Statement, 19.03.2015

Under the aegis of the Rodina party [a pro-Putin party that combines nationalist and socialist rhetoric] an International Russian conservative forum will take place in St.Petersburg’s Holiday Inn hotel on March 22.

The representatives of eleven European parties will gather at the forum, most of the parties have a reputation of neo-Nazis and ultranationalistic ones.

They are the National Democratic party (Germany), Golden Dawn (Greece), New power (Italy), British National party, Swiss People’s Party, Danish People’s party, National party of Finland, Attack (Bulgaria), National Democratic Party (Spain) and other.

Among the speakers are the European politicians known for their neo-Nazi, nationalistic, antisemitic, xenophobic views and well-known Russian nationalists.

On the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Victory over fascism the St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO consider it unacceptable to conduct a forum of neo-Nazi in our hero-city which survived the Siege,the citizens of which went through great losses. The conduction of this forum is especially clinical in the view of the anniversary of the end of the great war where millions of our fellow citizens gave their lives to put an end to the ideology of hatred once and for all.

We know that the Rodina party is a devoted supporter of the Russian authorities, which calls itself the “President’s special force”. During St.Petersburg gubernatorial elections of 2014 Rodina was a sparring partner of Smolny [the city authorities office]. Under the support of the authorities Rodina nominated Andrei Petrov to imitate political competition (as a return for the favor Petrov was later appointed deputy head of the Central district). Therefore we consider that the St.Petersburg administration bears responsibility for the conduction of the neo-Nazi forum.

We demand from governor Georgy Poltavchenko to take measures against the forum of European nationalists in our city.

Andrei Palevich,

Chair of the St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO