A round table discussion joined together the leaders of the
YABLOKO party, deputies of the Ekaterinburg City Duma, the
Sverdlovsk Region Duma and citizens’ initiative groups. The
meeting took place on June 26 in Ekaterinburg. The discussion
evolved around the present problems of survival of the democratic
opposition, its prospects and new possibilities in the crisis.
The key speaker was Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary
of the Political Committee of the YABLOKO party. She drew
the attention of the participants of the discussion of the
changes in the electoral legislation reducing (despite declarations
of the government) the competition for the pro-government
United Russia. In spite of some recent victories of the YABLOKO
party, in particular, Maxim Petelin’s success at the election
to the Ekaterinburg City Duma, the forthcoming elections to
the Moscow City Duma and the Legislative Assembly of the Sverdlovsk
Region will become a serious test for the democratic opposition,
and YABLOKO is ready to undergo it.
The participants of the discussion acknowledged that at present
only two political parties - YABLOKO and the CPRF - can not
be regarded as part of the “Kremlin’s project” and represent
a real opposition to the government.
Deputy of the Regional Duma E.Artyukh noted that modern opposition
has been rapidly turning into a human rights movement. However,
the situation has beens paradoxical, as it is very difficult
for the dissenting parties to exist even as human rights organisations.
According to the participants of the round table, biased attitudes
of the media do not allow to the opposition to inform the
electorate of their successful work in protection of citizens’
rights.
However, all the participants expressed their optimism regarding
the prospects of the opposition due to the objectively changing
situation in Russia.
See also:
Elections
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