Federal Political Committee Decision No. 134, 27.07.2020

Having heard and discussed the report of Grigory Yavlinsky, Chairman of the Federal Political Committee [of the Yabloko party], the YABLOKO Federal Political Committee decided:

1. Confirm the standpoint that the entire procedure of the so-called “popular vote”, as well as the very introduction of amendments to the Basic Law of the Russian Federation, in all its components are illegal, unlawful and do not comply with the current Constitution.

This refers to the following:

– the content of Putin’s amendments;

– form of introduction of amendments;

– procedures for discussion and voting on amendments in three readings [by the State Duma];

– adoption of amendments by the Federal Assembly;

– lightning-fast adoption of amendments by the parliaments of the subjects of the Federation;

– the absurd decision of the Constitutional Court on the need to “reset” the presidential terms;

– the signing of the amendments law by the President;

– organising a “popular vote” for the amendments.

The Russian United Democratic Party Yabloko believes that Vladimir Putin, by his actions, has deprived the Russian Constitution of legitimacy. As a result of the special operation carried out by the authorities to destroy the Russian statehood, the Constitution – with the 2,020 amendments and the “resetting” of the presidential terms for Vladimir Putin personally, – was pushed out of the legal framework. The process of destruction of law on a national scale was launched.

2. Approve the political report of Grigory Yavlinsky about the reasons for the failure of democratic reforms in post-Soviet Russia, the prospects and tasks of the democratic opposition in the context of a corporate-nomenklatura state and Putin’s irreplaceable illegal authoritarian regime. Consider it useful to publish the report in the media, discuss the new tasks of the Party at the second part of the 21st Congress of the Party (November 2020) and adoption of the corresponding decisions by the Congress.

3. Support the main proposals for the reform of the Party (the Reform Concept) contained in the report, including the following:

– formation of a regular party and its cadre reserve on a solid value and social-liberal ideological basis;

– formation, development and maintenance of a large-scale network of supporters (Social Movement);

– decisive strengthening of party discipline, increasing the responsibility of party members while expanding the influence of members and supporters on the decision-making process in the party;

– introduction of a probationary period for joining the party, detailing the grounds for expelling from the party;

– limiting the terms of office for members of governing bodies.

4. Recommend the Bureau to discuss the goals and objectives of the Party in the new conditions, formulated in the report, and prepare an action plan for their implementation.

5. Instruct Nikolai Rybakov, member of the Federal Political Committee and Chairman of the Russian United Democratic Party Yabloko, to form a working group for summing up the proposals on the reform of the Party that are expressed during the discussion, and prepare a full package of amendments to the Programme and the Charter of the Party so that the Federal Political Committee together with the Bureau of the Party would submit them for the second part of the 21st Congress in November this year.

Grigory Yavlinsky

Chairman of the Federal Political Committee