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The leader of the Yabloko movement, Grigory Yavlinsky,
listed the five main negative features that, in his opinion,
characterise the state of Russia's economy at present.
On March 28, 2000 Grigory Yavlinsky made a speech at an
international conference on Russia's problems, organised
by The Economist in Moscow. According to Grigory Yavlinsky,
administrative and criminal pressure is widely exerted at
present in relations between economic entities, something
which is inadmissible in normal competitive conditions.
Yavlinsky also thinks that the presence of certain private
groups controlling the main financial and industrial resources
is another characteristic trait of Russia's economy. Grigory
Yavlinsky also pointed to very low level of trust in Russian
business shown by the West and virtually total lack of financial
structures in Russia, which have medium or long-term development
plans.
Consequently, Yavlinsky believes that "serious structural
and institutional reforms" must become the first priority
tasks for the new government of the Russian Federation.
Yavlinsky believes that this requires first and foremost
tax reform, including a reduction in tax rates.
The Yabloko leader added that land reform is also very
important, as "serious economic transformation cannot be
achieved in Russia without private property rights to land".
Yavlinsky also said that other important measures include
"demonopolisation of the main industrial sectors, an increase
in the role of law, protection of investors, as well as
the bankruptcy of inefficient enterprises".
"Without this it will be impossible to amend the mistakes
made during privatisation," noted Grigory Yavlinsky. "If
my views are implemented by the new government, I am ready
to accept this government and co-operate," said Grigory
Yavlinsky, also stressing that he does not believe in an
"effective market economy in a country, which violates human
rights, as the right to property is one such right."
Based on Interfax reports
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Representatives
of Yabloko refer to the beginnings of political repression
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Vyacheslav Igrunov, Deputy Chairman of the Yabloko party
believes that the arrest of Dmitri Khrustalyov, head of
the local Yabloko branch in Byeloretsk (Bashkiria), marks
the beginning of possible political repression.
The head of the local Yabloko organisation was arrested
at Yabloko's head-quarters on March 27, 2000. At 10 p.m.
several people, who claimed that they were militiamen, informed
Dmitri Khrustalyov that “the Chairman of the municipal court
is waiting for him”.
However, there were no representatives of the court in
the department of the interior where Dmitri Khrustalyov
was taken. He was held in the militia department building
until 9 a.m.
The Byeloretsk branch of Yabloko has been under pressure
since the Duma electoral campaign, when the President of
Bashkortastan was “upset” by the sudden criticism from Yabloko.
Dmitri Khrustalyov links such attention from the authorities
to the activities of the head-quarters of presidential candidate
Grigory Yavlinsky. In particular, the representatives of
the authorities demanded several times that Khrustalyov
name the people working in Yavlinsky’s Byeloretsk head-quarters,
as well as the observers and provide them with copies of
financial documents.
Deputy Head of Yabloko Vyacheslav Igrunov tried on several
occasions to get in touch with the General Public Prosecutor's
Office in Bashkiria, but was not provided with any explanations
of the incident. It has transpired that it is only possible
to obtain information from the Ministry of Interior of the
Russian Federation.
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