Press Release, 21.02.2022

Photo by Alexander Miridonov / Kommersant

On the eve of the 518th meeting of the upper chamber of the Russian parliament – the Federation Council, –  which will be held on February 22, Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov sent appeals to all members of the Federation Council with a proposal to cancel the Resolutions allowing the use of Russian armed forces abroad. According to Rybakov, this will be a practical step aimed at the reduction of tensions around Ukraine.

Rybakov notes that since 2006, the Federation Council has adopted three resolutions that allow the use of the Russian Armed Forces abroad. These are the Resolutions No. 219-SF of July 7, 2006, No. 456-SF of December 16, 2009, and No. 355-SF of September 30, 2015. These Resolutions do not define the territory and period of use of the Russian army abroad, which allows for the unlimited use of the Russian Armed Forces anywhere in the world. This contradicts the constitutional principle of participation of the Federation Council in resolving issues on the use of the Russian Armed Forces outside the borders of the Russian Federation. In fact, decisions on the use of Russian armed forces outside the country’s borders are now made solely by the President.

Yabloko Chairman also stresses that a dangerous aggravation of the situation around Donbass is taking place, and the threat of Russia’s participation in a major war has never been as close as it is now.

“Under these conditions, every politician and statesman must do everything in his/her power for de-escalation of the conflict,” Rybakov notes.

Nikolai Ryabakov suggests that members of the Federation Council raise the issue of terminating all resolutions of the Federation Council that grant the President of the Russian Federation the right to use the Armed Forces abroad without the special consent of the Federation Council.

“The termination of the Resolutions would be an important step, clearly and unequivocally demonstrating that the Russian Federation is not going to invade neighbouring states and use the army to resolve territorial and political disputes,” the Yabloko Chairman says.

Yabloko has also addressed citizens of Russia with a statement “No to war!” urging to sign – online or in Yabloko’s regional offices – an anti-war petition launched by Yabloko.