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Press-archive
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Press
release, 24.04.2000
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The St Petersburg
branch of Yabloko and the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS)
have agreed on the procedure for choosing a single candidate
at the gubernatorial elections
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On April 24 at a joint meeting the St Petersburg branch
of Yabloko and the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) agreed
on the procedure for selecting single candidate at the gubernatorial
elections in the northern capital of Russia.
According to Chairman of the Regional Branch of Yabloko,
Deputy of the State Duma Alexander Shishlov, a corresponding
statement on the terms and procedure for conducing preliminary
elections and sociological surveys will be signed at the
St.Petersburg "Regional Party of the Centre - Yabloko" head-quarters
late at night on April 24.
At the same time he noted that "there is a real threat
of provocation from those forces opposed to a union of democratic
forces at the gubernatorial elections of the city and a
change of power in the Smolny, who will do all they can
to wreck our actions."
According to Alexandr Shishlov, over the past week-end
the meeting of the Central Council of Yabloko decided to
support the candidacy of Igor Artemyev at the gubernatorial
elections in St Petersburg. However, stressed Alexander
Shishlov, a final decision will be taken proceeding from
the polls; according to members of the Yabloko Central Council,
the selection process of a single candidate from the democratic
forces for the post of governor must be finished by May
1, 2000.
The elections of the Governor of St.Petersburg are scheduled
to take place on May 14, 2000. Nine candidates will run
for the post of governor, including the present governor
Vladimir Yakovlev, Deputies of the State Duma Igor Artemyev
(the Yabloko faction) and Yuli Rybakov (the SPS faction).
Based on Interfax reports.
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Yabloko's
candidate for the post of Governor of St Petersburg Igor
Artemyev believes that there will be two rounds of the elections
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Yabloko's candidate for the post of the Governor of St
Petersburg Igor Artemyev expressed his conviction that due
to a union of the democratic forces there will be two rounds
in the elections.
Igor Artemyev said that at the beginning of May the name
of a single candidate from the democratic forces for the
post of Governor of St Petersburg would be announced. He
thinks that the union of the democrats is a "necessary and
a sufficient condition" for the holding of second round
in the election and determination of the victor.
"Now I am sure that there will be a second round," said
Igor Artemyev in an interview broadcast live on the "Ekho
Moskvi" radio station on April 21, 2000. Igor Artemyev also
said that he opposed a reduction in the powers of the new
Governor of St Petersburg due to the formation of a new
post - Chairman of the Municipal Government.
"Our city does not need a Chairman of the Municipal Government.
There should be undivided authority in the administration
of the city," stressed Igor Artemyev.
Asked whether he believed that the gubernatorial elections
results could be falsified, Igor Artemyev promised that
Yabloko and the SPS would "ensure such a system of control
which reduce to a minimum the risk of any falsifications".
"I don't trust the city authorities," said Igor Artemyev.
He also said that a "significant number of the members
of the city electoral commission are appointed by decision
of the governor and we have observed on many occasions how
they have been influenced by a desire to play up to the
Smolny" (Ed. to the present governor).
Igor Artemyev also notified the press that a joint congress
of the democratic organisations of Russia is scheduled for
autumn 2000.
Based on Interfax reports.
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Yabloko submits
to the State Duma the law "On the Status of Participants
in Military Operations"
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"It became necessary to determine a single status for participants
in military operations, both in the Great Patriotic War
and other wars and operations a long time ago," said Alexei
Arbatov (Yabloko), Deputy Chairman of the Committee for
Defence of the state Duma and one of the authors of the
new law.
The law "On the Status of Participants in Military Operations"
will resolve the problems of the status of participants
in military operations, irrespective of their time and place,
automatically prolong the payments, privileges and grants
envisaged for such participants.
At present the status of the participants and veterans
of the Great Patriotic War and other wars and operations
that were conducted by the Soviet Union and the Russian
Federation is determined by several federal laws. Their
provisions often do not agree and are even contradictory.
"The participants of the anti-terrorist operation in Chechnya
have been receiving additional privileges and payments in
accordance with the Presidential Decree and resolutions
of the government, but may at any moment lose them," noted
Arbatov. "In addition, we still do not have sufficient legal
provisions for the military actions of our troops in Chechnya.
This means that bureaucrats can adopt any arbitrary decisions
towards participants in military operation". The new law
ensures that the veterans of military operations do not
suffer any injustice. The draft contains a legal definition
of a participant in a military operations and specifies
payments, privileges and grants during military actions,
after their termination and on the retirement of participants,
as well as in the event of their death.
The new law guarantees that the state will fulfil its responsibilities
towards all participants in military operations. The law
also envisages the responsibility of the executive authorities.
The state must, when it launches any military operation,
bear in mind that it will have to sustain considerable expenditures,
provide a corresponding level of welfare for participants
in military operations and their family members owing to
the risks and potential damage to health.
The law will be financed by the federal budget, the budgets
of the subjects of the Russian Federation, which already
stipulate in general expenditures on veterans in accordance
with other federal laws, presidential decrees and resolutions
of the government. Additional expenditures are envisaged
in connection with additional payments to the participants
in the Great Patriotic War amounting to 1,250 mln roubles
a year.
A press conference will be held on April 26 2000 in the
Minor Hall of the Duma (address: 1 Okhotny Ryad) where Alexei
Arbatov will introduce this draft law.
Information tel.: 292 5034, 292 9459.
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