Press Release, 15.09.2021

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

On 15 September, the Yabloko party presented its anti-corruption programme, consisting of 100 items. Yabloko believes that corruption should be viewed as a violation of human rights. The presentation was attended by the leader of Yabloko Nikolai Rybakov, Deputy Chairman of the party Ivan Bolshakov, Yabloko candidates for the State Duma – lawyer Roman Kiselev and member of the Yabloko Bureau Grigory Grishin.

Yabloko leader Nikolai Rybakov noted that a modern society can only be built when defeating corruption. Corruption violates the rights of Russian citizens from affordable healthcare to modern education and good roads. Rybakov stressed that 100 solutions presented by Yabloko were developed by the Yabloko Anti-Corruption Policy Centre – the only political centre that proposes political changes that can lead to a decrease in corruption in Russia. Rybakov noted that reduction of corruption in Russia requires the emergence of a real democratic opposition faction in the Duma, ensuring the independence of the judiciary, freedom of speech and freedom of the media.

“Now there is no vote against corruption in the parliament, Yabloko is going to the State Duma to reduce the level of corruption in our country and to use the money saved from theft for the construction of new schools, hospitals and roads,” Nikolai Rybakov said.

Ivan Bolshakov, Deputy Chairman of the party, said that Yabloko’s approach to combating corruption differs from other parties.

“If they talk about corruption, they are fighting the consequences. Yabloko is fighting the causes of corruption,” Bolshakov said. “And the reasons [of corruption lie in the following]: the super-presidential system of power, the lack of rights of parliament, the helplessness of civil society, complete closeness, non-transparency and autonomy of the state machine.”

According to Bolshakov, in order to defeat corruption, it is necessary to create effective institutions, a democratic system and law that is the same for everyone. Bolshakov also detailed the main proposals of the party to fight corruption, which relate to political, administrative and judicial reforms, freedom of information and parliamentary control.

Roman Kiselev, Yabloko’s lawyer and a candidate to the State Duma, noted that this anti-corruption programme is an excellent example of an integrated approach to the formulation of positive changes. The programme offers a list of specific measures in all key areas: from the system of public administration, budgeting and distribution of finances to courts, organisation of replacement of government positions and a system for protecting citizens from corruption.

“Some proposals, for example, regarding the omnipresent control of the elected bodies over the executive branch may even seem radical, and this is good, because it shows the degree to which this programme is uncompromising,” Kiselev said.

Grigory Grishin, a member of the Yabloko Bureau, noted that corruption is a complex phenomenon. He also recalled that Yabloko deputies in the State Duma undertake to refuse 75% of their salaries and not use official cars.

“The fight against corruption must be carried out institutionally and consistently,” Grishin emphasised.

Grigory Mashanov, senior lawyer at Transparency International, noted that Transperancy International’s proposals were taken into account in Yabloko’s anti-corruption programme. According to Mashanov, the Yabloko programme is complex, and if at least 10% is taken into account, it will be a big step in the fight against corruption.

Yabloko’s anti-corruption programme consists of four blocks:

1. Formation of a system of checks and balances:

– strengthening the powers of parliaments at all levels;

– building an independent judiciary;

– effective and independent public prosecutors’ supervision;

– accountability of the executive branch and the building of meritocracy.

2. Broad involvement of citizens in combating corruption:

– introduction of the right to compensation for damage from corruption in court;

– introduction of the right to private prosecution of corruption;

– establishment of guarantees of civil control;

– ensuring full transparency of the state;

– formation of mechanisms of direct democracy;

– protection of whistleblowers (informers).

3. Guarantees for the safety of journalists and freedom of speech

– abolition of repressive laws;

– introduction of personal inviolability of journalists;

– guarantees against searches and other investigative actions;

– guarantees for the receipt and dissemination of information;

– the special status of anti-corruption NGOs;

– cessation of state propaganda.

4. Redirecting and controlling financial flows

– transparency and efficiency of budgeting;

– competition in the distribution of funding to organisations;

– cutting redundant bureaucratic costs;

– ensuring the transparency of transactions and competition in public procurement;

– equal distribution of tax revenues by levels of government.