Press Release, 15.10.2021

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

On 14 October, a closed meeting of the Federal Political Committee of the Yabloko Party took place in Moscow, 15 out of 17 members took part in it (Igor Artemyev and Svetlana Gannushkina were absent). The main topic of discussion was the results and lessons of the past parliamentary elections – the first elections after the establishment of “the 1st of July system”, the adoption of Vladimir Putin’s amendments to the Russian Constitution.

The Political Committee is aware of the difficulties and threats is store for the party in the modern political system, constructed by a repressive regime, up to and including the ban on its activities.

According to the decision of the Political Committee, the priority task of the party in the new conditions, should be “maintaining in the social and political life of the agenda based on humanistic values”​. At the same time, Yabloko should focus on the expert and professional content of its work, showing society the need for and the ways to achieve democratic changes. The party will continue preparing a meaningful strategy for the country’s development for decades, train people, develop political structures and persistently pursue policies based on respect for a person and his/her freedom, and life without fear.

Members of the Political Committee note that these elections demonstrated that Yabloko needs to have a sufficient number of its own candidates. In exceptional cases, a party can nominate its associates, but not those who use it as a “political taxi” and at the same time support such projects alien to the party as, for example, the so-called Smart Voting, [the project by Alexei Navalny’s team calling to vote at the elections for any parliamentary parties but the ruling United Russia. These parties are virtually clones of United Russia and all such voting by democratic electorate took off some percentage points from Yabloko, the only non-parliamentary party from the opposition that managed to get registered in the election and which joined different democrats under its logo].

The Political Committee emphasises that the Smart Voting, promoted by Alexei Navalny and his team, is based on the false assumption that everyone who does not belong to the ruling United Russia party is certainly better than United Russia. “Calls to vote on the candidates list sent by a headman or his instructor devalue the very idea of ​​elections,” the decision of the Political Committee runs.

The Smart Voting project aimed at ensuring that the Communist Party of the Russian Federation significantly increased its representation and influence in parliament, and this would only “strengthen the authoritarian system and accelerate its movement towards totalitarianism, repression, imperialism, confrontation with neighbours, the whole world, and ultimately towards war”.

Photo: Boris Vishnevsky. Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

The Political Committee notes that a number of public figures actively called on in the media and social networks to vote for the communists. “Their position is important, since traditionally the intelligentsia, the “creative class”, intellectuals bear the function of the guardians of important constants. When this function, to our great regret, is exchanged for momentary achievements, the whole society takes a step down,” the decision of the Political Committee runs.

The Political Committee notes that not only the authorities, but also what can be called “modern Bolshevism” are the opponents of Yabloko. By Bolshevism the Political Committee means “political populism, calls to unite around a charismatic leader who combines nationalism with primitive egalitarianism in his calls”. This ideology is dangerous because it spreads quickly and claims to be exclusive.

The hopes of Navalny’s supporters for “a change of power from the street” are, according to the Political Committee, not only groundless, but also dangerous. This line is beneficial to the authorities, since the repressive machinery will always take over in the clashes in the streets, and then another sharp toughening of the regime will follow. As a result, relying on street protests will not end with anything except imprisonment of many people, broken lives and even bloodshed, the Political Committee indicates.

To change the situation in the country, Yabloko will seek a nationwide political dialogue. “This does not mean asking the authorities for something or negotiating tactical issues. The basis of the dialogue is that civil society has its own stance on fundamental issues: the future of the country, the direction of its movement,” the decision of the Political Committee runs.

Photo: Viktor Sheinis, Valery Borshchev, Lev Shlosberg, Sergei Ivanenko, and Sergei Mitrokhin. Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Yabloko considers its political allies to be those for whom common ideology and values ​​come to the fore, and not those who call to forget about the differences in ideology in the name of fighting the government as a common enemy.

The Political Committee congratulated Dmitry Muratov, a member of the party and editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. “This is a prize for a meaningful direction in journalism, politics, public life, the direction that addresses the essence of events, traces their connection with the life of society and bears responsibility for every word spoken and written,” the decision of the Political Committee runs.

Members of the Political Committee sharply condemned in their speeches the flows of hatred and persecution pouring on everyone who openly expresses his opinion. Dmitry Muratov, in particular, was subjected to such an attack.

The full texts of the decisions of the Political Committee will be published soon after the introduction of all the amendments to the draft statements voiced at the meeting.