The leader of the Yabloko party Grigory Yavlinsky thinks that it is necessary to urgently implement the following three main reforms inRussia: create an independent judicial system, find a political alternative tothe war in Chechnya and introduce a more transparent and rational taxsystem.

The Spanish newspaper El Pais published on May 29, 2001, an interviewwith the leader of Yabloko, calling Yavlinsky “the most European of Russian politicians and an ardent supporter of the market economy.” Yavlinsky stated in this interview: “Russia already has some of the main elements of a democracy, but the question is to whatš extent the new leaders will tryto use them to the benefit of small groups who supported the change ofpresident.”

According to Yavlinsky, “most of the Russian mass media are a part ofthe state machinery. The same is true about the judicial system, which isused as an instrument for the redistribution of property between the groupsof oligarchs. We are also concerned about the independence of politicalparties and the problem of honest regional and nation-wide elections.”

Yavlinsky also noted that there are currently “obvious signs of thecreation of some type of corporate state – a system where the interests ofcertain groups contradict the public interest. But this system differs from a totalitarian system.” He called it an imitation of a democratic state.

According to the Yabloko leader, the main groups controlling this systemare economic tycoons, part of the military and secret services.

Asked if he would run in the next presidential elections, Yavlinsky responded: “it is too early yet to speak about this issue. I would like my country to flourish and enter a stabilisation period. I would like my generation to make the same present to our children, as the Spanish made to their children.”

Based on Interfax reports.

See also:

Grigori Yavlinski: Rusia es una democracia de imitacion

Meeting between the Prime Minister of Spain Jose Maria Aznar and the leader of Yabloko Grigory Yavlinsky. Press Release, May 28, 2001