Press Release, January 19, 2014

The YABLOKO party and the Committee against xenophobia took part in the anti-fascist manifestation in memory of murdered lawyer Stanislav Merkelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova. YABLOKO’s column was headed by its leader Sergei Mitrokhin.

The manifestation started at Tverskoy boulevard and ended at Nokitsky boulevard. Then the activists removed the banners and laid flowers at the place of death of Stanislav Merkelov and Anastasia Baburova at the address 1 Prechistenka Street.

Sergei Mitrokhin

YABLOKO’s activists held the banners “No to Islamophobia, Asia-phobia, Caucasus-phobia, migrantophobia” and photographs of murdered Stanislav Merkelov, Anastasia Baburova, Yury Shchekochikhin, Farid Babayev, Anna Politkovskaya, Larisa Yudina with the quote “Won’t forget, won’t forgive”.

“Today we commemorate the mourning date, the Fascism victims Remembrance Day. The Remembrance Day of the journalists and public figures who were murdered by such bastards as both nationalists and state corruptionists. These crimes were not investigated; we live in the atmosphere of chaos when the state doesn’t fulfill its direct duties and play to the the fascist moods in the country, blowing up xenophobia in its own interests to keep their power,” said Sergei Mitrokhin.

YABLOKO leader mentioned that the YABLOKO party participated in the manifestation annually, the aim of the party’s activists and supporters is to express protest against the fascisation of the Russian society. “Some “neo-nationalists” appeared of late. There’re no neo-nationalists, there’re only fascists hiding their views. And until there are such forces in our society, we are going to protest and express our position,” said YABLOKO leader Mitrokhin.

Youth YABLOKO activist, ex-political prisoner Nikolai Kavkazsky expressed disagreement with the ban of political symbolic at the action. “The struggle against fascism can be only political,” he said. Kavkazsky announced that Youth YABLOKO prepared a statement on the inadmissibility of political censorship at the antifascist manifestation.

Nikolai Kavkazsky

“It’s an especially sorrowful day for us as we understand that our authorities struggle against liberalism and do everything possible to make fascists stronger,” said Secretary of YABLOKO’s Political Committee Galina Mikhaleva. She also mentioned that the members of the Committee against xenophobia joined YABLOKO’s column this year.

Lawyer Stanislav Merkelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova were murdered by neo-Nazi in the centre of Moscow on January 19, 2009.

Galina Mikhaleva