The Bureau of the Central Council of Yabloko circulated a declaration on December 19, 2000, which assesses the actions of the authorities against the NTV television company as "the “implementation of another political order”.

According to Yabloko and its leader Grigory Yavlinsky who signed the declaration, such actions are aimed at ensuring the final liquidation of mass media, which are independent of the state. The declaration states: “Liquidation of NTV will constitute a blow to the politicial system of Russia, as this will virtually imply the disappearance of public politics in Russia.”

Yabloko believes that the Public Prosecutor's Office, an in particular, Public Prosecutor General, Vladimir Ustinov, is the direct instrument used to implement this “political order”.

The Bureau of the Central Council of Yabloko lays full responsibility for the prosecution of NTV on the President of the RF and believes that he will be forced to issue a public assessment of developments. The declaration adds: “We declare our readiness to oppose arbitrary rule using all legal methods, including extra-parliamentary ones."

Based on the RBC reports.