Press Release, 18.05.2016

Today, activists of the Moscow YABLOKO held pickets in front of the State Duma against the bill on formation of the National Guard which will be examined by the parliament in the first reading.

Protesters succeeded each other in turn with a placard “The law on the National Guard is a way to reprisals”.

“We believe that the National Guard is a repressive and excessive body formed for intimidation of the opposition and dissidents. The National Guard will not help in establishing law and order how it is understood in the civilized world. We have recent examples of flagrant violations of the rule of law and citizens’ safety – a mass brawl in the Khovanskoye cemetery in Moscow and the attack on Alexei Navalny and Anti-Corruption Foundation employees in the Anapa Airport. The National Guard will not help against bandits. It will only help to take funds from the state budget,” Grigory Semenov, one of the picketers and Deputy Chairman of the Moscow YABLOKO, said.

YABLOKO believes that the key purpose of creation of the National Guard is strengthening the police regime in the country. In addition, the rights of the law enforcement forces to use weapons and special equipment will become wider. Soldiers of the National Guard will get the right “not to warn of the intention to use physical force, special means and firearms”.

Earlier the Moscow branch of YABLOKO called parliamentarians to reject the bill, and activists of Moscow Youth YABLOKO held a series of pickets against the creation of the National Guard by the Reception Office of the President of Russia.