Press release, 22.06.2016

YABLOKO’s Deputy Chair Alexander Gnezdilov, Moscow Yabloko Youth leaders Nikolai Kavkazsky and Maria Yefimova held meetings with Board members of Junge Liberale (the FDP youth wing) Konstantin Kuhle, Katharina Schreiner, Florian Philipp Ott, Phil Hackemann, Florian Zeimi and Franziska Brandmann on June 18 and 20.

Activists of Julis, Yabloko Youth, youth wings of Parnas and Progress Party participated in an informal friendly round table held at the office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Moscow on Saturday, June 18. Julius von Freytag-Loringhoven, head of the Moscow office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, moderated the discussion.

Young liberals of Russia and Germany discussed the current political issues and noted the importance of young peoples’ active participation in politics. The activists stressed the necessity of cooperation between the countries, exchange of experience and promotion of democratic, liberal and cultural values.

A discussion on the personal data security in the digital millennium took place on June 20. Prominent human rights defender, former Minister of Interior of Germany Gerhart Baum, Junge Liberale leader Konstantin Kuhle, well-known journalists Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan participated in the event.

Alexander Gnezdilov, who was present at the discussion, thanked Gerhart Baum for his long-term international activity in support of freedom, security and human rights.

“The protection of each person’s private life, freedom and Internet users’ security are important issues for YABLOKO’s campaign this year. These are not typical topics for Russian politics, no one has ever discussed them at the the political level. But now when unlawful surveillance threatens people both in real life and in cyberspace, it is high time we listen to the experts’ opinions and learn the experience of our liberal colleagues from Germany,” Alexander Gnezdilov said.

On behalf of the YABLOKO party Gnezdilov presented the distinguished politician with painting reproductions books of Russian artists – classical landscape painter of the 19th century Alexei Savrasov and modern artist Vasya Lozhkin.

Later that day Alexander Gnezdilov had a meeting with Junge Liberale. He also arranged an evening excursion of Moscow city centre, told the German guests about the history of the city and showed them the outstanding samples of architecture and sights of the capital from Novy Arbat to Lubyanka, including the Bolshoi Theatre, the Moscow Art Theatre and the Mayakovsky Theatre.