The Appeal of the Bureau of the Central Council of the Yabloko Association to the constituent congress of the SPS
The Yabloko Association greets the delegates of the constituent congress of the SPS and the congress successful work. We observe with great attention and interest the transformation of the Union of the Right-Wing Forces into a political party.

Meeting between the Prime Minister of Spain Jose Maria Aznar and the leader of Yabloko Grigory Yavlinsky
Press release
A meeting between the Prime Minister of Spain Jose Maria Aznar and the leader of Yabloko Grigory Yavlinsky took place on May 28 2001 at the residence of the Prime Minister of Spain in Moncloa (Madrid), following an invitation made by Aznar to Yavlinsky last autumn...

Russian SPS is transformed into a political party
Xinhua Agency, May 27, 2001
The Union of Right Forces (SPS), the largest liberal political organisation in Russia, was transformed into a full-fledged political party at its congress on Saturday.

The Fourth force
By Aleksei Tavrov, Vremya MN, May 25, 2001, p. 3
On the eve of 26 May 2001, when the Union of Right-Wing Forces will convene for its constituent congress and transformation into a party, it transpired that potential members of this party, possible sponsors and the Kremlin administration were not the only ones to place high hopes on this congress. At long last their neighbours in the political niche have displayed some interest.

SPS Builds Party at 22-Hour Congress

By Ana Uzelac Staff Writer

The Moscow Times Monday, May. 28, 2001. Page 1

The Union of Right Forces transformed itself into a bona fide political party and elected Boris Nemtsov as its leader during a founding congress this weekend that lasted for an extraordinary 22 hours with breaks only for coffee.

Russian military doctrine and strategic nuclear forces to the year 2000 and beyond
By Alexei Arbatov
Present Russian military doctrine is based on a document approved at a Security Council session on 2 November, 1993. On that same day, the document, "Principle Guidance on the Military Doctrine of the Russian Federation" ( PGMD) was officially legalized by Presidential decree No. 1833 (1). Whatever the outcome of continuing work on its revised version, there is reason to expect its main points will remain the same.

The Yabloko faction has managed to make essential amendments to the draft law “On Political Parties”
Press release
The Yabloko faction believes that it has managed to considerably improve the draft law “On Political Parties” compared to the variant adopted in the first reading.

Nikolai Ryzhkov accuses Yabloko of organising a campaign against deputies voting for the import of nuclear waste into Russia
Press release
Deputy of the State Duma Nikolai Ryzhkov (the CPRF faction) accused theYabloko faction of organising an “unruly campaign” against deputies voting for the export ofnuclear waste into Russia.

The Yabloko Association and the Democratic Russia Movement create a democratic coalition

Press release

On May 24, 2001, the Chairman of the Yabloko Association, Grigory Yavlinsky, Co-Chairman of the Democratic Russia Movement, Lev Ponomaryov, and members of the Coordination Council of the Democratic Russia, Evgeny Ikhlov and Oleg Mustafin signed in the Moscow office of Democratic Russia a joint declaration on the creation of a union of democratic forces - a democratic coalition.

The Yabloko faction will insist on the adoption of amendments aimed at democratising the draft law "On Political Parties"

Press release

Deputies of the Yabloko faction will insist on the adoption of a number of amendments aimed at democratising the draft law "On Political Parties" at the time of the review of the draft at the second reading.

Duma awaits judicial reform

rbc.ru

A presidential package of bills on judicial and law reforms may be officially presented to the Duma today, reported Deputy Head of the Yabloko faction of the State Duma of the RF.

The Russian military in the 21st century
Dr. Alexei G. Arbatov
In April 1997, the U.S. Army War College held its Eighth Annual Strategy Conference, the topic of which was "Russia's Future as a World Power." Most of the speakers discussed various aspects of the many crises besetting Russia, and there were differing views on whether Russia would be able to surmount those crises and make the transition to a politically stable democracy and a market economy.

Dr. Alexei G. Arbatov, the Deputy Chair of the Defense Committee of the Duma, delivered the banquet address and provided the Strategic Studies Institute with the following monograph. In his remarks, Dr. Arbatov stated that political and economic reform had largely failed, and that we could reasonably fear further turmoil in the Russian economy and accompanying political and military structures. The very fact that a freely elected member of the Duma, representing one of four primary political parties, was speaking to an assembly at the U.S. Army War College indicates the distance Russia already has traveled in this decade. Nonetheless, Dr. Arbatov's remarks made clear how difficult Russia's near-term future will be.

Leader of Yabloko Grigory Yavlinsky to visit Vilnius
Baltic News Service, Vilnius
On Tuesday one of the famous Russian politicians, deputy of the State Duma of the RF and leader of the liberal-centrist party Yabloko will come to Vilnius on a one-day visit.

The next steps in arms control: a Russian perspective
Dr. Alexei G. Arbatov
Putin can control the Russian domestic environment and he can provide consistency for arms control agreements, which Russia may engage in with other countries. Neither of these two characteristics were true of the Yeltsin Regime, during the 1990s. That is good news and certainly a very important change. But there is bad news, and let me talk about it in much greater detail.

Opening statement at the Carnegie roundtable discussion
Madeleine K. Albright
I am delighted to speak with such a distinguished group and I want to thank you each for giving me this opportunity today. As a student of Russian history and society, I appreciate the important role of Russian thinkers and intellectuals. To a large degree, you shape the way Russians view the West. I occasionally look at the Russian press myself and have seen what some of you have written, as well as what has been written about me. I am glad to say that I've been called worse things in the American press than my Russian nickname "Gaspozha Stal."

Speech of the Chairman of the Yabloko Association Grigory Yavlinsky at the meeting in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Acad. Andrei Sakharov

... his most important precept was on morality in politics. Andrei Dmitrievich realised that appealing to politicians with a request or demand to be moral is an absolutely hopeless thing. That is why he formulated this somewhat differently. He said that moral positions in politics are most practical and most reasonable. Certainly if the goal is not only personal welfare, but, at least to some extent, the prospects for the country and its future; if the goals include how children and grand-children will live in our country...

Grigory Yavlinsky thinks that Andrei Sakharov's ordinances are now buried in oblivion

Gazeta.ru May 20, 2001; 17:30

The Head of the Yabloko faction Grigory Yavlinsky thinks that at present many of the ordinances of Academician Andrei Sakharov are buried in oblivion.

PSA will flourish if deputies convince the government that it is not right

Vladimir Sysoyev

Vremya MN, May 18, 2001

The draft law on the taxation of production-sharing agreements (PSAs) has matured in the Cabinet.

Ivanenko and Zhukov oppose the Proposal of the Finance Ministry

Vladimir Sanko

Nezavisimaya Gazeta, May 18, 2001

"The country's leadership, the President and government do not need any investments yet," said Deputy Head of the Yabloko faction and Chairman of the Commission on Legal Issues for Sub-soil Usage in Production Sharing, Sergei Ivanenko.

What needs to be done to legalise the economy

Grigory Yavlinsky

TV-Centr channel May 18, 2001

Sergei Ivanenko expresses concern at the attempts of the Finance Ministry to change the tax regime of PSAs

Press release

The Head of the Duma Commission for Production-Sharing Agreements (PSAs) Sergei Ivanenko and Chairman of the Duma Committee for the Budgets and Taxes Alexander Zhukov expressed their concern at the attempts of the Finance Ministry to change the tax regime of PSAs

Who Taught Crony Capitalism to Russia?

The Wall Street Journal Europe March 19, 2001
By Janine R. Wedel
Ms. Wedel, author of "Collision and Collusion: The Strange Case of Western Aid to Eastern Europe," is associate professor in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.

Ekho Moskvy Staff Threaten to Resign

The Moscow Times, Thursday, May. 17, 2001. Page 3

Ekho Moskvy's chief editor said Wednesday he is prepared to take his 90-member staff to second-tier television station TV6 if the journalists fail to obtain a controlling stake in the independent radio station.

Yabloko faction to ask Putin to settle conflict around NTV
RosBusinessConsulting, April 6, 2001
The Yabloko faction is going to send an appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin today, asking him to settle the situation around NTV with the help of the Supreme Court. Yabloko leader Grigory Yavlinsky announced this decision at a press conference today.

Russians rally for free speech, media
By Peter Baker and Susan B. Glasser
The Herald-Leader, April 1, 2001
As many as 20,000 people crowded Pushkin Squarein central Moscow yesterday to defend free speech and Russia's major private television network in one of the largest public displays of support for democratic liberties in Russia in the post-Communist era.

China and Russia will adjust to American missile defense
William Safire
International Herald Tribune, January 30, 2001
Colin Powell's State Department, nibbling its nails about anti-globalist protests, warned Americans about traveling to the World Economic Forum in dangerous Davos, where the elite meet to not compete. But intrepid opinion mongers trekked into these Alps to learn how Chinese and Russian leaders react to Bush administration plans for a missile defense.

Yabloko movement protests import of expended nuclear fuel to Russia
RosBusinessConsulting, January 16, 2001
Regional branches of the Yabloko political movement conducted protest actions against a decision of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, on uncontrolled imports of expended nuclear fuel to Russia for storage and processing.

Nuclear waste bill passes first reading in Russian parliament
World Information Service on Energy & Nuclear Information
On 20 December 2000, the Russian State Parliament (Duma) approved a first reading of an amendment to the Law on Environmental Protection which gives a green light to the importation of spent nuclear fuel by Minatom, the Russian ministry of atomic power.

On Yabloko's Congress
Vremya Novostei, October 30, 2000, p. 3
This was the first emergency congress of Yabloko that journalists were barred from. The movement's leadership explained thatthe congress was purely "technical", that it had been convened for the purpose of broadening the Central Council from 45 to 60 members by introducing regional representatives into it. All the same, Grigori Yavlinsky's report didnot have anything to do with the election of new Central Council members. It was an analysis of Vladimir Putin's presidency.

Police arrive at NTV office
The Russia Journal
Moscow -Three police officers have arrived at the NTV office in the Ostankino television center. They announced they will be waiting for former leadership of NTV to come out.

Russia faces showdown over independent TV
The Russia Journal
Russia's state-dominated gas monopoly ditched the managers of NTV, the country's only nationwide independent television network, on Tuesday and puta U.S. banker in charge.

Yabloko believes that it has an effective coalition with the SPS

Press Release

Deputy Head of the Yabloko faction in the RF State Duma, Sergei Ivanenko, thinks that the coalition of his party with the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) is effective.

Mikhail Zadornov thinks that it is too early to speak about the transfer of two Russian islands to Japan

Press Release

The head of the Deputies' Group of the State Duma for Relations with the Parliament of Japan, Mikhail Zadornov (the Yabloko faction), thinks that today the situation over territorial disputes between Russia and Japan is "very clear and simple".

Deal to decide NTV future
CNN World, April 9, 2001
ST PETERSBURG, Russia -- The future of NTV television's independence hangs in the balance as its new owner considers an offer by U.S. media mogul Ted Turner to buy into the station.

NTV holds protest rally against takeover
The Times of India on Line, April 8, 2001
MOSCOW: Saying their independent voice was under threat, journalists from Russia's pioneering NTV held a rally under rainy skies on Saturday and urged their supporters to stand fast withthem against a takeover by state-connected gas company Gazprom.

Russian TV takeover sparks protest
CNN World, April 4, 2001
MOSCOW, Russia - Journalists at Russia's only independent television network are protesting against a takeover by the state-run gas giant Gazprom.

Yabloko objects to the import of spent nuclear fuel
strana.ru , 20.03.01. 18:42
The Yabloko faction in the State Duma thinks that, if approved, amendments to existing legislation regulating the import, storage and recycling of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) will cause tremendous losses to Russia. The legislature will consider the amendments at the second reading on March 22.

Grigory Yavlinsky believes the impending restructuring of the Russian government to be meaningless

Rosbalt Information Agency

Moscow. "The government restructuring will have no significance," said Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the Yabloko faction of the State Duma of the RF in an interview with the Ekho Moskvi radio station.

A protest was held in Barnaul against the import and storage of nuclear waste in Russia

Press release

A protest action against the import and storage of nuclear waste in Russia took place in Barnaul.

Against Nuclear Waste Imports

The Press-Centr.Ru Information Agency

According to a Press-Centr correspondent, the Sverdlovsk regional branch of Yabloko supported the nation-wide action to collect signatures against the law on the import of nuclear waste to Russia.

U.S., Russia Meet Over Missile Shield
By Jim Heintz
The Moscow Times, May 14, 2001, p. 5
Coming to ground zero of opposition to U.S. plans for a national missile defense system, a high-level American delegation met Friday with Russian officials to discuss the divisive plan.

Yabloko: Russia strategy in Ukraine should not be restricted to debt repayment

Press release

Deputy Head of the Yabloko faction in the State Duma, Sergei Ivanenko, warned against limiting Russia's strategy in Ukraine to the repayment of debts for gas shipments.

The meeting at Vassilievsky Spusk was organised by the Going Forward Together movement distributing free pagers to its members and providing them with free railway tickets including those to resorts in the Crimea

polit.ru May 8, 2001
Yesterday 7,000 young people (according to data of the Interior Ministry), and not 15,000 (as previously announced by RIA Novosti corespondents from the meeting) gathered at Vassilievskiy Spusk [by the Kremlin] to celebrate the first year's inauguration of Vladimir Putin.

Alexei Melnikov assesses the action of the movement "Going Forward Together" as a "shameful event"

Press release

A deputy of the Yabloko faction of the State Duma Alexei Melnikov criticised the action to support the President of Russia Vladimir Putin conducted by the "Going Forward Together" on Monday May 7 2001.

Nemtsov proposes Yavlinsky as next President

Nezavisimaya Gazeta, May 4, 2001
Olga Tropkina

There is something of a lull in the process of negotiations between the Union of Right-Wing Forces and Yabloko over creating a coalition with a single list of candidates for the next election.

The leaders of the SPS and Yabloko advocate strengthening privately-owned mass media

Press release

The leaders of the right-wing factions of the State Duma (the SPS and Yabloko) noted that the release by the International Committee for Protection of Journalists of a list of the leaders of states regarded as opponents of mass media on the International Day of a Free Press (on May 3) had a negative impact for Russia.

Yabloko considers the statement of US President George Bush on ABM an invitation to negotiations
Press release
“These should be negotiations on the prospects for strategic stability in the world,” said Deputy Head of the Yabloko faction Sergei Ivanenko in an interview with the press on May 2, 2001.