Press Release, 11.12.2024

Today, Kirill Goncharov, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow branch of Yabloko, voiced in the Moscow City Duma the need for authorities to conduct a dialogue with Muscovites on the merits instead of formally complying with the requirements of the law. Kirill Goncharov spoke in the Moscow parliament within the annual Moscow City Duma meeting with participation of non-parliamentary parties.

Kirill Goncharov noted that the agenda of the Moscow City Duma meeting was formed in such a way as to prevent critical statements addressed to the current legislative and executive authorities.

“The activities of the parliament, first of all, should reflect the current demands and attitudes of the people. In our opinion, they consist of the need for a peaceful future, the absence of fear of continuous mobilisation, as well as the return of a sense of safety and trust. All this can be achieved only after the conclusion of a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Responsible politicians should now speak about this from the rostrum of any parliament,” Kirill Goncharov, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Yabloko party, stressed.

It should be noted that, in accordance with the law “On political parties,” non-parliamentary parties can participate in plenary sessions of parliament at least once. According to the regulations of the Moscow City Duma, parties’ representatives can only discuss draft laws. The agenda of the Moscow City Duma meeting on 11 December included one bill only – on bringing certain provisions of the law “On Physical Culture and Sports in Moscow” in line with federal amendments. In particular, it was proposed to include ensuring the availability of mass sports and the development of children’s and youth sports among the main areas of development of physical culture and sports in Moscow.

Yabloko believes that a constant dialogue between the legislative branch and Muscovites is necessary, and this should be a real dialogue, not a sham one, Kirill Goncharov noted. Meanwhile, the invited representatives of non-parliamentary political parties were given the opportunity to express their position only on the technical issue on the agenda of the meeting.

It should be also noted that the Yabloko faction represented by five deputies worked in the previous convocation of the Moscow City Duma (https://www.yabloko.ru/regnews/Moscow/2024/08/08). Yabloko was active in legislative work, insisted on dialogue with the executive power and worked with residents of Moscow. Every year, the Yabloko faction introduced amendments to the Moscow budget, sought detailed discussion of reports on the work of the Mayor’s Office and the police. Read more about the work of the Yabloko faction in the Moscow City Duma of the previous convocation on the Yabloko party website: https://www.yabloko.ru/mgd-2019-2024