The final meeting of the Evening Party’s University closed the Spring term of lectures and workshops. The meeting took place in YABLOKO’s main office on June 3, 2009. The key speakers were Grigory Yavlinsky, member of the Political Committee of the party, Sergei Mitrokhin, Chairman, and Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary and “Rector” of the University.
About 45 people, members and advocates of YABLOKO, attended to the lectures of the university this term. Galina Mikhalyova opened the meeting by awarding certificates to the students. The students were also presented with books by Grigory Yavlinsky with the author’s autograph notes.
Grigory Yavlinsky answered questions of the audience in the first part of the meeting. His speech touched upon urgent economic and political issues. Yavlinsky said that the Russian government was passive during the crisis, “waiting for the signs of improvement in the USA, and, consequently, in Russia, as the energy prices have to grow”. The share of energy in Russia’s exports amounts to 93%, however, “while we are supplying gas to Europe, about 28 mln people in Russia do not get gas”.
Chairman of the party Sergei Mitrokhin answered questions relating mainly to the Moscow problems. He spoke about preparations to the Moscow Duma election, on how tariffs for communal services have been raised, and on the initiative of the Moscow Government to build new housing for the city residents beyond the city border, ousting the city residents there, when “Muscovites cease being Muscovites”. Mitrokhin also said that multiple city problems were raised at the Moscow City Duma and the Moscow Government only by the United Democrats faction (where YABLOKO participates).
In the Spring term the university offered to its students lectures on the history of YABLOKO and its place in Russia’s political spectrum (lectures by Galina Mikhalyova), workshops on organisation of work with the citizens and formation the institute of observers at elections (by Irina Kopkina), workshop on organisation of protest actions was held by Dmity Ilyushin and the lecture of the financial and economic crisis by Alexei Melnikov.
The Fall term will begin in September.
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