Large Protest Against Social-Benefits Reform Held in Central Moscow
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, July 30, 2004
Participating in the meeting were Chernobyl survivors and members of the Communist, Yabloko, Motherland, and Liberal Democratic parties under the slogan, "All for One," ITAR-TASS reported. Protesters carried signs reading "Hands off Benefits!" and "It's Easy to Cancel [Something], Harder to Resolve It."

YABLOKO Without Distortions and Lies
Novaya Gazeta, July 26, 2004
You have an opportunity to find out yourself about the real problems of concern for the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO, its positions and demands and either agree with them or express your objections. You can do it independently, without the aid of specialists on foolishness and lies.

YABLOKO Does Not Fall
By Elena Serebryanskaya, Primorskye Vedomosti, Khabarovsk, July 21, 2004
- We are not splitting, said Jean Manko, head of the Khabarovsk branch of the YABLOKO party at a press conference on July 16. - We have people with different opinions. Some of them said during a live broadcast of RTR and NTV television companies that the party had split. However, as a political force YABLOKO is not going to disappear from the political scene unlike CPRF and SPS.

Housing and Utilities Reform - updated

Human Rights - updated

Yabloko No-Show
The Moscow Times, July 29, 2004
Young activists from the Yabloko party, who were detained Tuesday for staging an unsanctioned protest at FSB headquarters, refused to show up for a court hearing Wednesday, Ekho Moskvy radio reported.

FSB Breaks Up Lubyanka Rally
By Caroline McGregor, The Moscow Times, July 28, 2004
Yabloko intends to report the cases to prosecutors, deputy party leader Alexei Navalny said in a statement.
"We believe the actions of police and FSB officers were completely inappropriate. Yes, the rally was not sanctioned, but there was absolutely no reason to beat the protesters during detention," the statement said.

Worries Grow Over Housing Reforms
By Caroline McGregor, The Moscow Times, July 26, 2004
Galina Khovanskaya, a State Duma deputy who specializes in housing issues, is one of the draft code's main critics. She worries that, precisely because of its confusing ambiguity, the new code will serve to worsen the already wide gap between Russia's rich and poor.

Police in Moscow Rough up More Demonstrators
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, July 28, 2004
The Yabloko press service reported on 27 July that two members of the party were taken to a hospital following a rally outside FSB headquarters in Moscow, Ekho Moskvy and Interfax reported. The two injured, Irina Vorobeva and Aleksei Kozhin, are members of the party's youth wing, and one of them is reportedly in serious condition.

A piquet of YABLOKO's youth organisation broken at Lubyanka square
Gazeta.ru, July 27, 2004; 12:07
Within 30 seconds the militia detained 10 participants of the action pushing them onto the ground and twisting their hands. According to the leader of the movement Ilya Yashin, the detained activists were taken to the FSB office.
The militia also detained ten journalists and confiscated films from their cameras.

Deputies Submit Populist Amendments To Controversial Bill On Social Benefits
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, July 24, 2004
Of the 1,200 proposed amendments that have been submitted to a controversial government bill that would replace in-kind social benefits with cash payments, not more than 30 are expected to be adopted, Deputy Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on 22 July, "Parlamentskaya gazeta" reported on 23 July.

Programme resolution of the 12th congress of Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO
The 12th congress of the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO, July 4, 2004
Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO declares itself as a democratic opposition to the President, the Government and the State Duma and considers as its overall objective a change in the political regime in Russia.

It is time for Putin to make up his mind
A complete version of Grigory Yavlinsky's article published in an abbreviated version in "Forbes", No. 4, July 2004
If you open the newspapers, what are the economic topics in the headings? Tax problems, social privileges, GNP rates. However, everybody knows that you can improve the tax system indefinitely, develop new forms of mortgages and "mop up" banks, but all other measures are pointless until you resolve once and for all, clearly and unequivocally property issues. A political and legal estimate of privatisation in the mid-1990s is the main economic issue today. President Putin should finally make up his mind. Otherwise nothing will be achieved.

The Action of YABLOKO's youth organisation at Lubyanka square, Moscow, broken up by the FSB
Press Service of St.Petersburg YABLOKO, special for the web-site of YABLOKO, July 27, 2004
At this moment (July 27, 2004. 12:01 Moscow time) a group of young activists from the YABLKO party is throwing balls with red paint into a plague with the portrait of Yuri Andropov on the FSB building.

Liberal Party Activists Detained as FSB Protest Turns Violent
MosNews, July 27, 2004
Two Yabloko activists, a man and a woman, have been hospitalized - one in severe condition - after being beaten by FSB agents who detained them at an unauthorized rally in front of the FSB building, Yabloko spokesman Sergei Kozakov told MosNews.

Human Rights - updated

Yabloko for Environmental Safety - updated

Vladimir Lukin: "Paragraphs of the Russian laws are completely unequivocal. The problem is that these paragraphs are poorly enforced"
By Boris Vishnevsky, Novaya Gazeta, July 15, 2004
Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin celebrated his birthday on Tuesday in St. Petersburg. The main goal of his visit, Lukin said, was to meet the colleagues of the late Nikolai Girenko. He also found time to meet Valentina Matvienko and talk to journalists.

The Conference "Development of the Ombudsman Institute in Siberia and the Far East" began its work in Irkutsk
Interfax, July 20, 2004
The Russian Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin and the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe Alvaro Hil-Robles came to Irkutsk to participate in this conference.

The Committee for the Protection of Muscovites demands the resettlement of residents from apartment buildings contaminated by phenol
Press release, July 22, 2004
Over 50 people gathered today at the protest meeting organised by the Committee for the Protection of Muscovites by the Mayor's office in Moscow. Activists from the Committee as well as residents from the Metrogorodok district of Moscow participated in the meeting demanding the adoption of measures to resettle residents from phenol-contaminated apartment blocks, i.e. residential premises with covering made from materials emitting dangerous levels of phenol gas.

50 Protest Phenol Gas
The Moscow Times, July 22, 2004
"We technically only had permission to demonstrate at Pushkin Square," said one of the protest organizers, Ilya Yashin, a Yabloko party official. "But we felt we had a right ... to make our voices heard."

Rate of Unsolved Crimes in Russia Rises - HR Ombudsman
MosNews, June 16, 2004 (Archive)
Russian Human Rights Commissioner Vladimir Lukin has expressed concern over the rising rate of unsolved crimes in Russia and complaints against the law enforcement agencies' actions in relation to detained suspects, Interfax news agency reported.

Top Regional Police Officer Summoned to Moscow After Torture Protest
MosNews, July 15, 2004
Russian Interior Ministry head Rashid Nurgaliyev was behind the decision to call in Bashkiria Interior Minister Rafail Divayev. The news was announced by Major-general Nikolai Mamontov at a press conference he called in response to the demonstration.

12th Congress of the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO - updated

YABLOKO says monetisation of benefits is unjustified.
By Taisia Nikitineko, ITAR-TASS, July 3, 2004
YABLOKO leader Grigory Yavlinsky said the government's decision to monetise benefits was unfounded.
He proposed starting the replacement of benefits with cash payments with the government.
"If the government thinks that cash payments are so useful, why don't they begin with themselves?", he asked.

Yavlinsky: YABLOKO is ready to cooperate with left-wing parties
RIA "Novosti", July 3, 2004
"Yet, there is a borderline - we will never accede to any kind of alliances with those who approve and propagate the methods employed by Stalin, Beria or Lenin," Yavlinsky pointed out.

12th Congress of the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO - updated

YABLOKO calls for a single list of democratic candidates in the elections.
By Taisia Nikitineko, ITAR-TASS, July 3, 2004
"We are doing everything possible to ensure that we have a list of united democrats in the next elections," Yavlinsky said.

Grigory Yavlinsky: "I should have been firmer"
By Olga Tropkina, Izvestia, p. 3, July 6, 2004
"We are prepared to unite with everybody - with the right wing and with social democrats, provided that they are not followers of Lenin and Stalin or represent the corporate-criminal structure," Yavlinsky replied.

Freedom of Speech and Media Law in Russia - updated

Boris Berezovsky: I Prefer Nabokov to Klebnikov
An interview with Boris Berezovsky by Yefim Barban, MN staff writer, MosNews, July 16, 2004
"To be more specific, the murder was the result of a redistribution of property which is always fraught with a growing crime rate. Klebnikov wanted, in his own manner and quite professionally, I believe, to look into the developments going on in Russia. Of course, those who initiated the redistribution of property were not happy about it."

Commentary: A Possible Link Between The Klebnikov And Shchekochikhin Murders?
By Andrei Piontkovsky, The Jamestown Foundation - Eurasia Daily Monitor, July 17, 2004
In the months before his death, Shchekochikhin was deep into an investigation of the furniture-store chain Tri Kita (Three Whales), which he revealed to be controlled by Russian security officials. High-ranking Federal Security Service (FSB) generals used the chain to launder tens of millions of dollars, and their activities extended to the now infamous Bank of New York, which has been implicated in other schemes.
Klebnikov launched the Russian edition of Forbes magazine with a sensational debut issue featuring the "100 richest people in Russia." This was actually a rather dry reiteration of the biographies of the owners of Russia. However, it dealt a potentially fatal blow to the myth widely held both in Russia and the West that Putin's reign has been characterized by the Kremlin's struggle against Russian's oligarchic capitalism.

Letter to foreign journalists working in Russia
Grigory Yavlinsky, www.yavlinsky.ru, July 15, 2004
Paul Khlebnikov was a fearless man. He loved Russia and believed in its bright and fair future. However, he mistakenly believed that this future had already arrived. Please accept my deep condolences concerning the death of your comrade.

Journalist Watchdog Urges Putin to Investigate Klebnikov Murder
MosNews, July 16, 2004
"This culture of impunity sends a shocking message to the world about your indifference to press freedom, and reassures those who use violence to silence their critics that they can literally get away with murder," Executive Director Ann Cooper said in her letter to Putin.

Mayor, Businessman Withdraw from Vladivostok Race — Reports
MosNews, July 14, 2004
If the reports are true, under the circumstances it may turn out that there will be no candidates in second round of mayor elections scheduled for July 18. Or, if they are not, Kopylov will be the only candidate.

Democracy Is the Loser in Primorye
By Nikolai Petrov, The Moscow Times, July 12, 2004
The current mayoral election in Vladivostok, which will be decided in a runoff later this month, is just the latest skirmish in an ongoing battle for power in the region. Three candidates contested the first round on July 4: incumbent Yury Kopylov, a representative of the old regime who placed third and will not take part in the runoff; Vladimir Nikolayev, a businessman and deputy in the Primorye legislative assembly; and State Duma Deputy Viktor Cherepkov, a former Navy captain who served as mayor from 1993 to 1998.

On the murder of journalist Paul Khlebnikov
The Russian Democratic Party "YABLOKO", Statement, July 12, 2004
The Russian Democratic Party "YABLOKO" expresses its condolences to the family and friends of journalist Paul Khlebnikov who was murdered by contract killers in Moscow.
We demand a rapid and effective investigation of this crime by the authorities and that its executors and people behind the attack be found and punished.

On the criminalization of the elections in Vladivostok
The Russian Democratic Party "YABLOKO", Statement, July 10, 2004
The election campaign in Vladivostok has assumed overtly criminal overtones. The administrative resource is openly used to benefit the candidate from the party of power; the electoral commissions and courts have closed their eyes to the most impudent violations of the law on behalf of this candidate. At the same time other candidates have no access to the media and are subject to unprecedented pressure.

Vladimir Lukin's birthday
July 13, 2004
On behalf of YABLOKO party I wish you happy birthday!
Grigory Yavlinsky

No Unauthorized Access
MosNews, July 13, 2004
Paul Klebnikov worked in a field where access is out of the question for his Russian colleagues. In the form of journalistic investigations he presented to the outer world unofficial data on the relationship between major Russian businesses and the authorities, on the actual procedures in accordance with which property is re-distributed and big money is made in the country. In other words, he was breaking taboos.

A Victim of the Rule of Lawlessness
Editorial, The Moscow Times, July 13, 2004
Perhaps we have become too used to the idea that businessmen need bodyguards, and that those who step on the toes of business interests, be they government officials or journalists, are occasionally gunned down in the streets.

Klebnikov Case Given High Priority
By Valeria Korchagina, The Moscow Times, July 13, 2004
"Paul Klebnikov's background and interests ideally suited him to the task of explaining Russia to Americans and vice versa," the statement said. "He was a person who tried to take the best American values -- fair play, equality and openness -- and apply them in Russia, a country that he loved."

American editor of Russian Forbes magazine killed
Gazeta.ru, July 12, 2004
Paul Khlebnikov, 41, had walked out of his office late on Friday in northeastern Moscow when a car pulled up and several shots were fired. He died on his way to hospital.

Investigators Find Gunmen's Vehicle
By Carl Schreck, The Moscow Times, July 12, 2004
Investigators said they have recovered the car from which Forbes Russia editor Paul Klebnikov was shot and killed Friday night, but there was no word that any suspects had been detained as of Sunday evening.

Freedom of Speech and Media Law in Russia - updated

Forbes Editor Klebnikov Shot Dead
By Valeria Korchagina, The Moscow Times, July 12, 2004
In the first high-profile murder of a Western journalist in Russia, Paul Klebnikov, the American editor of the new Russian edition of Forbes magazine who for years has relentlessly investigated the dealings of Russia's rich and powerful, was shot dead after leaving work Friday evening.

Suspect: Glushchenko Ordered Starovoitova's Killing
By Vladimir Kovalev, The Moscow Times, July 9, 2004
The whereabouts of Glushchenko, a reputed St. Petersburg crime boss who served in parliament as a member of the ultranationalist Liberal Democrat Party, or LDPR, are unknown. He is thought to be living abroad.

NTV Case - updated

Freedom of Speech and Media Law in Russia - updated

All Eyes on What May Be Shuster's Last Show
By Caroline McGregor, The Moscow Times, July 9, 2004
"Svoboda Slova," one of NTV's most popular programs and the only political talk show on Russian television that is broadcast live, will air at 7:35 p.m. Friday in what is widely expected to be its final show.

On the closure of the programme "Svoboda Slova" or "Freedom of speech" on NTV
The Russian Democratic Party "YABLOKO", Statement, Press service, Jule 8, 2004
The Russian Democratic Party "YABLOKO" considers creeping reduction in freedom of speech in Russia an attempt to undermine one of the fundamental tenets of the Constitution and declares its determination to counteract the introduction of censorship in the domestic mass media.

Yavlinsky Attributes Split To "Black PR"
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, July 7, 2004
In a comment on the split, Yabloko leader Grigory Yavlinsky expressed "deep anxiety" about the spreading of the "dirtiest form of political black PR" and its latest victim, the Communist Party, RosBalt reported.

NTV to Abandon 'Freedom of Speech'
By Caroline McGregor, The Moscow Times, July 8, 2004
"Svoboda Slova," or "Freedom of Speech," is perhaps the only remaining program on Russian television that promotes political debate and allows more or less unrestricted criticism of the Kremlin.

On a campaign aimed at discrediting political and public life in Russia
The Russian Democratic Party "YABLOKO",Statement, The press service, July 6, 2004
The Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses deep concern over instances of the dirtiest forms of black political PR, which de facto discredit public politics in Russia, all political classes in the country and Russia as a State.

Yavlinsky Says He Will Look to Left
The Moscow Times, July 5, 2004
Yabloko re-elected Grigory Yavlinsky as party chairman at a weekend congress and pledged to take part in the next State Duma elections in a new democratic coalition that could include left-leaning politicians.

 G.Yavlinsky is elected as chairman of the YABLOKO party again.

The second part of the 12th congress of the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO took place on July 3-4, 2004.

Andrei Piontkovsky: "Developments in Russia represent the triumph of a cynical bureaucracy"
Novaya Gazeta, July 1, 2004
"All of Yabloko’s history, its moral and political position over the past 10 years of existence provides this party with grounds for becoming the base for mass resistance to the approaching police regime of a predatory bureaucracy. That is why I joined Yabloko."

Sergei Ivanenko, deputy chairman of Yabloko: This is not Caesar’s regime: this is an aristocratic regime
Novaya Gazeta, July 1, 2004
"The more you press down on a spring, the stronger it rebounds. People are already sick and tired of watching the Vremya programme of 1982 [Ed. Soviet title of the news that tended not to report about real developments in the Soviet Union]. Gradually they will become more interested in independent views. Our task is to make these words serious and interesting for people..."

Grigory Yavlinsky: Authoritarianism leads to irreversible backwardness
Novaya Gazeta, July 1, 2004
Leader of Yabloko talked to Andrei Kosmynin about the political climate in Russia on the eve of the next Yabloko Party congress.

Selling Out Russia's Forests
By Boris Kagarlitsky, The Moscow Times, July 1, 2004
Russia is bracing itself for the privatization of its forests. The crucial step in this process will be the new Forestry Code, a draft of which is to be considered by the State Duma in the near future.

Russian Saint
By Alexander Osipovich, The Moscow Times, July 2, 2004
"But this wasn't noticeable, because, as Andrei Voznesensky formulates it so precisely, he was a Russian saint: drinking, slovenly, jovial, with a broken destiny and without the slightest hint of a halo."

Closed Trials Open to Lukin
The Moscow Times, July 1, 2004
In a series of rulings concerning the Criminal Procedures Code, the Constitutional Court has ordered Russian courts to allow the human rights ombudsman to attend closed trials.
The court also clarified other areas of legal ambiguity. The Criminal Procedures Code does not require prosecutors and investigators to gather any proof that could point to the innocence of the person accused, which the court said was in violation of citizens' constitutional rights. The ruling will require investigators to collect evidence not only for prosecution, but also for defense.