside the fenced territory of the beach. (See the photo report here.) The guard of the fenced beach was unable tell the name of the "owner" of the beach, but said that the place was a "barbecue site" for Federal Security Service and Interior Ministry officers and their families...

Forum "Environmental Problems in the Political Context" held in the Moscow Region
Press Release, May 29, 2012.

"The Green Forum: Environmental Problems in the Political Context" was held on the initiative of YABLOKO¦µ™s Green Russia faction in the Moscow Region on May 28, 2012.

Representatives from 64 environmental organizations from 35 Russian regions from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka participated in the Forum so that to discuss the political and environmental situation in Russia.

YABLOKO leader Grigory Yavlinsky and the leaders of the Green Russia faction (Acad. Alexei Yablokov, Alexander Nikitin and Olga Tsepilova) participated in the Forum. The discussion was also attended by leaders of environmental organisations such as Greenpeace Russia, the Russian branch of the World Wildlife Fund, the International Socio-Ecological Union, as well as a number of influential regional organisations such as Dodo, Nizhni Novgorod, Ecodefence, Kaliningrad, Plotina.Net!, Krasnoyarsk, Bellona, St. Petersburg, Siberian Ecocentre, Novosibirsk, the Far East Fund for Environmental Health, Vladivostok, the Kamchatka League of Independent Experts, the Union of Moscow Environmental Organisations, the Union of Bashkirian Environmentalists and the Green Branch, Yaroslavl...

Organiser of an action against raising of penalties for rallies to stand trial
Press Release, May 27, 2012.

Pyotr Ivanchikov, YABLOKO's activist and organiser of an action against raising of penalties for rallies, will to stand trial for oragnisation of an action. After his detention he was held for in a local police department for four hours (instead of the maximum three hours allowed by law). He is incriminated "violation of the established order of oragnisation of a rally" (Article 20.2 of the Administrative Offences Code).

Ivanchikov is accused that the topic of the rally differed with the topic agreed upon with the authorities. YABLOKO had applied for a permission to conduct a rally stating the topic of urgent elections of the Moscow Mayor, however, in light of the events of raising penalties for rallies by the parliament, YABLOKO changed the topic (such a change is not prohibited by the law)...

YABLOKO's action: toughening of penalties for rallies is a straight way towards a totalitarian state
Press Release, May 27, 2012.

A theatrical action against toughening of penalties for violations at the rallies took place in Novopushkinsky Garden on May 27. Potential "violators" were implementing compulsory community services under the sounds of military marches of Hitler's Germany without waiting for the final adoption of the draft law toughening the penalties by the ruling United Russia faction. Half an hour after the start of the action, its organiser Pyotr Ivanchikov was detained by police for alleged non-conformity of the declared topic of the rally with the actual one. "Muscovites complain about the Nazi marches," a police lieutenant told the journalists.

While the protesters were filling Novopushkinsky Garden, YABLOKO activists wearing prisoners' hats broomed the pavement under the sounds of military marches from Hitler's Germany.

"We want to show that the State Duma is going to adopt a law natural in a totalitarian state," said YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin opening the meeting. "Under the clamour of possible reduction of fines from 1.5 million roubles to 300,000 roubles, the State Duma adopted a resolution listing these monstrous amendments," he noted.

Participants of the action demonstrated disproportionate punishment for "violations" that would be introduced by the new law. They could have been convicted to compulsory community services only for wearing the Guy Fawkes masks. In addition, each of them wore a plaque innumerating other "aggravating circumstances", such as "walking across Moscow", "trampling the grass," and "wearing a white ribbon"...

YABLOKO leader participated in the inauguration of Yugeny Urlashyov, the Mayor of Yaroslavl
Press Release, May 26, 2012.

YABLOKO leader participated in the inauguration of Yugeny Urlashyov, the Mayor of Yaroslavl, and congratulated him on taking the office.

Sergei Mitrokhin discussed with the Mayor the issues of urban economy and the city budget. "We will try to restore the law on financial foundations of local self-government developed by YABLOKO and revoked later by United Russia. If it had worked, then today the Yaroslavl tax base would have been several times larger,¦µ± he said...

International Conference "Youth under Threat of Extremism and Xenophobia. A Liberal Response"
conducted jointly by ELDR and YABLOKO. Moscow, April 21, 2012. Speeches, videos, presentations

Published on May 25, 2012.

Welcoming speeches

Dr. Sergei Mitrokhin, Chair of the YABLOKO party
Dr. Marc Guerrero, ELDR Vice President, CDC Catalonia, Spain
Dr. Astrid Thors, ELDR Vice President
Emil Kirjas, Secretary General of Liberal International
Vladimir Lukin, Russia¦µ™s Ombudsman.

Grigory Yavlinsky on the global economic problems
Press Release, May 23, 2012.

We can overcome the global economic crisis only changing the present rules of our life and checking them with such concepts such as trust, morality and the public good, said Grigory Yavlinsky, member of YABLOKO¦µ™s Political Committee and Doctor of Economic Sciences.

"There is a substitution of meanings, when the market economy is viewed at solely as a tool for deriving profit, manufacturers are not oriented to the real needs of the people depriving the latter of choice and imposing what will bring the greatest profit. This is not the post-industrial economy, but a postmodern world where not only businessmen, but also experts and politicians are guided only by self-interests and that is why they can not cope in principle with the ongoing crisis," Yavlinsky stressed in the debate on the global economic problems with political philosopher Prof. Michael Sandel, Harvard University and Diane Coyle, academic and economist...

Grigory Yavlinsky on Hard Talk, BBC, May 21, 2012.

Stephen Sackur speaks to Grigory Yavlinsky, economist, reformer and a veteran leader of Russia's fragmented opposition.

Grigory Yavlinsky, Michael Sandel and Diane Coyle on money and morality. Start the Week. BBC Radio 4, May 21, 2012.

On Start the Week Andrew Marr discusses the relationship between markets and morals with the political philosopher Michael Sandel. In his latest book, What Money Can't Buy, Sandel questions the dominance of the financial markets in our daily lives, in which everything has a price. But the economist Diane Coyle stands up for her much maligned profession, and points to the many benefits of a market economy. The Russian economist Grigory Yavlinksy argues against viewing the world of money as separate from culture and society: he believes the financial crisis was merely a symptom of a wider moral collapse, and that it is time to examine the way we live.
Producer: Katy Hickman.

Orlando elected mayor of Palermo
ELDR News, May 23, 2012.

The results of the second round of mayoral elections in Italy last weekend were an outstanding success for ELDR Vice-President Leoluca Orlando MP. Obtaining about 73% of votes in the city of Palermo election, Orlando becomes Mayor of Palermo, an office he will be holding for the fourth time in his life.
¦µ´My election is a response to the wave of anti-politics in Italy¦µ±, said Orlando commenting on his result. ¦µ´Backed by my electoral support I will be asking Prime Minister Monti about his intentions regarding the current dreadful social question in Italy and particularly in Palermo¦µ±.

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A protest action against raising penalties for rallies
Press Release, May 22, 2012.

The State Duma has been examining amendments stipulating the raise of penalties for rallies up to 1.5 million roubles. The amendments constitute another crime buy the ruling Unite Russia party against the nation.

A general protest rally against the draft law will take place on Sunday. The rally has a permission from the Moscow authorities.

The government has to see that no penalties will stop us. We are not going to speak about some abstract democracy. We will say #DumaStop. We are against the amendments. And we will make them listen to us.

Novopushkinskiy Garden (Pushkinskaya metro station). Sunday, May 27 at 14:00.

Mitrokhin released without charges, other activists will stand before court
Press Release, May 22, 2012.

The police released YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin without any charge. However, other YABLOKO activists detained by the State Duma will have to stand before court "for participation in an unsanctioned picket"...

All the detainees were transported to the police department and all of them but for Sergei Mitrokhin were charged with ¦µ´violation of the established order or organization of a rally¦µ±. The policemen did not set any charges against Mitrokhin referring to some order.

The activists will stand before court on May 30. Their cases will be examined by a judge notoriously famous for her tough sentences to opposition activists.

Sergei Mitrokhin and activists detained at the "walking protests" by the State Duma
Press Release, May 22, 2012.

 

Several YABLOKO activists were detained by police during ¦µ´walking protests¦µ± conducted by YABLOKO by the State Duma this morning. The police detained YABLOKO Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin and Kirill Gontcharov, leader of the Youth Yabloko, and three other activists of the party...

...Sergei Mitrokhin called the police actions be absolute lawlessness, as the activists were detained at a legal action which did not require a special approval. " The police actions have proved once again how dangerous the adoption of the amendments [on raising fines of rallies] are to all of us," Mitrokhin said. He noted that the parliament wanted to set impossibly high fines for violations at the rallies which would deprive people of an opportunity to peacefully express their views. "This may push people to an armed rebellion," he said...

European Liberals gather in Armenia
LI News Bulletin, Issue 283, May 21, 2012

Days after the parliamentary elections in Armenia, the European Liberal Democrats - ELDR (LI cooperating organisation) held their spring Council meeting in the Armenian capital Yerevan. Assembled delegates from across Europe expressed solidarity and support to the Armenian opposition, led by the Armenian National Movement, which saw recent return to the Armenian Parliament. ELDR President, Sir Graham Watson MEP, stressed slow democracy progress in Armenia, and called for intensified steps to ensure sustainable development in the country saying: ¦µ´Arguing for gradual development has always been the subterfuge of the authoritarian leader. Armenians are perfectly capable of running a fully democratic society.¦µ± The Council adopted resolutions on Cyprus and UN Arms Trade Treaty. LI delegation at the Council included LI VP on the Bureau Abir Al-Sahlani MP, Treasurer Robert W. Browne, Secretary General Emil Kirjas and Membership and Policy Officer Robert Wintraecken. Addressing the Council, Treasurer Robert W. Browne recalled the dialogue between ELDR and LI Presidents and invited ELDR as a functional and legally established party to join LI as its Full member.

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Youth YABLOKO to picket the State Duma protesting against raising of fines for rallies
Press Release, May 17, 2012.

Tomorrow on May 18, Youth YABLOKO activists will conduct a series of pickets by the State Duma against adoption of the law on toughening punishment for violations at rallies. Kirill Gontcharov, leader of the Youth YABLOKO, will participate in the action.The picket will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Tomorrow the Russian parliament will examine a draft law on the introduction of a fine amounting to RUR 1.5 mln (approximately USD 50,000) for violations at rallies. The draft law was submitted by the ruling United Russia deputies and envisages a raise of a maximum fine for the organizers and participants of mass-scale actions to RUR 1.5 mln.

On Tuesday, the Duma Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building recommended to adopt the draft law in the first reading.

Mitrokhin asks the President to solve the housing problem for 11 homeless families with many children
Press Release, May 16, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin has forwarded a letter to President of Russia Vladimir Putin asking him to take under his personal control the problem of 11 large families that for various reasons remained homeless.

These are families from different regions of Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tatarstan, Krasnodar and the Moscow region. Many of these families have seven children and more and in some families there are disabled children. These families have not received child benefits and other allowances for years...

ELDR Council: shortcomings in Armenian elections
ELDR Press Release, May 16, 2012.

On Friday 11 May, the ELDR held their Council meeting in Armenia¦µ™s capital Yerevan, hosted by ELDR member Armenian National Movement (ANM). The outcome of the parliamentary elections, in which ANM returns to Parliament, was one of the issues debated.

ELDR President Sir Graham Watson MEP expressed concern that important shortcomings in the elections have been reported - the vanishable ink used, disappeared after only 25 minutes allowing for some voters to vote several times. Additionally, the fact that there were 2.5 million registered voters for a total population of 2.8 is a strong indication that the results have been inflated.

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Police Clear Chistiye Prudy Camp, Arrest 20 Protesters

The Moscow Times, May 16, 2012.

...Basmanny Court on Tuesday ordered the camp at Chistiye Prudy closed in response to a lawsuit by residents of the area around the former camp who complained of inaction by authorities. (Related article: Court Orders Protest Camp Dismantled)

Leader of the liberal Yabloko party Sergei Mitrokhin called the police action illegal in a message on Twitter, saying he had filed an appeal of the Basmanny Court decision late Tuesday.

Yavlinsky called on the "walking protestors" in St. Petersburg to set political goals

Interfax, May 15, 2012.

St. Petersburg. May 15. Interfax.ru. Grigory Yavlinsky, founder of the YABLOKO party and deputy of St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, spoke to the participants of the "walking protests" at the St. Isaac's Square, St.Petersburg.

The [present] "walking protests" should have a political meaning, they should not happen just for nothing," he said, adding that the objective should be victory of democratic forces at elections...

Mitrokhin appeals against the decision to liquidate the opposition camp in Moscow
Press Release, May 15, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin appealed against the decision to liquidate the opposition camp in the garden at Chistiye Prudi boulevard, Moscow.

"I believe that this decision violates my right to free walking in the garden without time restriction and at any time," he said.

In addition, Mitrokhin noted that the decision by the Basmanny Court, Moscow, did not envisage immediate implementation, as the law stipulates that it should be implemented only after the decision comes into force, i.e. after 30 days from the date it was made...

Rafgat Altynbayev, senator from the Ryazan region, may be recalled
7info.ru, May 15, 2012.

Sergei Mitrokhin, Chairman of the YABLOKO party, sent an inquiry [to the prosecutors] on verification of income statements of four members of the Federation Council, including Rafgat Altynbayev, a member of the Federation Council from the Government of the Ryazan region.

The 7 News agency asked Oleg Kovalyov, Governor of the Ryazan region, whether he had known about this fact, and what he his reaction proceeding from the results of the audit would be.

¦µ´I know about this inquiry. If the commission detects violations, then we will consider recalling of the Senator,¦µ± said the head of the region.

Houses of 80 families pulled down in Sochi on the Day of Family
Press Release, May 15, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin demands from President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachyov and Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov to immediately stop pulling down blocks of flats in the center of Sochi (Plastunskaya street 80 and Golenva street, 7).

Bailiffs and riot police have thrown out 80 families, hoodwinked investors, who lived in these blocks of flats and have begun pulling down the houses. The houses are pulled down so that to build a parking for coaches and buses for the guests of the Olympics for the two weeks of the Olympic Games in 2014...

Mitrokhin visits the protesters camp at Chistiye Prudi, Moscow
Press Release, May 14, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Galina Mikhalyova, First Deputy Chair of the Moscow YABLOKO, joined YABLOKO activists who had been visiting the opposition camp at Chistiye Prudi by Abai Kunanbyev monument all these days.

Mitrokhin and Mikhalyova answered protesters' questions and even tasted food from the mobile kitchen.

"We support any peaceful protest forms that do not violate the Russian law and are not connected with provocations and adventurism," Mitrokhin said. He added that the scope of mass-scale protests and their efficiency can only grow only like this.

Mitrokhin also noted that "the government does not have any motives for violent action against the campers."

"We will be categorically against any attempts to provoke violence whoever would initiate these ¦µ“ either the government or the protester," he stressed.

YABLOKO pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Second World War on the Victory Day
Press Release, May 9, 2012. Photo report by Anton Baskakov

A mourning ceremony in memory of those killed during the Second World War was held by YABLOKO activists at Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery - the largest military burial in Moscow - today.

Activists and leaders of the YABLOKO party laid flowers and a wreath at the Eternal Flame at the Memorial.

The participants observed a minute of silence in memory of those killed in Second World War.

Grigory Yavlinsky participated in the memorial ceremony at Piskaryovskoye Cemetery, St.Petersburg
Press Release, May 8, 2012. Photo report.

A memorial ceremony devoted to the 67th anniversary of victory in the Second World War took place at Piskaryovskoye Cemetery, St.Petersburg. Representatives from the city government, veterans and siege survivors organisations, delegations from other countries and cities, representatives of diplomatic corps, different confessions, youth public organisations and thousands of St.Petersburg residents came to the cemetery to pay tribute to those who died in the 872 days long siege of Leningrad.

According to Grigory Yavlinsky, Chair of the YABLOKO faction in St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, who participated in the ceremony, ¦µ´The city has been feeling the pain from the wounds from the Leningrad siege even decades past the events¦µ±. Yavlinsky together with other deputies of the faction and YABLOKO¦µ™s activists laid wreaths and flowers to the monument to the victims of the siege.

The Piskaryovskoye Cemetery contains 126 collective graves with burials of 420,000 civilians who died during artillery bombardments, bombings and from hunger and 70,000 military who defended the city.

YABLOKO paid tribute to the memory of soldiers of the Second World War
Press Release, May 8, 2012. Photo report.

YABLOKO¦µ™s delegation laid a wreath and flowers to the Tomb of Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall. ¦µ´In cherished memory of the heroic liberators¦µ± ran the inscription on the wreath ribbon.

Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO Chair, and Political Committee members Alexei Arbatov, Sergei Ivanenko and Grigory Yavlinsky participated in the ceremony. They wore White Ribbons, symbols of the winter and spring protest actions in Russia, together with St.George Ribbons, the symbols of memory of the victims of the war.

French Presidential Election: Verhofstadt expects a positive boost to European policy
Press Release, ALDE, May 6, 2012

The French presidential election has been followed with interest throughout Europe. France, a founding member state, has a weighty influence within the EU. Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, welcomes the election results as the President-elect has made strong commitments to revitalise the European project.

Guy Verhofstadt said: "Nicolas Sarkozy is an energetic man who has recently directed his energy in taking positions on the eurozone crisis and on the Schengen area that have been particularly disappointing and alarming for those in Europe who, like me, expect more from France"...

14,000 signatures in ten days collected for YABLOKO's candidate in the mayoral elections in Omsk
Press Release, May 5, 2012.

Collection of signatures for registration of Alexander Korotkov, YABLOKO member and ex Vice-Governor, as a candidate in the mayoral elections in Omsk has finished.

Within ten days only (from April 25 to May 4) YABLOKO collected 14,000 signatures in favour of his nomination. Now the election headquarters of the candidate have to select 9,916 signatures required for Korotkov¦µ™s registration and wil forward them to the Electoral Commission until May 7.

Alexander Korotkov, ex Vice-Governor of the Omsk region, was nominated to run for the mayor of Omsk at YABLOKO¦µ™s Federal Bureau meeting on April 20...

ELDR Council in Yerevan
ELDR Press Release, May 2, 2012.

On Friday 11 and Saturday 12 May, European Liberal Democrats will meet for the ELDR Council in Armenia's capital Yerevan. On the agenda are topics such as democratisation and human rights in the southern Caucasus, energy security for Europe, and liberal policies to tackle climate change as well as other topical issues.

The ELDR Council will follow parliamentary elections in Armenia to be held on Sunday 6 May. ELDR member Armenian National Movement (AMN) will participate on the list of the biggest opposition alliance, the Armenian National Congress. AMN Leader Aram Manukyan: "There is a glimmer of hope that these elections may be different from the previous ones."

YABLOKO to pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Second World War
Press Release, May 4, 2012.

The leaders and activists of the YABLOKO party will pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Second World War. Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO Chairman, and Grigory Yavlinsky, YABLOKO founder and member of Political Committee, will lay a wreath to the Tomb of Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall on May 8 at 17:20.

On Victory Day of May 9, according to long-term YABLOKO¦µ™s tradition, Sergei Mitrokhin, Grigory Yavlinsky and YABLOKO activists will honour the memory of the dead soldiers at Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery, the largest military burial in Moscow. The participants of the ceremony will lay flowers there at 13:30.

Address: Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery, Preobrazhensky Val 17A.

Condolences on the act of terror in Makhachkala, Dagestan

May 4, 2012

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses condolences to relatives of the victims of a double bombing in Makhachkala, Dagestan. We are wishing all the injured a speedy recovery.

Despite repeated assurances by the Russian leadership that terrorism has been defeated in Russia, the Caucasus and the armed gangs are not eliminated and terrorist attacks do not stop.

We demand an immediate investigation into this crime and punishment of all guilty in this in this crime in accordance with the law.

We demand that President-elect Vladimir Putin should take investigation of this act of terror under his personal control...

Public Prosecutor General's Office violated the law by refusing to investigate the circumstances of the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi
Press Release, May 2, 2012.

Public Prosecutor General's Office refused to investigate whether there was a conflict of interests in the March meeting between President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Italian citizen and businessman Silvio Berlusconi. Mr.V.Volkov, Asistant to Public Prosecutor General, informed (in the response to the inquiry by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin) that President and Prime Minister can not be subject to the prosecutor's investigation. This contradicts the Law "On Public Prosecutor's Office", and YABLOKO is preparing a lawsuit...

Youth Extremism and Xenophobia discussed at Moscow Conference
LI News Bulletin, Issue 280, April 27, 2012

The noticeable rise of extremism and xenophobia among youth across Europe brought prominent liberals to discuss in Moscow, Russia liberal agenda for addressing this problem. Prominent speakers included Sergei Mitrokhin and Grigory Yavlinsky, the leader and the presidential candidate of Yabloko (LI Full member), Trine Skei Grande MP, leader of Venstre, Norway (LI Full member), Astrid Thors MP of SFP, Finland (LI Full member) and Marc Guerrero, Vice President of ELDR (LI cooperating organisation), Angelika Mlinar, leader of Liberales Forum, Austria and Kerstin Lundgren MP of Center Party, Sweden (LI Full member). In the welcome speech LI Secretary General Emil Kirjas pledged for ¦µ´more opportunities for the young people to participate in decision making, starting from micro level, including in families and the local communities. That responsibility must be based on freedom of expression and dialogue, discussion, debate.¦µ± LI Treasurer Robert W. Browne spoke on the growth of xenophobia, street protests and violence in Europe, giving account of the 2011 London riots. A resolution was adopted that is likely to be further discussed at the upcoming LI Congress in Abidjan.

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YABLOKO leader proposes to form Public Television Supervisory Board out of representatives of political parties
Press Release, April 26, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin in his speech at the ¦µ´Open Tribune¦µ± meeting criticized the President's initiative on public television. According to Mitrokhin, the key problem was the functioning of the state-owned television "uncontrolled by the society, censored and manipulating with public opinion¦µ±, rather than absence of public television in Russia.

Mitrokhin also noted that Presidential Decree on establishing of public television represented "another bureaucratic imitation": "public's attention would be simply switched onto channels functioning of decimeter frequencies, while the meter channels would remain mouthpieces for propaganda"...

He proposed a different mechanism for formation of the Supervisory Board, which "would create truly independent television". The Board should include representatives of various political parties or parliamentary factions. ¦µ´However, there should be an equal number of representatives from each of the parties, so that to avoid the dominance of the [ruling] United Russia [party]," stressed Mitrokhin.

YABLOKO conducted a picket by the Russian Atomic Energy Agency on the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster
Press Release, April 26, 2012.

...YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin, who also attended the action, said that the party had been commemorating the tragic Chernobyl anniversary for many years already. "Not only we commemorate those who died and express sympathy for those who got sick in this tragedy, but we also speak about the danger of the new Rosatom¦µ™s plans,¦µ± said Sergei Mitrokhin.

He spoke about Rostam¦µ™s plans to build a nuclear power plant on the border of Novgorod and Vladimir regions, near the town Murom. The nuclear power plant would be built on moving karst soils, where an accident may occur at any time and this would inevitably lead to a disaster similar to that in Chernobyl. At the same time Sergei Mitrokhin said that the money for this construction came from the state budget rather than private investors. "This is the taxpayers' money, the money of ordinary Russians, teachers, doctors and people with disabilities. Moreover, Rosatom builds with our money nuclear plants not only in Russia but also abroad," Sergei Mitrokhin stressed...

Academician Alexei Yablokov, leader of YABLOKO¦µ™s Green Russia faction and renowned environmentalist, told about independent assessments of the Chernobyl disaster being significantly more pessimistic than the official reports. "It's millions of deaths and diseases, cancers, premature aging and diseases of the endocrine system," stressed Yablokov.

According to Yablokov, 43 per cent of toxic sediments polluted the territory of the former Soviet Union after the disaster and the rest were spread across the globe. "Today, Chernobyl sediments can be found in the lakes of China, the Nile Delta and Japan," he said...

YABLOKO to picket the Russian Atomic Energy Agency on the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster
Press Release, April 25, 2012.

On Thursday, April 26, the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, YABLOKO will conduct a staged action by the Russian Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) under the slogan "Save the world from the peaceful atom"...

The action will start at 12:30.

Address: Tretyakovskaya metro station, Bolshaya Ordynka 24.

Also YABLOKO will hold the same action in Chelyabinsk, where YABLOKO activists, environmentalists and civil activists will pay tribute to the memory of liquidators of the Chernobyl disaster.

The activists will fly 26 balloons symbolizing 26 years since the tragedy.

The action will begin at 18:00.

ELDR in Russia and Ukraine
ELDR Newsletter March 25, 2012.

From 19 to 22 April, ELDR Vice President Marc Guerrero was on tour in Ukraine and Russia to support the activities of the liberal family.

In Kiev, an international ELDR conference with the local liberal partners from Ukraine, the Future and the European Youth of Ukraine, was held which focussed on free market and liberal policies as the best tools for a democratic and prosperous society. At the event, the Institute of Democracy and Liberalism (IdeaL) was launched.

In Moscow, Marc Guerrero and ELDR Vice President Astrid Thors MP were present at the conference "Youth under threat of Extremism and Xenophobia. A liberal response" organised by ELDR member YABLOKO.

Sergei Mitrokhin demands from the Investigative Committee to file a criminal case against the lawyer promising "to flood Moscow with blood"
Press Release, April 25, 2012.

Leader of the YABLOKO party Sergei Mitrokhin demands from the Investigative Committee to file a criminal case against Dagir Khasavov, lawyer promising "to flood the city [Moscow] with blood" in the REN TV channel, "unless sharia courts are created in the capital [of Russia]".

"Muslims do not want to get involved into the judicial system. You think that we are coming here to Russia as to some strange place. And we believe that we are at home. Maybe you are foreigners here, but we are at home. And we will establish the rules that suit us, whether you like it or not. Any attempt to stop this will lead to bloodshed. The second dead lake will be here. We will flood the city with blood," announced the lawyer and Assistant to Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy and Healthcare in the federal television channel. He was quoted by the Russian News Service...

Sergei Mitrokhin: Dmitry Medvedev will have less opportunities to promote liberties at the Prime Minister post than now
Interfax, April 24, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin doubts that the acting President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev will be able to do more for liberalisation of Russia¦µ™s political system at the Prime Minister post than now.

"I doubt that in his new post he will do more for realisation [of this] than at present. And he has not done much for this at the post of the President," Mitrokhin told to Interfax...

YABLOKO-ELDR conference "Threats of Extremism and Xenophobia Among Youth: the Liberal Answer". Resolution
Moscow, April 21, 2012.

...We think that such liberal response should include the following:

- steady rejection by the society of all forms of xenophobia and extremism and personality cult, as well as revival of nazism, Stalinism and fascism; abolishment of the cult of superiority and crude force, as well as manipulations with public opinion by means of pseudo historical myths and conspiracy theories;

- broadening of possibilities for engaging people in social and political life, provision of free and fair elections and independence of the judiciary; development of institutes of democracy and civil society which allow each citizen to participate in the social and political life and feel that his or her beliefs, points of view and interests influence government¦µ™s politics;

- protection of human dignity protection, person immunity and freedom of individual choice; strengthening of the secular state principles and freedom of conscience and rejection of all forms of anti-Semitism;

- conducting policies stimulating maximum integration and socialisation of people into economic, political and cultural life of Europe; gradual liquidation of barriers either in the society or between the states. Creation of a pan-European visa-free area...

YABLOKO-ELDR conference "Threats of Extremism and Xenophobia Among Youth: the Liberal Answer" adopted a resolution
Press Release, April 21, 2012.

Participants of the conference "Threats of Extremism and Xenophobia Among Youth: the Liberal Answer" adopted a resolution where they expressed their deep concern of noticeable rise of extremism and xenophobia among youth in almost all European countries.

Nevertheless, "liberal and democratic forces are capable of tackling these challenges basing their response on human rights, individual freedoms, respect for the individual, tolerance and civil and moral responsibility of each person"...

International Conference organised by ELDR and YABLOKO "Youth under Threat of Extremism and Xenophobia. A Liberal Response" to be held in Moscow on April 21
Press Release, April 17, 2012.

The European Party Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR) and the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO will hold an international conference "Youth under Threat of Extremism and Xenophobia. A Liberal Response" on Saturday, April 21.

The conference will be opened by Dr.Sergei Mitrokhin, Chair of the YABLOKO party, Emil Kirjas, Secretary General of Liberal International, Dr. Marc Guerrero, ELDR Vice President, Vladimir Lukin, Russia's Ombudsman and Dr. Astrid Thors, ELDR Vice President.

The conference will consist of four panels...

Rally held on the birthday of Vladimir Putin's censorship on TV
Press Release, April 14, 2012.

About 300 people took part in the rally "For the freedom of the media! Against the lies and censorship on TV! The rally was held by the Ostankino TV centre on April 14. The action began and ended with demonstrations. A column of YABLOKO activists led by party Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin marched from the metro station to the site of the rally despite the ban of the authorities on a march. In the end of the rally the participants made a ¦µ´present¦µ± to "Putin's censorship" on its birthday.

April 14 is considered to be the birthday of Vladimir Putin's censorship on television. At night of April 13 on April 14, 2001, there was forceful change of the Board of the key Russian independent private television company NTV...

Shishlov elected as the Human Rights Commissioner in St. Petersburg
LI News Bulletin, Issue 278, April 13, 2012

Alexander Shishlov, member of Yabloko's (LI Full member) Bureau and LI Vice-President, was recently elected as Commissioner for Human Rights in St. Petersburg. His candidacy was supported by 45 out of a total of 50 deputies from St. Petersburg's Legislative Assembly. Speaking to parliamentarians Shishlov promised to focus on protection of labour rights, the rights of the most vulnerable groups of population, rights to education, medical care and a healthy environment. Commenting on his election Shishlov said "A Commissioner for Human Rights is not just a defender of those whose rights have been violated. It is a position that links the society with the government." He also spoke of his commitment to promoting dialogue and finding a common ground between public and government agencies and protecting citizens' rights in such a way as to create "an atmosphere of cooperation rather than mutual disputes and misunderstandings." Yabloko's leader Sergei Mitrokhin spoke about the global impact of the Arab Spring on the Russian political system at the recently convened 188th Executive Committee meeting of Liberal International in Barcelona.

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ALDE calls for EU wide visa ban on Russian officials involved in the Sergei Magnitsky case
Press Release, ALDE, April 11, 2012

The ALDE Group in the European Parliament has today launched a procedure inside the European Parliament seeking to establish a common EU list of officials responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky, for the subsequent judicial cover-up and for the on-going and continuing harassment of his mother and widow...

Court dismissed a complaint on the arrest of YABLOKO's Maria Kozhevatova
Press Release, April 4, 2012.

On April 4, The Kuibyshevsky District Court dismissed a complaint on the arrest of YABLOKO member Maria Kozhevatova arrested for ten days for her participation in the campaign in defense of the Article 31 (on the freedom of assembly) of the Russian Constitution.

During the hearings Judge Julia Trofimova questioned the witness A.Vinovkina, but did not consider her testimony, stating that "the witness was helping Kozhevatova¦µ±. Consequently, Kozhevatova will be held in prison until April 10...

Alexander Shishlov, member of YABLOKO Bureau, elected Commissioner for Human Rights in St. Petersburg
Press Release, April 4, 2012.

Alexander Shishlov, member of YABLOKO Bureau, is elected Commissioner for Human Rights in St. Petersburg; 45 deputies of St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly out of total 50 deputies supported his candidacy.

Speaking to parliamentarians Shishlov promised to focus on protection of labour rights, the rights of the most vulnerable groups of population, rights to education, medical care and a healthy environment.

He also highlighted protection of citizens' political rights ¦µ“ the freedom of speech, the freedom of assembly, the right to participate in governing - 'the rights and freedoms ensuring sustainable development and prosperity of the country in today's world"...

An opposition march towards Ostankino television centre banned. A rally for the freedom of the media to take place by the television centre
Press Release, April 4, 2012.

The local authorities of the North-Western Administrative District of Moscow denied YABLOKO a permission to hold a march towards the Ostankino television centre on April 14. The officials proposed to the organizers to hold a rally instead. Also they limited the number of participants from 5,000 (as in YABLOKO¦µ™s application) to 200.

Initially it was planned to hold a march and a rally. The local authorities did not give any reasons for not giving a permission for the march...

Mitrokhin congratulated Eugeny Urlashov on winning the post of Mayor at elections in Yaroslavl
Press Release, April 2, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin congratulated Eugeny Urlashov on winning the post of Mayor at elections in Yaroslavl. "This is an important event for the whole of the opposition," Mitrokhin said.

YABLOKO supported the candidacy of Eugeny Urlashov in the elections. About 100 YABLOKO's observers from Moscow, Tver and Tula participated in the monitoring of the voting in the second round...

Despite of all the attempts to rig the elections, Eugeny Urlashov was supported by 69.65 per cent of the voters. His opponent Yakov Yakushev obtained 27.78 per cent of the votes.

Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the YABLOKO party, Russia
The Global Impact of the Arab Spring: fact or fiction
The case of Russia

LI Executive Committee, Barcelona, March 31, 2012

After the Arab Spring many people turned their views to Russia. Many people have been asking me if these developments resemble the Arab Spring. I will try to answer this question now.

What is the resemblance between Putin's governance and the ones of the toppled Arab leaders?

There is obviously a lot in common between the systems that existed in the Arab countries and Vladimir Putin's system in Russia.

First of all, it is a political monopoly and long-term governing of one person who is striving for a life-long rule. Secondly, it is political dominance of bureaucracy over society, and thirdly, presence of oligarchic groups (that are groups generating their profit from merger of government and business). Fourth, such a system is also characterised by huge corruption penetrating the entire state system.

These are the common traits between the Putin's system and the toppled systems in the Arab states.However, there are also large differences between political systems in Russia and the Arab states.

Putin's system is more flexible. And it is aiming at imitation of democracy. For example, it allows for more elements of the freedom of speech and provides more space to more or less independent media. Being more flexible Putin's system is more prepared to meet the challenges of the Internet than the authocratic Arab regimes...

Mitrokhin explained to the Russian senators that the law on political parties is adopted in favour of the ruling party
Press Release, March 26, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin believes that the full restoration of the right to form electoral blocs will prevent deepening of the political crisis, which is boosted by mass-scale creation of new parties. He made such a statement at the meeting of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation. On March 26 the Committee examined amendments to the new law on political parties...

YABLOKO's Alexander Shishlov on his nomination for the post of Ombudsman in St. Petersburg
Press Release, March 23, 2012.

St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko introduced candidacy of Alexander Shishlov, YABLOKO Bureau member, for the post of Human Rights Commissioner in St.Petersburg.

Here comes Alexander Shishlov's statement in connection with the nomination:

I am grateful to St.Petersburg Governor for nomination of my candidacy to the post of Human Rights Commissioner in our great city. I am also grateful to all who supports my candidacy.

In case I am elected, my activities on the post of Ombudsman will be based on close cooperation with civil society institutes, critical and positive interaction with the governments and local self-governments for fair, peaceful and lawful solution of a human rights problems in St. Petersburg. I undertake to be unbiased, impartial and objective, regardless of personal preferences on the post of Ombudsman...

Sergei Mitrokhin in the State Duma: a new law on political parties can not be considered as "a victory of common sense" until formation of electoral blocs is permitted
Press Release, Video, March 23, 2012.

 

The new law on political parties can not be considered "a victory of common sense" as long as the electoral law bans creation of electoral blocs. This statement was made by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin at the hearings of the State Duma. It was the third and final reading of the draft law on liberalization of establishment of political parties.

"What victory of a common sense can we speak about if voters get their ballots with dozens or maybe hundreds of pages innumerating the names of political parties, or when the voter sees unstructured political area and a register of absolutely unknown names of political parties?" Mitrokhin asked deputies of the Duma.

According to Mitrokhin, if the parties are not allowed to make electoral blocs, they will simply disperse the votes, and "a huge number of voters will remain turn out below a 5 per cent threashold" to the Duma, and thus will get no representation in the parliament...

YABLOKO's protesters detained by the Ostankino television centre in Moscow are finally released.
Press Release, March 18, 2012.

...Kirill Goncharov, leader of the Moscow Youth YABLOKO, and his colleagues Gleb Sitnikov and Oleg Rumyantsev were detained at a protest action against smearing of the public mass-scale protests against elections fraud in a film produced and broadcasted by the NTV channel. Goncharov, Sitnikov, and Rumyantsev were taken to police stations.

According to the police, about 100 people were detained at the action. about 100 people. Valery Borshchyov, member of YABLOKO Bureau and head of the Moscow Public Observers' Commission condemned the police actions...

Pickets in support of Gazaryan and Dutlov take part in different Russian cities
Press Release, March 17, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin who is now in Novosibirsk on a working visit participated in a series of pickets in support of the Suren Gazaryan and Viktor Dutlov. Young activists also joined the action in Novosibirsk.

Solidarity actions with the detained environmentalists took place all over Russia. In Moscow, the police detained dozens of picketers, including four members of YABLOKO ¦µ“ Galina Mikhalyova, deputy head of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO, and activists Maya Zavyalova, Gleb Sitnikov and Oleg Rumyantsev...

Maxim Petlin, Chair of YABLOKO's branch in Ekaterinburg, is granted bail
Press Release, March 16, 2012.

..."I am certainly glad that such a decision was adopted. We know that President Medvedev whom I handed the documents on Maxim facilitated the adoption of such a decision. These documents clearly demonstrate that the case was framed up," Mitrokhin said. He also added that imprisonment was an "inadequate measure showing that the case was purely political".

According to Mitrokhin, obvious inability of Maxim Petlin¦µ™s family to pay such a bail is the vest evidence that there was corruption in Petlin¦µ™s actions, and this also another indirect proof that the accusation in corruption was absurd...

Maxim Petlin, Chair of YABLOKO's branch in Ekaterinburg, is granted bail
Press Release, March 16, 2012.

Judicial Board on Criminal Cases of the Sverdlovsk Regional Court refused to extend arrest for Maxim Petlin, leader of Ekaterinburg YABLOKO, and granted him bail amounting to RUR 5 million. Petlin will come out of prison after the bail will be at the account of the Investigation Committee of the Russian Federation in the Sverdlovsk region.

Maxim Petlin took an active part in the fight against illegal construction of a recreational centre in the place where a city park was. The fight between YABLOKO and civil activists with the developer - Forum Group - had loud public resonance. Maxim Petlin was the victim of a provocation on the part of the Forum Group and was accused of extorting bribes...

YABLOKO leaders had a meeting with Bundestag deputies
Press Release, March 16, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of the Political Committee, had a meeting with Bundestag deputies from the Free Democratic Party. The German side was represented by Patrick Kurth, MP, and Serkan Toeren, MP, and Maximilian Spinner, Secretary of the Political Department of German Embassy.

Deputies of German Parliament were interested by the progress and assessment of the Russian parliamentary and presidential elections, growth of public activity in Russia and prospects of Russia's political development. The discussion also evolved around the Russia-EU relations and Germany's role in their improvement. "Visa-free regime for the Russian citizens to the EU and an anti-ballistic missile defence system that could be developed jointly with NATO are the initiatives of our party that we put forward as early as in 1990s," Sergei Mitrokhin stressed.

Environmentalist Suren Gazaryan and lawyer Viktor Dutlov get ten days of imprisonment on a framed-up case
Press Release, March 14, 2012.

Tuapse. On March 14 Suren Gazaryan, environmentalist and YABLOKO member, and Viktor Dutlov, lawyer, YABLOKO member and activist of the North Caucasus Environmental Watch, detained by the country cottage of Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Tkachyov a day earlier, got ten days of administrative arrest for "non-obeying to the lawful orders of police". The judge refused to call the witnesses of the defence, as well as to consider audio and video recordings proving innocence of Gazaryan and Dutlov.

On March 13 Gazaryan and his attorney Dutlov approached the Governor¦µ™s cottage so that to inspect the "damages" (graffiti) they had allegedly made to the fence. Such inspection was required for their defence in court (as they were accused in damaging the fence) and was sanctioned by the investigator. When activists approached the fence, the guards came out and put handcuffs on the activists. Gazaryan was beaten by one of the guards...

A meeting of YABLOKO leaders with Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Liberal Group in the European Parliament
Press Release, March 5, 2012.

Grigory Yavlinsky said that the main objective of all the opposition forces in Russia should be radical change in the socio-political system rather than simply a replacement of top officials. He said this during a meeting with representatives of the European Parliament's Liberal Group (ALDE). The sides discussed the political situation in Russia after the presidential elections and prospects for further development.

The meeting was held on March 5 in YABLOKO¦µ™s office. Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the liberals in the European Parliament and ex Prime Minister of Belgium, Renaldas Vaisbrodas, Political Adviser, ALDE, Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO Chairman, Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of the Political Council and head of the Gender faction and Olga Radayeva, International Secretary...

The Green Russia faction conducted an action commemorating the tragic anniversary of nuclear disaster at Fukushima
Press Release, March 13, 2012.

YABLOKO's Green Russia faction conducted a memorial action commemorating the victims of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The action was held on the first anniversary of the disaster on the nuclear power plant.

Environmentalists held pickets in Volgograd, Petrozavodsk, Sosnoviy Bor, Ulan-Ude, Ufa, Arkhangelsk, Kostroma, Chita, St. Petersburg and Moscow. The participants of the actions tried to draw attention of the Russian citizens to the dangerous consequences of the nuclear industry, and distributed leaflets "Rosatom, shut down your Fukushimas!"

European Parliament backs quotas for women
Press Release, ALDE, March 13, 2012

Sophie in 't Veld, (D66, Netherlands), Parliament's rapporteur on the annual report on the state of gender equality in the EU for 2011, is pleased with the result of today's vote, calling on the Commission to table legislation, including quotas, by the end of 2012, to increase female participation in corporate management boards. Measures to combat the lack of women at the top, both in business and in political decision making, were discussed during a heated debate in the European Parliament this week. Progress remains very slow, despite numerous EU policies aimed at achieving a better gender-balance...

See also: Women's Rights

Sergei Mitrokhin asks Public Prosecutor General to investigate the aims and goals of the meeting of Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev with Silvio Berluskoni
Press Release, March 12, 2012.

Today YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin have sent an appeal to the Public Prosecutor Generals' office asking to check whether there was a conflict of interests in the recent meeting between President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and Italian citizen and businessman Silvio Berlusconi.

Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Silvio Berlusconi on March 8-9. It should be also noted that ex Prime Minister of Italy is under investigation in Italy for a number of criminal cases related to corruption. Also he does not occupy any government post at present and is a private person - a billionaire and owner of the FinInvest financial holding...

Galina Mikhalyova: in ten years a woman may become President of Russia.

Voice of America, 11 March 2012
...Viktor Vasilyev: President Medvedev complained during his meeting with women (on the eve of the Women's Day) that in Russia there were very few women in politics. How can we explain such a situation?

Galina Mikhalyova: The system functions in such a way. As a rule there are no women in power in authoritarian regimes, and in democracies there are many of them on the top. There are special mechanisms encouraging such a promotion of women. [President] Medvedev was not going to change anything here. And speaking about Mr Putin, he does not even have it in his thoughts. He's such a super-macho... When he was in power, women's problems were not mentioned at all.

Viktor Vasilyev: So, you don't expect any positive changes in the nearest future, do you?

Galina Mikhalyova: No, there are no positive changes, while negative changes are obvious. There are few women in the State Duma. There is no public institution that would deal with our problems, for example, a Presidential Council or a council under the Government or a Commissioner for Women's Rights, as in other countries. Salaries [of Russian women] consitute two-thirds [from those of men]. In several regions people who have small children have to go on hunger strike so that to get a place for their child in a kindergarten. Pregnant women are not paid their benefits or get fired. But the state argues that it has nothing to do with this disgrace...

YABLOKO leaders Sergei Mitrokhin and Grigory Yavlinsky spoke at a rally in Novy Arbat prospect, Moscow
Press Release, March 10, 2012.

YABLOKO leaders Sergei Mitrokhin and Grigory Yavlinsky spoke at a rally in Novy Arbat prospect, Moscow. Sergei Mitrokhin gave his time for the speech to Alexei Sklyarov, Editor-in-Chief the Pulse television company in Azov. It is the only independent television company in southern Russia, however, local authorities began pressing the company after Alexei Sklyarov headed the League of Voters in Azov.

"We together with the League of Voters conducted monitoring and control over voting [at elections] across the country. And once again I would like to state that the elections of March 4 were rigged. We are not going to make speeches today, we would like to give the time allotted for our speeches to a unique person - Alexei Sklyarov. He is the head of the only free, independent television company in the southern Russia. His television company has been attacked because he together with YABLOKO monitored the elections," Sergei Mitrokhin told to the protesters...

Grigory Yavlinsky addressed the participants of the rally with n a brief speech, "Friends, I am glad to meet you again. It is already my sixth speech at a rally for the past three months. I remember every word I said. We will accomplish all this. The road is long and difficult. The victory in the fight will not come soon, but it will come. Russia will be free. Russia demands changes!"

Grigory Yavlinsky's statement prepared for the rally in Novy Arbat on March 10
March 9, 2012.

If I have a chance to speak at the rally on March 10, I would demanded the following from the authorities:
- release of political prisoners;
- show mercy and pardon those who committed minor offenses;
- stop unlawful prosecution of businessman Alexei Kozlov;
- investigate all the cases of fraud at [parliamentary] elections of December 4 and [presidential] elections of March 4, punish the guilty, completely reform the Central Electoral Commission and dismiss Vladimir Churov, head of the commission;
- immediately consider together with the newly emerging public committees for political reform proposals for the radical change of the electoral system and to adopt such proposals.

We continue fighting for what I and Sergei Mitrokhin spoke about at the rallies on December 10, December 17, December 24, demonstration of February 4 and on March 5:
- complete replacement of the present closed authoritarian, oligarchic, inhuman political system and legal removal of the ruling group headed by Vladimir Putin from governing;
- creation in Russia of a system in which law would be the same for everybody, property - inviolable and the court - independent;
- creation of committees for political reform across the country, freedom of media from censorship and uniting of the democratic forces;
- development of a political, economic, moral and personal ALTERNATIVE to the present regime which would be able to win in a peaceful and legitimate political struggle.
..


LI President and Yabloko leadership on Russian elections
LI News Bulletin, Issue 273, March 7, 2012

LI President Hans van Baalen MEP questioned the democratic character of the Russian Presidential elections which took place on 5 March 2012. Van Baalen characterised them as "neither free nor fair like the parliamentary elections held earlier. Putin rules over a facade democracy. The institutions are in place but the democratic spirit is absent. LI, ELDR and ALDE will support the courageous democratic opposition in Russia which is so much needed today." Leader Grigory Yavlinsky of Yabloko (LI Full Member) called for a "real political, economic and most importantly, moral alternative." "We will create this alternative. We will make them conduct new elections and we will win those elections," Yavlinsky said. Yabloko Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin said that Putin won an unfair game. "This wasn't honest, but cowardice and meanness. It was not only carousels and stuffing of ballots which brought him victory. Putin won ousting the only candidate ¦µ” Yavlinsky ¦µ” who had no fear of criticizing him," Mitrokhin commented. The OSCE election-monitoring report concluded that there had been "no real competition".

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Russia's presidential election marked by unequal campaign conditions, active citizens' engagement, international observers say
OSCE Press Release, March 5, 2012

MOSCOW, 5 March 2012 ¦µ“ Although candidates in yesterday's presidential election in the Russian Federation were able to campaign unhindered, conditions were clearly skewed in favour of one of the contestants, current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the international observers concluded in a statement issued today.

The observers noted that all candidates had access to the media, but the Prime Minister was given a clear advantage over his competitors in terms of media presence. In addition, state resources were mobilized at the regional level in his support. Also, overly restrictive candidate registration requirements limited genuine competition...

"This election showed a clear winner with an absolute majority, avoiding a second round. However, voter's choice was limited, electoral competition lacked fairness and an impartial referee was missing. Due to increased citizen's awareness and involvement elections were more lively, better managed and more seriously observed, whereas structural improvements in electoral regulation were proposed to Parliament - but not yet passed," said Tiny Kox, the Head of the delegation of Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly.

"There were serious problems from the very start of this election. The point of elections is that the outcome should be uncertain. This was not the case in Russia. There was no real competition and abuse of government resources ensured that the ultimate winner of the election was never in doubt," said Tonino Picula, the Special Co-ordinator to lead the short-term OSCE observer mission and Head of the delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly...

Over half candidates nominated and supported by YABLOKO won municipal elections on March 4
Press Release, March 6, 2012.

Over half (44 out of total 86) candidates nominated and supported by YABLOKO and the Democratic Choice won municipal elections in Moscow on March 4; whereas 36 of these 44 newly elected deputies of municipal councils come from YABLOKO and eight people represent the Democratic Choice.

Andrei Babushkin, Vice-Chairman of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO won the race in Otradnoe, Moscow, with 43 per cent of vote and YABLOKO's Zoya Shargatova running in Dorogomilovo, Moscow, won with 46 per cent of the vote...

Russian presidential election: Liberals condemn stacked election
ELDR Press Release, March 5, 2012.

Preliminary results have shown that Vladimir Putin will complete his long-expected return as Russia's president after polling around 63% in yesterday's election, thus avoiding the need for a second round. Commenting on the outcome of the election, ELDR President Sir Graham Watson MEP stated, "there are wide-spread and seemingly justified reservations about the extent to which this was a free and fair contest, not only in the way the procedures were conducted on the day itself, but in the handling of the process from the very beginning, including the refusal to register some candidatures."

Despite much publicised initiatives to make these elections fair and transparent, such as the installation of closed circuit television cameras at polling stations, the electoral process as a whole has been widely condemned as favoring the Putin campaign from the outset.

Evidence of this stretches back to the refusal by the Russian Central Electoral Commission to register opposition candidates, including former YABLOKO leader Grigory Yavlinsky on the grounds of perceived irregularities when in fact political engineering of the elections was the more likely reason.

On what the future may hold, Sir Graham added that Putin should not expect the Russian people to blindly accept his rule. "Vladimir Putin might have got his way in so far as the outcome of the election is concerned, but the demonstrations that have taken place since December's parliamentary elections and the increasing criticism that he is facing from significant sections of the population and media show that he will not be in for an easy ride over the next six years. The extent of ill-feeling towards President Putin may even cast doubt on his ability to serve the full-term unless he fundamentally addresses issues related to the rule of law and the democratic, economic and social development of Russian society".

YABLOKO leaders spoke at the rally For Fair Elections at the Pushkin square
Press Release, March 5, 2012.

YABLOKO leaders Sergei Mitrokhin and Grigory Yavlinsky spoke at the rally For Fair Elections which took place at the Pushkin square, Moscow.

Sergei Mitrokhin said that statements made by Vladimir Churov, head of the Central Electoral Commission, that elections was fair was a blatant lie. The hot line organised jointly by YABLOKO and the Voter' League got thousands of calls from observers and voters on violations.

Mitrokhin also reiterated that the December slogan "Churov must go!" emerging after parliamentary elections of December 2011 was still on the agenda. The participants had unanimously chanted this slogan together with Mitrokhin...

Grigory Yavlinsky¦µ™s appeal to protesters
Novaya Gazeta, March 5, 2012.

...I am appealing to all the opposition political leaders who are organising protest actions and inviting people to join them: if violence takes place during these days, it will lead to dramatic weakening of the opposition and will cause a long-lasting setback. It is our responsibility and our task to avert violence and prevent provocations. In complex and unpredictable circumstances, in dealing with the authorities who most often do not want any compromises on the substance of the matter and who at the same time possess great experience and traditions of political reprisals, it is possible to preserve people's trust only by avoiding and preventing violence in every way and at the same time advancing steadily toward the goal - peaceful radical transformation of the authoritarian, inoperative and inhuman political system...

On the contrary, we should prove to all our potential supporters that we can be trusted and that we clearly understand the aims and goals of the democratic protest movement not as our own self-expression but as the defence of the interests of citizens who vitally need large-scale, serious and responsible changes in Russia. Only in this case will the number of our supporters throughout the country become ever greater. Only by following this path will we become responsible spokesmen for the opinion of a significant section of Russian society...

See also: An arranged marriage. Voters¦µ™ signatures to register Grigory Yavlinsky were rejected, because the authorities don¦µ™t need an excessive amount of competition in the first ballot. 25.01.2012

Russland vor der Whal
Interview mit Galina Michaleva, 2 Maerz, 2012.

In Russland wird ein neuer Pr¶¤sident gew¶¤hlt. Rund 100 Millionen Russen sind aufgerufen ¶±ber ihr neues Staatsoberhaupt abzustimmen. Aussichtsreichster Kandidat ist ein alter Bekannter im Amt des Staatspr¶¤sidenten - Wladimir Putin. Nicht nur deshalb gab es im Vorfeld der Wahl soviel Trubel wie seit langem nicht mehr. Vor einem Monat zum Beispiel demonstrierten gleichzeitig mehr als 200.000 Gegner und Anh¶¤nger Putins in Moskau. ¶´ber die Wahlen und den Kandidaten Putin sprach Nordwestradio-Moderator Tom Grote mit Galina Michaleva, Politikwissenschaftlerin und Gastwissenschaftlerin der Forschungssstelle Osteuropa an der Uni Bremen und Exekutivsekret¶¤rin des Politischen Komitees und Vorsitzende der Genderfraktion der liberalen Partei "Jabloko".

Head of Central Electoral Commission decided to "ban" YABLOKO's observers
Press Release, March 2, 2012.

YABLOKO has obtained information that the Central Electoral Commission has been preparing a letter to the subordinate commissions demanding not to let journalists and observers from YABLOKO's paper YABLOKO ROSSII come to the polling stations...

"Such a decision by the Central Electoral Commission would mean that the authorities decided to go for a grand-scale fraud," Mitrokhin said.

According to Mitrokhin, at December parliamentary elections YABLOKO's observers detected most of the violations and fraud. If dozens of thousands of YABLOKO's observes are not allowed to monitor the elections, they will go into the streets on the next day, March 5.

Elections in Russia: this is only the start
By Alexander Shishlov, March 2, 2012.

March 4 marks the date when the people will vote in Russia: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin plans to assume the Russian Presidency for the third time. Unlike the first two times, however, his support is melting on this occasion. A demand for change is building in the country. More and more people are no longer prepared to put up with the lies, corruption, abuses and falsification in the elections.

It is impossible to call what we are witnessing at present free and fair elections. There are no independent courts, while the authorities control all national TV channels. At the same time we can see the administrative pressure on the mass media and the abuses of electoral commissions ¦µ“ the official voting results have little in common with the actual expression of will of the electorate.

Political competition on 4 March has been reduced to simulation ¦µ“ each of the registered ¦µ´opposition¦µ± candidates to the President embodies a specific segment of the political system created by Putin. The only candidate, who represented a democratic alternative to the system ¦µ“ Grigory Yavlinsky, who was nominated by Yabloko ¦µ“ was not allowed to run in the elections on the pretext of casuistic chicanery over the quality of the signatures gathered in his support...

YABLOKO's observers will work in the Russian embassies and consulates in 36 countries
Press Release, March 1, 2012.

...To date 170 Russian citizens who are currently abroad decided to become observers from the YABLOKO ROSSII paper helping the YABLOKO party to monitor voting in the Russian embassies and consulates on March 4...

In addition, the YABLOKO's activists will control voting in Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Thailand, Australia, Austria, Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Great Britain, Hungary, the Netherlands, Israel, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Canada, Kenya, China, Luxembourg , Morocco, Norway, Poland, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Finland, Montenegro, Switzerland, Sweden, Estonia, South Africa and Japan...

Application "I Am an Observer" is available for downloading on iPhones
Press Release, February 29, 2012.

Application "I Am an Observer" is available for downloading on iPhones and iPods from today. The application was developed by the YABLOKO party jointly with the Appsolute company specially for observers and electoral commissions members.

The application contains a simple and clear interface. It contains instructions for observers, references to laws, forms for filing complaints, contact information where to get help, etc.

An authorised observer will receive support from YABLOKO's "hot line", the Voters¦µ™ League and the Rosvybory project...

Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO leader, made a speech in the State Duma
Press Release, February 28, 2012.

Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO leader, believes that lowering of a threashold on the number of party members required for party registration and a ban on electoral blocs will only lead to fragmentation of the political field and mutual alienation of the society and the parliament. He made such a statement in the State Duma today, when Duma was examining the package of President¦µ™s draft laws targeted at a political reform. Mitrokhin stressed that the draft laws on political parties and elections of deputies of the State Duma can not be examined separately from each other.

According to Mitrokhin, a ban of electoral blocs will give a "powerful impulse to alienation for the society from the government", and this on the threashold of a coming political crisis can lead to something more than recent mass-scale rallies. "A huge number of votes will be distributes between small parties and they will not be able to make it into the Duma, thus a significant part of the Russian society will not be represented in the State Duma and will not regard as a body reflecting their interests," he said...

How I Got Kicked Out of Russia.
The New York Times, February 28, 2012.

...He is standing; I'm seated. With every statement, he lifts off his heels; the man looks down on me with all his arrogance. "Judging by your visa, the stated purpose of your visit in Russia does not match your real activities." "What real activities?" I dare to ask in return.

He fires back, "You are meeting with members of the opposition."

Flummoxed, I'm left speechless for a moment. But I realize he isn¦µ™t kidding. Never in 10 years of reporting in post-Soviet Russia ¦µ” including during the eight years I spent living here and covering the war in Chechnya ¦µ” have the authorities faulted me for something with such grave consequences. The official says that I¦µ™ll have to pay a fine, to be determined by the colonel. My visa will be canceled immediately, and I¦µ™ll be given a transit document requiring that I leave the country within three days. Not once is the word "journalist" uttered...

The original publication in the New York Times

Iabloko, le parti russe ¶©cart¶© : "Ce n'est pas s¶»r que Poutine gagne"
Le nouvel Observateur, 16-02-2012.

...Ivan Bolchakov, membre du conseil f¶©d¶©ral et pr¶©sident de la commission jeunesse au sein de Iabloko, ¶©toile montante du Parti, revient sur les le¶°ons ¶  tirer des manifestations et de cette invalidation ¶  l'approche de l'¶©lection pr¶©sidentielle du 4 mars.

Rue89 : D¶©but f¶©vrier, des manifestations ont r¶©uni entre 100 000 et 120 000 personnes ¶  Moscou. Qui sont les manifestants ? Quelles sont leurs exigences ?

Ivan Bolchakov : Jusqu'¶  r¶©cemment, ne participaient ¶  la plupart des manifestations que des activistes politiques. Parfois, des groupes de citoyens insatisfaits de la violation de leurs droits ¦µ“ non-paiement des retraites, destruction de parcs [comme la d¶©fense de la for¶¤t de Khimki, dans la banlieue de Moscou, face ¶  un projet autoroutier, ndlr], construction ill¶©gale de nouveaux quartiers ¦µ“ les rejoignaient...

YABLOKO distributed about 5,000 leaflets among the participants of the Great White Ring action with information on observation of the presidential elections
Press Release, February 26, 2012.

The YABLOKO party supported the Great White Ring action with an automobile race in the inner part of the Garden Ring in Moscow.

Several dozens of vehicles participated in the race. The cars were decorated with stickers "For Fair Elections", white ribbons (a symbol of fight for democracy and free and fair elections) and flags with party symbols.

Party members made several stops during the race so that to distribute leaflets calling the democratic voters to become observers at the forthcoming presidential elections. Trainings for observers are held daily in the YABLOKO headquarters. About 5,000 leaflets were distributed in two hours...

YABLOKO to conduct an auto race to support the Great White Circle action for fair elections
Press Release, February 24, 2012.

The YABLOKO party will support the Great White Circle action with an automobile race in the inner part of the Garden Ring in Moscow. The rally will be held on Sunday, February 26. A column of cars decorated with white ribbons (a symbol of fight for democracy and free and fair elections) and flags with party symbols will start from the party office at Pyatnitskaya Street...

The participants of the race will make stops so that to join the chain of people standing shoulder to shoulder in the Garden Ring protesting against election fraud and curbing of human rights in Russia.

YABLOKO¦µ™s activists will also distribute flyers among the participants in the Great White Circle. The flyers call all the democratic voters to become observers at the forthcoming presidential elections. YABLOKO launched trainings for observers on February 20, the trainings will be conducted until March 2...

February 23 is Maxim Petlin's day
February 24, 2012.

Unfortunately we have such a situation in our country when those who defend their Motherland and celebrate their professional holiday on February 23 should be defended from this Motherland.

On February 21 custody for Maxim Petlin, leader of Ekaterinburg YABLOKO, was extended once again.

At present maxim Petlin, MP of Ekaterinburg City Parliament and leader of YABLOKO¦µ™s regional branch, is in the hospital of the detention facility. He has a kidney problem. Probably his state deteriorated as he was kept in a prison guards¦µ™ cold room which had no heating.

We are wishing Maxim health and strength. We hope and wait that soon Maxim will return to his family and public work. Russia needs such strong and honest people.

Maxim, the Defender of the Motherland holiday of February 23 is your holiday!..

YABLOKO's Federal Council to develop a position on voting at the presidential election of March 4
Press Release, February 22, 2012.

The Federal Council of YABLOKO which has to develop party¦µ™s position on voting at the presidential election of March 4, and the political reform announced by the President will take place in the Moscow region on Saturday, March 25.

The Federal Council is a representative body of the party, it comprises 160 members, namely, Chairman of the party, members of the Political Committee, the Bureau, the Audit Commission, party arbitration, heads of regional branches as well as one delegate from each regional organisation and YABLOKO faction elected at their conferences...

Stop persecution of Novaya Gazeta!
Statement by the YABLOKO party,
February 22, 2012.

Pressure on the National Reserve Bank financing Novaya Gazeta can not be regarded as accidental.

It is a deliberate political persecution on the threashold of the presidential election of one of the best Russian printed media which has always demonstrated its honest, objective and independent position.

The authorities are mortally scared of the society and of the truth. Therefore, they have launched persecutions against journalism.

We demand to immediately cease persecution of Novaya Gazeta and ensure normal publication of the paper...

Arbeitspapiere und Materialien ¦µ“ Forschungsstelle Osteuropa, Bremen
Nr. 116: Galina Mikhaleva. Das politische Potential der Zivilgesellschaft in Russland w¶¤hrend
der Pr¶¤sidentschaft von Wladimir Putin und Dmitri Medwedew

Das vorliegende Arbeitspapier untersucht die Entwicklung des B¶±rgerengagements w¶¤hrend der beiden
Amtsperioden von Pr¶¤sident Putin und in der ersten H¶¤lfte der Amtszeit von Pr¶¤sident Medwedew.
W¶¤hrend unter Putin von nachlassendem Engagement und einer Entpolitisierung der Forderungen
der B¶±rger gesprochen werden kann, ist seit dem Amtsantritt von Medwedew die Anzahl der Aktionen
gewachsen und das politische Niveau gestiegen. Dies wurde besonders im Jahr 2010 sichtbar, als die
politischen F¶±hrungen von der zentralen bis hinunter zur lokalen Ebene gezwungen waren, auf lang
anhaltende breite B¶±rgerproteste zu reagieren...

Lies and Legitimacy. A programme article by Grigory Yavlinsky

Novaya Gazeta, February 17, 2012.

We are publishing an article by Grigory Yavlinsky which he wrote not in the haste of the election campaign he was not allowed to participate, but almost a year ago.* We consider it a programme article that is why we are publishing it under the rubrics where we publish articles of presidential candidates...

On the creation of a pro-Putin pseudo-green party
Statement by the Green Russia faction of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO,

February 16, 2012.

On February 12, 2012, Russia's environmental movement The Green decided to once again form an environmental party. Its first public action was the decision to support Vladimir Putin's candidacy at the presidential elections in Russia. Also prior to its self-liquidation this party had already declared its support to Vladimir Putin. This party had also supported the decision to import foreign radioactive waste into Russia. Obviously, the revival of the party is aiming at supporting the government in their fight against ecologists, rather than change of antiecological policies in Russia. The newly released government's report "On the Situation with Environmental Protection in the Russian Federation in 2010" confirms that the quality of environment in Russia has been deteriorating, and respectful international ratings give Russia one of the lowest ratings in the world as of the trends of its environmental changes...

President Medvedev supported a number of YABLOKO's initiatives
Press Release, February 15, 2012.

A meeting of leaders of registered political parties with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has just finished. The key issue of the meeting was discussion of the political reform. The YABLOKO party was represented by Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO Chairman, and Sergei Ivanenko, Political Committee member.

Sergei Mitrokhin handed to President Medvedev a list of demands put forward by participants of the demonstration and rally of February 4, including the general resolution of the rally, the resolution demanding registration of Grigory Yavlinsky in the presidential election campaign and the list of political prisoners...

YABLOKO begins trainings for election observers
Press Release, February 15, 2012.

The YABLOKO party begins training of observers for presidential and municipal elections in its Moscow office. The first seminar held on Monday evening was held for future trainers of observers. The event was attended by 25 people. They will train observers in Moscow and other regions. From February 20 through to March 2 there will be daily trainings. The trainings start at 19:00 on weekdays and at 15:00 and 18:00 on weekends...

Not only YABLOKO observers but also observers (who will get accreditation from the YABLOKO Rossii newspaper) from other candidates and public projects will be able to participate in the training. YABLOKO co-operates with all public projects for elections monitoring, in particular, YABLOKO will provide them party offices in Moscow and the regions.

Thus, Rosvybory project has begun distribution of its documentation to its observers in YABLOKO¦µ™s Moscow office. Observers from Rosvybory receive documents from the headquarters of presidential candidates. (Note for the Rosvybory observers: you should come for the documents only after receipt of a notification that your documents are ready.)

YABLOKO also collaborates with the Voters' League (Liga Izbiratelei). Reception desks of the Voters League will be opened in YABLOKO¦µ™s offices nationwide soon. Volunteers will be able to get their accreditation from the media there after a short training. Collection of observers' reports within the framework of a joint nationwide project "Final Summarised Protocol" will be also conducted in the same YABLOKO offices.

Despite the fact that candidate from the YABLOKO party at presidential elections Grigory Yavlinsky was not registered as a presidential candidate, the party intends to seriously engage in organisation of elections control. Professionals who trained the party observers who were acknowledged to be most qualified work in YABLOKO, they also helped prepare applications to courts in hundreds of cases of election fraud...

Extradition of writer and journalist Anne Nivat represents probation of a reprisals response on the growth of civil activity
Statement by YABLOKO Chairman.
February 15, 2012.

The Federal Migration Service unlawful and insulting actions against Anne Nivat, French journalist and writer, create a dangerous precedent. A journalist implementing her professional duty and never violating Russian laws was put under surveillance and was expelled from the country on political grounds ¦µ“ after she had spoken to the opponents of the present Russian government.

Such actions return us to totalitarian practices, when the state regarded any oppositional activities and contacts with foreign press a direct threat to the state security. This has never happened even in Putin¦µ™s Russia. However now we have witnessed an attempt to restore such practices.

We regard this as purposeful actions by the representatives of the state, a reprisals tryout as a response to the civil activity growth. We demand an immediate revision of the decision by the Federal Migration Service on Anne Nivat and offering her an apology at a level of at least a service head. We demand punishment for those responsible for abusive actions against Anne Nivat.
If this is not done, the reprisals tryout will pass successfully into our life.

In support of the Echo Moskvi radio station

Grigory Yavlinsky’s Live Journal, February 14, 2012.

The authorities wish to turn [oppositional] Echo Moskvi [radio station] into an echo of the [pro-governmental] Channel One. Replacements in the Board of Directors of this radio station is a step in this direction. It is a direct state pressure on the media, and not only on Echo Moskvi. This is a warning demonstrating to the Russian citizens what will happen after presidential elections.

This step is made now because the situation in the country and in the society has been changing. It is not surprising that the reaction [of the authorities] is reprisals. The authorities simply have not had any other experience. And we should be ready to such a reaction.

But the key thing in this situation is that the movement that has begun in the society can not be halted by either reprisals or bribing habitual for the authorities...

French Author Says Russia Expelled Her on Political Grounds
The Wall Street Journal, February 13, 2012.

Prominent French journalist and author Anne Nivat said Russian immigration authorities forced her to leave the country where she was working on a book on the current political situation...

Ms. Nivat said she traveled to Russian provincial towns where she was meeting, among others, with members of the opposition. She traveled outside Vladimir to meet with a local official from the Yabloko party.

She said ten minutes after her return to a hotel in Vladimir Friday, the immigration officers showed up at her hotel and took her to their station. ¦µ´They canceled my one-year multi-entry business visa and gave me a transit visa, according to which I had three days to leave Russia,¦µ± she said.

Ms. Nivat said that the officers made clear to her that she had been followed for days¦µ”they mentioned her meetings with members of the Communist Party and Yabloko in Petrozavodsk, another provincial town in Russia¦µ™s north...

publication in the WSJ

Russian Immigration Officer Sacked after Expelling French Author. The Wall Street Journal, February 14, 2012

Russia expels French journalist 'for talking to foes of Putin'. The Guardian, February 14, 2012

Vladimir Putin shown that there are political prisoners in Russia
Press Release, Photographs, February 13, 2012.

Activists of the Sverdlovsk region branch of the YABLOKO party conducted an action "Putin, look, here are political prisoners¦µ¦" on Friday, February 10. The activists held a many meters banner in front of the Representation of the President in Ekaterinburg. The banner contained names of political prisoners from the list handed to the current President Dmitry Medvedev.

The action represents a reaction of Vladimir Putin¦µ™s statement during his meeting with political scientists when he asked them to show him "at least one political prisoner".

According to YABLOKO activists, the people from the list were convicted with the help of falsified evidence, the actual reason for putting them into prison were their political activities.

Maxim Petlin, leader of the Sverdlovsk branch of YABLOKO, kept in the pre-trial detention prison now is also in the list of such political prisoners.

"Politically we will really unite this year" says Yavlinsky
LI News Bulletin, Issue 269, February 9, 2012

Speaking at a massive opposition rally in Moscow on behalf of Yabloko (LI full-member) Grigory Yavlinsky (LI Prize for Freedom laureate) said "They wish to oust us all from elections. This won't go! This is our right and we are defending the future of our country." His statement comes days after the National Electoral Commission refused Yavlinsky's registration in the upcoming Presidential elections declaring 20% of the collected signatures as allegedly "invalid." Yavlinsky reassured his supporters that the party is going to stay strong and it will continue to fight for a political reform in the country so that moral and ethics are the main force and so that there is no censorship in the mass media. He also stressed that "life does no end on March 4 [the voting day of presidential elections] or March 5. This is only the beginning." The nomination of Yavlinsky had been officially endorsed by Gorbachev while over 2,000 000 Russian citizens gave their signatures in support of Yavlinsky's candidature hoping to have a political alternative.

Grigory Yavlinsky: the authorities have confirmed once again that they want uncontested elections
Press Release, February 8, 2012.

Grigory Yavlinsky commenting on the decision of the Supreme Court which upheld the refusal to register him as a candidate for President, once again emphasized that he regarded this decision as political and not anyway related to any litigation or the Central Electoral Commission (CEC).

He emphasized that the court did not question the authenticity of the 1,932,112 signatures that had been found valid by the CEC...

Grigory Yavlinsky on the decision of the Supreme Court

Grigory Yavlinsky’s Live Journal, February 8, 2012.

...The fact that we demonstrated this nonsense to everyone in Russia was also part of our work.
Once again I would like to thank all of you who participated in the collection of signatures, who helped to collect them and who signed up. Your political position can not be "cancelled", and eventually it is the most important achievement of this campaign for collection of voters' signatures...

Russian liberals and democrats campaign for fair elections
ELDR Press Release, February 8, 2012.

On Saturday, around 120.000 people marched through Moscow and participated in the Rally for fair elections. Supporters of ELDR member YABLOKO held a huge banner "We demand new elections!"

Yabloko founder Grigory Yavlinsky stated: "They wish to oust us all from elections. This won't go! Together we are defending the future of the country, the Constitution, freedom, life according to the rule of law rather than arbitrary rule. It is important for us and we will never surrender!"

Last week in the European Parliament, ELDR President Sir Graham Watson MEP commented on the decision of the Russian central electoral commission to block Yavlinsky from running as a candidate in the 4 March elections: "It seems to me that this is a politically motivated move."

YABLOKO won the first case on election fraud

Press Release, February 6, 2012.

The Moscow City Court overruled the decision of Kuntsevsky District Court and declared removal of Aslan Artsuyev, member of electoral commission from the YABLOKO party with a deliberative vote, from polling station No 2451.

Aslan Artsuyev worked at the parliamentary elections and was member of the PEC No 2451 with a deliberative vote, was removed from the polling station 15 minutes before its closure...

Grigory Yavlinsky appealed to the Supreme Court against the decision of the Central Electoral Commission denying him registration in presidential elections

Press Release, February 6, 2012.

On Monday Grigory Yavlinsky, founder of the YABLOKO party, appealed to the Supreme Court against the decision of the Central Electoral Commission denying him registration in presidential elections.

Yavlinsky asked in the appeal to revoke the decision on the denial in registration in the presidential election campaign and oblige the Central Electoral Commission to register him in the campaign.

Grigory Yavlinsky ran in presidential elections twice: in 1996 and 2000. In 1996 he came fourth with 7.34 per cent, and he was third in 2000 with 5.8 per cent. In 2004 and 2008 he did not participate in the presidential elections.

In 2012 he planned to participate in the presidential elections, however, on January 27 the Central Electoral Commission officially denied him the registration...

Grigory Yavlinsky "Politically we will really unite this year"

Press Release, Videos, Photographs. February 4, 2012.

...Grigory Yavlinsky, party founder, spoke at the rally on behalf of YABLOKO:

"They wish to oust us all from elections. This won't go! This is our right and we are defending the future of our country.

We have gathered here so that to see that there many of us, that we are not alone, that a friend's shoulder is by your side. We are different, but we all have three colours in common ¦µ“ the colours of the Russian flag.

All together we are defending the future of the country, the Constitution, freedom, life according to laws rather than arbitrary rule. It is important for us and we will never surrender.

Now the most important thing I would like to tell you is that life does no end on March 4 [the voting day of presidential elections] or March 5. This is only the beginning.

And our opponents and foes will see and realise - may be they realise - soon that it is a beginning for us, and an end for them.

This year we will create thousands of committees for the political reform, join us!

This year we will make them abolish censorship in the mass media.

This year we will make an extremely important thing - politically we will really unite.

We will prove that morals and ethics can be the main force both in politics and in Russia.

We love our country and we will not surrender it to thieves, fascists, Stalinists or other parasites...

Grigory Yavlinsky at the rally For Fair Elections of Feburary 4

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, February 4, 2012.

Except from Russian transcript by Radio Liberty:

14.25. Eugenia Chirikova [ecologist and head of the Movement in Defence of Khimki Forest] proposes to vote for a resolution in support of candidacy of Grigory Yavlinsky on the post of Russian President. "We demand that the decision of the Central Electoral Commission to refuse Grigory Yavlinsky registration in the presidential election campaign should be revoked." "We demand to immediately register Grigory Yavlinsky candidate on the post of President of Russia." The rally supports this resolution with a roar of approval.

14.20. The rally greets YABLOKO founder Grigory Yavlinsky with applause. Yavlinsky thanks all for support. "They wish to oust us from elections¦µ¦ This won't go. We feel a friends¦µ™ shoulder. We are different, but we all have three colours in common ¦µ“ the colours of the Russian flag. We defend the future of the country and the Constitution ¦µ“ we defend them by lawful means¦µ¦ Now the most important thing I would like to tell you is that life does no end on March 5 [the day after presidential elections in Russia]. This is only the beginning ¦µ“ for us and it is an end for them¦µ¦ We will prove that politics can be moral¦µ¦ For freedom and justice! For our Russia!"

On a demonstration and a rally on February 4
Press Release, February 3, 2012.

YABLOKO participates in the demonstration and rally For Fair Elections of February 4. The participants should gather at 12:00 at Bolshaya Yakimanka (Oktyabrskaya metro station).

YABLOKO's activists and supporters form the second column (out of total six). The demonstrators should gather by lamp-posts Nos 4 and 5 (out of total nine numbered lamp posts). You will be able to easily locate YABLOKO column by YABLOKO flags. Also you will be able to find information about the location of the column from activists wearing green YABLOKO uniform jackets.

The demonstration will start at 13:00. The columns will go along Bolshaya Yakimanka and Maliy Kamenniy bridge to Bolotnaya square. The rally at Bolotnaya square will begin at 14:00...

Sergei Mitrokhin will distribute leaflets calling to join the march of February 4
Press Release, February 1, 2012.

On February 2 - 3, on the threashold of the march and rally For Fair Elections, YABLOKO activists will distribute leaflets calling to join the action. Leaflets will be distributed by seven Moscow metro stations.

Tomorrow YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin (who is also member of the organisational committe of the action) will be distributing leaflets by Novokuznetskaya metro station from 3 to 4 p.m.

Picketers will also distribute leaflets by Pushkinskaya, Arbatskaya, Chistiye Prudi, Mayakovskaya, Sretenskiy Bulvar, Tretyakovskaya and Novokuznetskaya metro stations from 4 to 7 p.m.

Also leaflets can be obtained in YABLOKO Moscow office (Pyatnitskaya ulitsa, 31/2 bldg 2) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m...

YABLOKO website threatened with closure
Press Release, January 31, 2012.

Public prosecutor of Moscow requires the YABLOKO party to provide information about the organization, where the web-site server of yabloko.ru is physically located. Investigators are interested in the actual location of the organization, its legal address and contact telephone numbers.

The request of the prosecutor's office was given to the party this morning. Further, the information must be provided to Zamoskvoretskaya Interdistrict Prosecutor's Office as early as 15:00.

The requirements put forward during the audit were launched upon request to the prosecution by the Central Electoral Commission¦µ™s chief Vladimir Churov. The latter appealed to the prosecutors after YABLOKO published on its website the so-called "Churov list" - a list of leaders of local electoral commissions, where protocols of voting were falsified or the observers were removed without any reason on the parliamentary elections voting day December 4, 2011...

YABLOKO launched a lawsuit for the return of other parties' votes stolen at the parliamentary elections
Press Release, January 31, 2012.

...Thus, an observer's protocol (certified by the Chair of the Precinct Electoral Commission) ran that the Just Russia party obtained 290 votes (201 vote according to the Central Electoral Commission). The discrepancy in votes for Vladimir Zhirinovsky's LDPR party amounted to 32 votes (142 against 108 votes), 15 votes for the Patriots of Russia (29 against 14 votes), the vote for the Right Cause was worsened by half (from 14 to 7 votes). However, the ruling United Russia improved its total vote (from 506 votes on the protocol of the observer to 651 vote, according to official data of the CEC). The votes for the Communist Party and YABLOKO remained unchanged.

"Probably, the election committee members thought that YABLOKO and the Communist Party can go to courts only if their interests are affected. And they decided to "modify" the results of other parties," said YABLOKO¦µ™s lawyers. There are also discrepancies in the numbers of canceled and absentee ballots...

Unidentified persons burnt the office of "Vechrniy Krasnokamsk" weekly published by YABLOKO
Press Release, January 28, 2012.

Fire resulting from an arson fire has completely destroyed the office of "Vechrniy Krasnokamsk" weekly this night. The founder and editor-in-chief of the weekly is Olga Kolokolova, leader of the Perm YABLOKO branch and deputy of the City Council in Krasnokamsk. Olga believes that it is a revenge by Yury Chechyotkin, the city Mayor, for journalists¦µ™ investigation into his embezzlement of budget funds allocated for housing repairs in the city...

In April 2011, unknown persons assailants beat Olga Kolokolova¦µ™s father - deputy of the Krasnokamsk City Duma Arkady Kolokolov. He helped the crew of the "Riphey-Perm" television company, which investigated the circumstances of the repairs in the TSZh Parkovoi. The contractor hired by the managing company providing services for the house received 4.5 million rubles, but the works were not completed...

In addition, in November 2011, on the eve of the parliamentary elections of December 4, 2011 and the Legislative Assembly of the Perm Area, Svetlana Ivanova, candidate from the YABLOKO party was attacked by an unidentified person. She was hit on the head, the blow broke the frontal bone. She will remain disabled...

Grigory Yavlinsky on the situation with voters' signatures in favour of his registration in the presidential election campaign

Grigory Yavlinsky's Live Journal, January 29, 2012
...Let us make a simple calculation: the share of detected defective (void) signatures that were not included into this category (Code 29) amounted to 16,446 (2.74% of the number of verified signatures totaling 600,000). The rest was 137,492 (22.91%): "Other violations of procedural formalities in filing signature sheets, including signatures of voters whose data were included into signature sheets not in handwriting (electronic photographs certified by authorized representatives)." This means that the main fault found in the signatures by the Central Electoral Commission lying behind their refusal in my registration referred NOT TO THE SIGNATURES, BUT TO "OTHER VIOLATIONS OF PROCEDURAL FORMALITIES IN FILING OF SIGNATURE SHEETS, including signatures of those voters whose data were included into signature sheets not in handwriting (electronic photographs certified by authorized representatives)"...

Yavlinsky's Presidential Candidature Gets Rejected
LI News Bulletin, Issue 267, January 27, 2012

Days after Yavlinsky's candidature was endorsed by Gorbachev, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) declared 20% of the signatures collected in support of the leader of Yabloko (LI full member) invalid. Commenting on the incident at a news Conference Yavlinsky said: 'I consider the decision of the NEC as politically motivated. They aren't letting me join the race, because they don't want to allow an alternative - political, economic and moral.' He also cautioned that such refusal to allow him to join the race would undermine the vote's legitimacy and could lead to unrest and instability in the country. Grigory Yavlinsky needed to collect and submit at least 2,000,000 votes in order to register since he was nominated by a non-parliamentary party. ALDE-PACE (LI Cooperating Organisation) issued a statement condemning the situation as 'another sign of the limitation of political competition and expression in the country.' The group also expressed concern that the latest developments in Russia severely compromise the possibility for free and fair presidential elections on 4 March 2012.

YABLOKO denied opportunity to field presidential candidate: politically motivated move say EU Liberals
ELDR Press Release, January 26, 2012.

Grigory Yavlinsky, former leader of ELDR member party, YABLOKO, has been officially barred from running in the upcoming Russian presidential election. The Central Electoral Commission announced yesterday that Yavlinsky's candidature is invalid as a result of perceived technical irregularities in the way the signatures of support, a requirement for participation in the election, were presented to the Commission.

Commenting on the refusal to accept Yavlinsky's registration for the 4 March election, ELDR Party President, Sir Graham Watson MEP stated, "this is clearly a politically motivated move designed to ensure Vladimir Putin has an easy ride back into the presidency and shows a blatant disregard of democratic principles and international standards for free and fair elections.

It seems that Putin and his cronies have learnt nothing from the protests that have been taking place since last December's parliamentary elections. This is very worrying and undermines the authority and legitimacy of the future Russian president."

Grigory Yavlinsky said that the position taken by the Electoral Commission denies thousands of people the opportunity to express their views freely. "Their refusal means that all the people who do not agree with what has been happening in Russia, the people who want a different perspective - an open, democratic, European and modern perspective - will not be allowed to participate in the elections by means of this political decision"...

ALDE statement on the situation in Russia
Press Release, ALDE PACE, January 25, 2012

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe unanimously condemns the latest developments in Russia which severely compromise the possibility for free and fair presidential elections on 4 March 2012...

YABLOKO leader indignant at the refusal of the Moscow authorities to coordinate the route of the march of February 4
Press Release, January 25, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin expressed his indignation at the refusal of the Moscow authorities to coordinate and give a permission to the march scheduled on February 4. The march continues the actions launched after parliamentary elections of December 4 that had demonstrated unprecedented fraud.

"The decision of the Moscow Mayor¦µ™s office provokes tension," Mitrokhin said. "Neither broad pubic [gathering for the march via Internet] nor we can agree to the route they proposed to us (from the Luzhniki Stadium to the Krimskiy bridge)," he noted...

Picket in favour of registration of Grigory Yavlinsky at presidential elections in Nizhny Novgorod
Press Release, January 25, 2012.

Picket in favour of registration of Grigory Yavlinsky at presidential elections took place at the Teatralnaya square in Nizhny Novgorod on January 23, 2012.

The participants of the action held placards "YABLOKO for Fair Elections!", "YES to Elections! NO to Churov*!" and "Elections Without Yavlinsky Means Elections Without Choice!"

The picketers chanted "Yavlinsky Is Our President!", "Honesty to the Central Electoral Commission and "Magician" Churov, Go to the Circus!" and "Let Elections be Fair!"...

Grigory Yavlinsky proposed to St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly to create a commission for investigation of election fraud at elections
Press Release, January 25, 2012.

Grigory Yavlinsky, YABLOKO leader and head of the YABLOKO faction in St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, proposed to St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly to create a commission for investigation of election fraud at parliamentary elections of December 4, 2011.

19 deputies out of 50 voted for this proposal. The United Russia and the LDPR factions did not participate in the voting. Thus, the decision on creation of such a commission failed...

YABLOKO expects escalation of claims on behalf of Central Electoral Commission after Grigory Yavlinsky was supported by organizational committee of the rally scheduled on February 4
Press Release, January 24, 2012.

YABLOKO does not see anything new in today¦µ™s statements by representatives of the Central Electoral Commission that the number of defective signatures give them grounds to refuse Grigory Yavlinsky registration in the presidential election campaign.

Grigory Yavlinsky and other party leaders gave assessments of this decision during press-conference at Interfax yesterday.

However, we expect further escalation of claims on behalf of the Central Electoral Commission after organizational committee of the rally scheduled on February 4 adopted a decision on nominating Grigory Yavlinsky presidential candidate...

Verhofstadt: "Mr Putin, Be aware Spring is coming"
Press Release, ALDE, January 24, 2012

Reacting to news that Grigory Yavlinsky, from the Russian Democratic Party "Yabloko" is unlikely to be allowed to register as a candidate for the Presidency, Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) made the following statement:

"By refusing to register Grigory Yavlinsky for the presidential election the Kremlin removes any glimmer of hope for an alternative vision for Russia. The Presidential elections to be held on 4 March 2012 will be another step backwards for democracy in Russia."

"Russian people have demonstrated their disdain for the current regime and are demanding change. New State Duma elections should be held after registration of all opposition political parties. The European Union should reassess EU policy on Russia with the prospect of Putin clinging to power until 2024."

"The President in waiting would be well advised to heed to people's demands.
Mr. Putin, be aware Spring is coming."

Grigory Yavlinsky: the authorities decided that the stability of the ruling group is more important than the stability of the country
Press Release, Video, January 23, 2012.

Presidential candidate from the YABLOKO party Grigory Yavlinsky said that the intention [of the Central Electoral Commission] to refuse to register him in the presidential elections campaign was "purely political" and "did not have anything to do with signatures and their quality."

"Their refusal means that all the people who do not agree with what has been happening in Russia, the people who want a different perspective - an open, democratic, European and modern perspective ¦µ“ will not be allowed to participate in the elections by means of this political decision," Grigory Yavlinsky said at a press conference at Interfax.

This is done for two reasons, Yavlinsky noted, "Vladimir Putin and the present government fear the choice that will be made by the part of citizens tired of stealing, lies and corruption." In addition, "they are afraid that tens of thousands of observers" whom YABLOKO planned to send to the polling stations...

Why Putin bars Yavlinsky from presidential election
Sergei Mitrokhin¦µ™s blog at the Ekho Moskvi web-site, January 22, 2012.

In the coming days the verdict of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) will be announced: who of the candidates submitting voters¦µ™ signatures to the CEC will be registered as presidential candidate. The quality and authenticity of the signatures have nothing to do with this [check up by CEC] and registration. It will be Vladimir Putin who will make the decision on the issue.

My prediction is like this: [oligarch] Mikhail Prokhorov will be registered, and Grigory Yavlinsky not. Why?

We have learned from The New Times, that the evening on December 9, Vladimir Putin telephoned Mikhail Prokhorov and asked him to run for president.

The 9th of December was just the last day of filing the application for the registration. In the evening the CEC gave the names of all those who applied and were registered. Prokhorov was not among them...

Yavlinsky Could Be Rejected From Russia Presidential Poll

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, January 23, 2012.

Russian opposition Yabloko party founder Grigory Yavlinsky could be denied registration as a presidential candidate by Russia¦µ™s Central Election Commission...

"This issue is of a political nature, absolutely, and the purpose of [denying registration] is to bar from elections all those people who are discontent with what is happening in Russia today and who would like a different future for Russia -- an open, democratic, European, modern future," Yavlinsky said.

He added that Yabloko plans to register hundreds or even thousands of observers for the election and that is also a reason the Kremlin might refuse to register him.

"This decision is strictly political and it has nothing to do with the signatures or their quality," he said.

Yavlinsky's Presidential Candidature Receives the Endorsement of Gorbachev
LI News Bulletin, Issue 266, January 20, 2012

The nomination of Yabloko's (LI full-member) Presidential Candidate, Grigory Yavlinsky, has been officially endorsed by former Soviet president and leader of Perestroyka, Mikhail Gorbachev. It follows the disputed Russian Duma elections in December 2011. According to the Russian law, since Yavlinsky has been nominated by a non-parliamentary party, he needs to collect and submit at least 2 million signatures to the Central Electoral Commission in order to run in the upcoming Presidential elections. The latest party's press release indicates that the leader of Yabloko has managed to collect signatures from all Russian regions, as well as from Russian citizens working and living abroad. This equates to around 2, 132, 000 votes in just 25 days. Yavlinsky commented saying "collecting 2 million signatures is not just a technical procedure. It means that 2 million people have vowed to support the political alternative that we represent." A day after Yavlinsky was nominated as a candidate for the presidential elections, LI President Hans van Baalen MEP made a telephone call to Mr. Yavlinsky expressing LI's full support.

YABLOKO to submit to the Central Electoral Commission voters' signatures for Grigory Yavlinsky's registration in the presidential election campaign
Press Release, January 17, 2012.

YABLOKO will submit to the Central Electoral Commission voters' signatures for Grigory Yavlinsky's registration in the presidential election campaign on January 18 at 4 p.m. Files with 2,100,000 voters' signatures will be transported to the Central Electoral Commission on four minivans. In total YABLOKO's volunteers managed to collect 2,132,000 voters' signatures in 25 days only (from December 23 to January 16).

Address of the Central Electoral Commission: Bolshoi Cherkasskiy pereulok 9
Accreditation for journalists: tel +7 495 606-13-25.

Sergei Mitrokhin discussed with US Ambassador Michael McFaul the issue of joint Russian - US ABM system
Press Release, January 17, 2012.

YABLOKO Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin participated in the meeting of representatives of the Russian opposition with new US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul.
"I spoke to Ambassador about the need to continue the dialogue on the problems of joint Russia-US anti-ballistic missile defence initiated by the YABLOKO party in the end of 1990s," Mitrokhin told the journalists after the meeting...

YABLOKO to create Fund for Donations for provision of elections transparency
Press Release, January 16, 2012.

The YABLOKO party is going to complete creation of a fund for citizens' donations for organisation of election monitoring and encourages people to become observers on the election day March 4.

"Today we are initiation creation of a special fund, which we are calling the Fund for Promotion of Public Control over Elections", said Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO Chairman, a press conference in the Interfax office on Monday...

YABLOKO collected 2.1 voters signatures for registration of Grigory Yavlinsky in the presidential election campaign
Press Release, January 16, 2012.

2,100,000 people signed up for registration of Grigory Yavlinsky in the presidential election campaign. As expected Grigory Yavlinsky's electoral head-quarters received large quantity of sheets with signatures these days. Today, on the last day of collection of signatures, the head-quarters will receive about 100,000 signatures.

According to the law, the number of signatures submitted to the Central Electoral Commission should not exceed 2.1 mln. On January 17, the staff of the head-quarters will pass 2.1 mln signatures to the print shop for binding. On January 18 the signatures will be submitted to the Central Electoral Commission...

Mikhail Gorbachev signed up for nomination of Grigory Yavlinsky presidential candidate
Press Release, January 14, 2012.

Ex-President of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev signed up for nomination of Grigory Yavlinsky presidential candidate. The sheet with Mikhail Gorbachev's signature was brought by Gorbachev Fund officer to YABLOKO's head-quarters yesterday...
Collection of signatures for registration in the election campaign began on December 23 and will go through January 15.
As of yesterday, the Grigory Yavlinsky's electoral head-quarters disposed of 1.7 mln voters' signatures. YABLOKO activists hope that the remaining 400,000 signatures will be collected in the coming days. YABLOKO attracts volunteers (YABLOKO members and supports, ex-observers at the parliamentary elections and people who left their telephones within the framework of the project "The Glasnost Territory") for collection of signatures. A number of public organisations, including the staff of the Gorbachev Fund, help YABLOKO to collect signatures.

YABLOKO collected over 1.7 mln signatures for registration of Grigory Yavlinsky in the presidential elect ion campaign
Press Release, January 13, 2012.

As of today, YABLOKO collected over 1.7 mln signatures for registration of Grigory Yavlinsky in the presidential elect ion campaign. Collection of signatures will go until January 15, sheets with voters' signatures have to be filed and prepared for dispatch to the Central Electoral Commission on January 18.

YABLOKO activists think that they will manage to collect the remaining 400,000 signatures (as a non-parliamentary party such as YABLOKO has to submit to the Central Electoral Commission 2.1 mln signatures for registration of its candidate in the face). Grigory Yavlinsky's headquarters call all the supporters of an alternative at presidential elections to focus on the solution of this task...

Members of the Central Electoral Commission representing the YABLOKO party say that commission head should resign
Press Release, January 12, 2012.

Yelena Dubrovina, member of Central Electoral Commission from the YABLOKO party, voted for introduction of the issue of resignation of Vladimir Churov, head of the Central Electoral Commission, into the agenda of the commission. Most of the commission members (including members from the Just Russia and Vladimir Zhirinovsky's LDPR) voted against this proposal...

Only Yelena Dubrovina from YABLOKO and Eugeni Kolushin from CPRF voted in favour of this proposal. Other 13 commission members, including representative of the Just Russia Sergei Danilyenko and Oleg Lavrov from LDPR voted against this...

Russian citizens collect signatures in nine countries for nomination of Grigory Yavlinsky at March presidential elections
Press Release, January 12, 2012.

Volunteers are collecting signatures for registration of Grigory Yavlinsky as candidate for President of Russia among Russian citizens living or working abroad. Collection of signatures is held in seven European countries, the US and Canada. So far, none of other Russian parties and candidates have attempted to collect signatures of Russian citizens living or working abroad.

Russian citizens working in the UK, France, Germany, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, USA and Canada wrote to YABLOKO with a proposal to collect signatures among compatriots abroad...

Once again about the lies and legitimacy (to the theory of the issue of the change of the regime)

Grigory Yavlinsky's Live Journal, January 11, 2012
I am offering you this article without any changes. Today my understanding of the essence of our sociopolitical crisis and programme for its overcoming are virtually the same. These ideas result from long work and much reflection. This is a search for an alternative¦µ¦

LIES AND LEGITIMACY
...

People take flight

The Russian political regime today, which emerged after 1991 and was formed over the past decade, has still not created a modern state.

As a result, we are witnessing today an unremitting chasm that is deepening and is being transformed into an insurmountable rift between the authorities and the people, the state and society.

This is not a temporary credibility gap, but rather a systematic problem. The high ratings of the country's leader do not attest to public support for the powers that be. The vast difference in the public trust shown in these individuals and all other state institutions attests to the ultimate instability and fragility of the entire Russian state construct...

May 26, 2013, Moscow

A rally in protection of small business

 

 

 

 

For Your Interest!

Realeconomik

The Hidden Cause of the Great Recession (And How to Avert the Nest One)

by Dr. Grigory Yavlinsky

Resoulution
On the results of the Conference “Migration: International Experience and Russia’s Problems” conducted by the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (the ALDE party)

Moscow, April 6, 2013

International Conference "Youth under Threat of Extremism and Xenophobia. A Liberal Response"
conducted jointly by ELDR and YABLOKO. Moscow, April 21, 2012. Speeches, videos, presentations

What does the opposition want: to win or die heroically?
Moskovsky Komsomolets web-site, July 11, 2012.
Interview with Grigory Yavlinsky by Yulia Kalinina.

Building a Liberal Europe - the ALDE Project

By Sir Graham Watson

Lies and legitimacy
The founder of the Yabloko Party analyses the political situation. Article by Grigory Yavlinsky on radio Svoboda. April 6, 2011

Algorithms for Opposing Gender Discrimination: the International and the Russian Experience

YABLOKO and ELDR joint conference

Moscow, March 12, 2011

Reform or Revolution

by Vladimir Kara-Murza

Is Modernisation in Russia Possible? Interview with Grigory Yavlinsky and Boris Titov by Yury Pronko, "The Real Time" programme, Radio Finam, May 12, 2010

Grigory Yavlinsky's interview to Vladimir Pozner. The First Channel, programme "Pozner", April 20, 2010 (video and transcript)

Overcoming the Totalitarian Past: Foreign Experience and Russian Problems by Galina Mikhaleva. Research Centre for the East European Studies, Bremen, February 2010.

Grigory Yavlinsky: Vote for the people you know, people you can turn for help. Grigory Yavlinsky’s interview to the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper, October 8, 2009

Grigory Yavlinsky: no discords in the tandem. Grigory Yavlinsky’s interview to the Radio Liberty
www.svobodanews.ru
September 22, 2009

A Credit for Half a Century. Interview with Grigory Yavlinsky by Natalia Bekhtereva, Radio Russia, June 15, 2009

Sergei Mitrokhin's Speech at the meeting with US Preseident Barack Obama. Key Notes, Moscow, July 7, 2009

Mitrokhin proposed a visa-free regime between Russia and EU at the European liberal leaders meeting
June 18, 2009

Demodernization
by Grigory Yavlinsky

Another Look into Putin's Soul
by Andrei Piontkovsky

European Union chooses Grigory Yavlinsky!
Your vote counts!

Reforms that corrupted Russia
By Grigory Yavlinsky, Financial Times (UK), September 3, 2003

Grigory Yavlinsky: "It is impossible to create a real opposition in Russia today."
Moskovsky Komsomolets, September 2, 2003

Alexei Arbatov: What Should We Do About Chechnya?
Interview with Alexei Arbatov by Mikhail Falaleev
Komsomolskaya Pravda, November 9, 2002

Grigory Yavlinsky: Our State Does Not Need People
Novaya Gazeta,
No. 54, July 29, 2002

Grigory Yavlinsky: The Door to Europe is in Washington
Obschaya Gazeta, May 16, 2002

Grigory Yavlinsky's speech.
March 11, 2002

Grigory Yavlinsky's Lecture at the Nobel Institute
Oslo, May 30, 2000

For Your Importance!

 

Yabloko: Liberals in Russia

By Alexander Shishlov, July 6, 2009

Position on Some Important Strategic Issues of Russian-American Relations

Moscow, July 7, 2009

The Embrace of Stalinism

By Arseny Roginsky, 16 December 2008

Nuclear Umbrellas and the Need for Understanding: IC Interview With Ambassador Lukin
September 25, 1997

Would the West’s Billions Pay Off?
Los Angeles Times
By Grigory Yavlinsky and Graham Allison
June 3, 1991

was!

 

On the need of further steps for creation of a joint Russian-European ABM system. Statement by Chairman of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO, September 21, 2009

YABLOKO's leader proposes a joint Russia-US BMD project at the meeting with Barack Obama. July 7, 2009.

Mitrokhin proposed a visa-free regime between Russia and EU at the European liberal leaders meeting. June 18, 2009.

YABLOKO¦µ™s Leaders Meet with President of Russia. June 11, 2009

OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY THE EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION

July 3, 2009

RESOLUTION ON DIVIDED EUROPE REUNITED: PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES IN THE OSCE REGION IN THE 21st CENTURY.

In the memory of Yuri Schekochikhin

In the memory of Farid Babayev


In the memory of Larissa Yudina


West must aid Soviet reform says Yavlinsky

Financial Times
By Leyla Boulton in Moscow
May 21, 1991

Soviet Economists Visit Harvard Profs. Team of Seven Seek Western Advice to Draft Plan to Restructure Economy
The Harvard Crimson
By Lan N. Nguyen
May 22, 1991

Joint Plan Links Western Aid with Soviet Economic Reforms
Harvard University Gazette
May 24, 1991

Author!

 

Enemy Around - A view on the present conspiracy theory by Boris Vishnevsky

Fontanka.ru, June 30, 2009

Alexej Melnikow, Mitglied im Dumaausschu fur Budget und Steuern

Die Publikationen auf servere den "Apfel" auf Deutsch

Vote!

Ratings and votes

VTsIOM
(in Russian)

History

10 year anniversary of the "500 Days" Programme

Pin!



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