The murderers of Farid Babayev, the leader of the Dagestan branch of YABLOKO, can be released

Press Release, December 25, 2009

The relatives of leader of Dagestan YABLOKO and human rights activist Farid Babayev murdered in 2007, expressed their concern that the defendants had been ruining the case and that the killers would get freedom soon. The key witness of the plaintiffs who had seen the killer suddenly retracted his testimony.

On January 20, 2009, the Supreme Court of Dagestan ruled out that Rasil Mamedrizayev, a citizen of Dagestan, was guilty of murder and sentenced him to 16 years of imprisonment. The second of the culprits Seferali Sefemerzoyev accused of complicity in the murder was acquitted.The plaintiffs appealed this decision in the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. The barrister of Mamedrizayev also appealed the decision demanding acquittal for his client. On June 4, 2009, the Supreme Court of Russia abrogated the previous decision and send the case to the Supreme Court of Dagestan to a new trial by a new composition of the court.

The only witness who gave testimony in the case under a fictitious name of Telman Akayev had seen the murderer running from the site of the crime with a gun in his hand. The witness memorized the face of the killer and pointed at Mamedrizayev during the investigation. Akayev confirmed his testimony at one of the trials standing behind the screen. After that the barrister of the accused Suleiman Azuyev threatened the witness stating that he and his relatives are well-known to the defendants. Despite multiple applications to the court the Investigation Committee of the Public Prosecutor’s Office failed to provide steadfast protection to the witness. The witness missed several sessions of the court and later there emerged information that he left for Uzbekistan together with his family.

On anti-ecological policies of Russia’s authorities

Resolution of the 15th congress of the YABLOKO party No 253, December 24, 2009

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO regards the supreme goal of a democratic state as ensuring of flourishing of the country, the well-fare and the highest living standards for the citizens. One of the most important functions of the government is ensuring of ecological safety of the citizens and protection of nature as a national resource which is regarded as a public asset.
The political and economic system of modern Russia, its supreme political and economic administration grossly violates the principles of ecological policies determined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation: the rights of the citizens to a friendly environment, reliable information on its condition, recovering of the damage incurred in ecological violations, rational use and protection of natural resources and careful attitude to the natural riches that should be regarded as a foundation for life and performance of the citizens.
1. The policies of Boris Yeltsin – Vladimir Putin – Dmitry Medvedev created a system of underdeveloped periphery capitalism in Russia almost entirely basing on the maintenance and development of environmentally unfriendly productions left from the Soviet times. Neither the government nor business merging with the authorities pay any serious attention to the safe environment, as it is connected with reduction of their super profits. Consequently, Russia logically and inevitably has found itself on the periphery of rapidly developing innovative world.

Initiators of the referendum on Okhta-Centre to appeal St.Petersburg parliament’s ban on the referendum in court

Press release, December 24, 2009

Initiators of a referendum on Okhta-Centre to appeal St.Petersburg parliament’s ban on the referendum in court. This announcement was made by Chair of St.Petersburg YABLOKO and one of organisers of the referendum Maxim Reznik at the Ekho Moskvi radio station.

“This time the Legislative Assembly of St.Petersburg demonstrated absolute absence of any respect to the city dwellers saying that the legislators can not give a definition what a historical outlook of St.Petersburg is. But I am certain that shall find counter-measures against another slap on the face as regards the citizens,” Reznik said.

On the situation in the Northern Caucasus

Resolution of the 15th congress of the YABLOKO party No 252, December 24, 2009

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO once again expresses its deep concern on the political and economic situation in the Northern Caucasus.

Despite victorious reports on stabilisation of the situation in the Northern Caucasus the policies of the Russian authorities completely failed. Escalation of armed conflicts has been going on, clan-authoritarian developments and corruption has continued to grow in this region.

Mass-scale violations of human rights by the interior and law-enforcement agencies do not cease, Russian laws are not observed and high level of unemployment and economic retardness has been still preserved. Kidnapping and murders, first of all of human rights activists, in the Northern Caucasus have already become a norm. Farid Babayev, Natalya Estemirova, the spouses Sadulayev, Magomed Yevloyev and other renown human rights activists and descendants were murdered in the recent years.

We are greatly concerned that the killers and those who ordered these loud political murders have not been found yet, or, like in the case with Magomed Yevloyev, they manage to avoid just punishment.

Despite a moratorium on capital punishment, extrajudicial executions have been implemented in Russia, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachayevo-Cherkessia.

Deputy head of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO Eugeni Bunimovich becomes Ombudsman for Children in Moscow

Press release, December 21, 2009

Deputy head of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO Eugeni Bunimovich was appointed Ombudsman for Children in Moscow. The corresponding order was signed by Moscow Ombudsman Alexander Muzikansky.

“I find this post very important, as I as well as any other person realise what should be done here,” Bunimovich told to the Interfax news agency.

Bunimovich also noted that the post of Moscow Ombudsman for Children’s Rights is quite independent in the administration of the Moscow Ombudsman. Speaking about his plans Bunimovich told that “he is not the Plenary Meeting of the Communist Party of the USSR to make definite plans”, he “will first examine what problems and complaints people have and only after that will make plans.”

However, Bunimovich noted that he would pay special attention to children’s risk groups – orphans, neglected children and other, as well as legal education in the field of human rights for children and grown-ups. “Grown-ups often do not understand what is a violation of child’s rights or, for example, humiliation”, he noted.

YABLOKO’s Congress proposes an alternative

Press release, December 21, 2009

The second session of the 15th Congress of the YABLOKO party took place on December 19-20, 2009.

YABLOKO’s Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin opened the Congress with a report on organisational tasks of the party. He called the Congress to concentrate on the tasks of the coming elections to the State Duma focusing attention on the control over elections at all the stages. Also by-elections to the Bureau took place on the first Congress day.

Reports of the political leaders of the party were on the Congress agenda on the second day.

“The regional elections we had in October 2009 demonstrated that degradation of the Russian political system shifted to a new stage,” Mitrokhin said. According to Mitrokhin, the country has been returning to the initial point of late 1980s – early 1990s, the point of passive social dissatisfaction under the conditions of authoritative power.

“The democratic project is over, the society turned it down,” such was Mitrokhin’s conclusion. He called the delegates of the Congress to review the basic approaches which discredited democracy in the eyes of the majority and launch a broad-scale discussion in the society which should lead to formation of a new democratic project for Russia.

Grigory Yavlinsky, member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, made a detailed report on the political situation in the country and the tasks of the party.

According to Yavlinsky, “Russia’s political system has stopped being imitational as nobody believes in imitation any more.” “If the citizens of the country do not believe that they are choosing the authority, this means that both the President and the Government, and the Parliament put themselves in a very unstable position,” he said.

Propaganda of Stalinism should be prohibited

Press release, December 21, 2009

“Propaganda of Stalinism should be prohibited,” such a statement was made by YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin in view of celebration of Joseph Stalin’s birthday conducted by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and a number of other political organisations.

“Today’s celebration [of the 130th anniversary] of the executioner of the Russian people and other nations of the former USSR represents a fest on the blood of the murdered and those tortured to death, a witless joy about the national catastrophe of 1920-1930s,” Mitrokhin said.

Mitrokhin expressed his certainly that “Stalin was responsible for the death of the best people of the Russian nation.” “The CPRF and other political organisations that are making this blasphemous celebration are demonstrating the hypocrisy of their statements in favour of protection of the rights of the working people, as their idol Stalin eliminated millions of working people,” Mitrokhin stressed.

Mitrokhin also proposed to immediately ban propaganda of Nazism and Stalinism.

YABLOKO’s Congress to open on December 20

Press release, December 18, 2009

The official opening of the Congress, political reports of the party leaders and a press briefing will take place on Sunday, December 20 (starting at 11:00 a.m.).

The Congress will take place in the Research and Methodology Centre in the Moskovskiy City, Leninsky District, Moscow Region.

Press release, December 18, 2009

On Monday, December 21, YABLOKO will participate in a round table discussion “The Problems of the Russian Science. Academic and Pedagogical Staff for Russia’s Innovations”.

Representatives of the Russian academic and expert communities, corresponding governmental agencies and departments and the Right Cause party will participate in the discussion. YABLOKO will be represented by Eugeni Bunimovich, Deputy Chair of the Moscow branch of the party and Chair of the Moscow Duma Education and Science Commission in 2005-2009, and Alexander Shishlov. Member of the YABLOKO Bureau, Chair of the State Duma Education and Science Committee in 2002-2003.

Public Prosecutor to investigate the case of young YABLOKO’s activist expelled from the university

Press release, December 17, 2009

Chairman of the YABLOKO party Sergei Mitrokhin demanded that Anton Zhebrun, young YABLOKO activist expelled from the Omsk University, should be allowed to resume his studies in the university. Such a claim was sent by Sergei Mitrokhin to Public Prosecutor of the Omsk Region and the head of the Education Control Agency.

YABLOKO connects expelling of the student with his public activities, as he is one of the leaders of the Omsk Youth YABLOKO.

YABLOKO begins election marathon in Khabarovsk

Press release, December 16, 2009

The Khabarovsk branch of YABLOKO nominated three candidates to run in the election campaign for the regional Legislative Assembly. Yesterday the conference of the regional YABLOKO branch elected three candidates to run in single-mandate electoral districts in Khabarovsk and Amursk.

The first hearing at the Kuntsevsky District Court, Moscow, on election fraud

Press Release, December 15, 2009

Today, on December 15, the Kuntsevsky District Court, Moscow, conducted the first hearing on the case on abrogation of the results of the elections and recount of the votes at electoral district No 2488, where United Russia obtained 303 votes by means of fraud. The only witness – deputy head of the electoral commission – told that he found valid ballots in the pack of invalidated ballots.

This is already the third court out of ten Moscow courts, where YABLOKO tries to cancel the results of the elections of October 11 due to considerable discrepancies between the observers’ protocols and the official data.

YABLOKO to suit United Russia in Kuntsevsky District Court

Press Release, December 14, 2009

Tomorrow on December 15 at 11.00 a.m. Kuntsevsky District Court, Moscow, will hear the case on abrogation of the results of the elections and recount of the votes at electoral district No 2488, where United Russia obtained 303 votes by means of fraud.

The YABLOKO party bases its suit on the discrepancies between the observers’ protocols and the official data...

The address of the Kuntsevsky District Court: Molodyozhnaya metro station, Yartsevskaya ul., 12. Judge E.Yu.Mareyeva, hall No 419.

YABLOKO participated in a rally under the slogan “United Russia Must Leave!”

Press Release, December 13, 2009

A coalition of parties and movements in the Kaliningrad region expressed their dissatisfaction with the work of the Governor of the Kaliningrad Region.

The Constitution Day of December 12 was marked by a rally which gathered 5,000 people. The participants of the rally expressed their negative attitude to the policies of the ruling party and the leaders of the region and of the Russian Federation.

The trigger for public dissatisfaction was raising of the transport tax adopted by the regional parliament. It was an unprecented mass-scale action in the centre of Kaliningrad. All the parties and movements in of the region – the CPRF, Just Russia, the LDPR, YABLOKO, Solidarity, Patriots of Russia, Spravedlivost (Justice) and other – joined in the rally against the progovernmental United Russia party.

Grigory Yavlinsky met with the students of the Evening Party University

Press Release, December 11, 2009

On December 9, 2009, the Evening University of the YABLOKO party organised a meeting for its students with Dr. Grigory Yavlinsky, the founder of the party and member of the Political Committee.

Answering the questions of YABLOKO’s members and advocates on the present economic, political and social situation in Russia, elections, Russia’s relations with other countries, etc. Grigory Yavlinsky noted that a qualitatively new situation developed in Russia after the elections of October 11. “No one believes words about democracy in the country any more after such elections.” Yavlinsky also noted that the policies of the Russian authorities were unsuccessful. “The authorities should realise that they do not have the strength to modernise Russia, this means that the opposition and other citizens get a chance,” Yavlinsky said.

Court rules out that a thousand of additional votes stuffed in for progovernmental United Russia is not a satisfactory motive for recount of the votes

Press Release, December 9, 2009

On December 8, 2009, the Perovo District Court of Moscow declined YABLOKO’s suit on annulment of the results of the voting at two polling stations in the Veshnyaki area where 1.002 votes had been simply added to the progovernmental United Russia party. At the previous hearings the key witness of YABLOKO – a member of the electoral commission with a casting vote – made a statement that her signature in the official protocol had been faked. Signatures of several other members of the district electoral commission had been either missing or faked...

YABLOKO asked the court to satisfy its claim as the Moscow and the local commissions failed to determine the will of the electorate. However, the judge turned down YABLOKO’s claim. YABLOKO is going to appeal this decision in a superior court.

This has become already the second decision when Moscow local courts were turning down YABLOKO’s suits. On December 3, 2009, the Golovinsky District Court refused to satisfy YABLOKO’s claims in connection with two districts in the Levoberezhny area where United Russia was simply added votes taken from other parties. The next trial will take place in the Kuntsevsky District Court.

YABLOKO has filed claims on 14 polling stations in 10 Moscow districts (see the schedule of trials).

In support of YABLOKO’s activist Anton Zhebrun

Press Release, December 9, 2009

On December 9, 2009, the Kirov regional branch of YABLOKO, released a statement (signed by Tatyana Naumovich, Chair of YABLOKO’s Kirov branch) in support of YABLOKO’s activist Anton Zhebrun.

The Kirov party branch expresses its indignation on the fact of expelling Anton Zhebrun, activist of the Youth YABLOKO, from the Omsk State University under a faked pretext and considers such actions of Vladimir Strunin, the University rector, against YABLOKO’s member a political persecution.

This is a sad fact. It took place in the university; whereas the very word “university” is associated with academic freedom and the freedom of speech – freedom to ask, freedom to find truth on any phenomena and views, regardless of the fact whether such points of view hurt any officials or not. The notion of academic freedom is incompatible with the making political views a pretext for expelling from the university.

YABLOKO to conduct a manifestation on the Constitution Day

Press Release, December 9, 2009

Manifestation under the slogan “Let Us Together Protect Our Rights” will take place in Ekaterinburg on the Constitution Day, December 12. The action will be organised by the YABLOKO party with support of public and human rights organisations.

Public figures, deputies of the legislative assemblies, human rights activists, writers, artists and musicians will participate in the manifestation. They will hold placards with quotation out of the Constitution.

“We participate all preserving their civil dignity and would like their civil rights to be respected to join us on December 12! Everyone can join us with his or her slogan. This will be a manifestation of those who really love their city and their Motherland,” said Maxim Petlin, the leader of the Sverdlovsk YABLOKO branch.

YABLOKO’s leader participated in the international conference in Cairo devoted to global democracy

Press Release, December 8, 2009

On December 7, 2009, YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin opened international conference Conceptualising Global Democracy conducted within the framework of Building Global Democracy Programme.

Scholars, politicians and officials from over 60 countries of all the regions of the world participating in the conference will discuss the prospects of democracy in a changing more global world. The honour to open a discussion was granted to YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin who was a discussant of the report Re-conceptualize Global Democracy from the Perspective of Chinese Culture made by Chinese scholars.

Sergei Mitrokhin marked a similarity of Russia’s and China’s problems. “In my opinion the authors are overestimating the national specifics and underestimate common democratic values. We can observe the same thing in Russia at present. The idea of a “sovereign democracy” has been actively promoted by the Russian authorities. It implies abolishing of democratic norms and values (that we have being observing) under the pretext of “Russia’s national specifics” or a “specific Russian way towards democracy”. “In our country this approach serves so that to justify multiple violations of basic democratic rules and procedures, election fraud, total dependency of the judicial authority on the executive authority, negligence of the parliament and reduction of its powers and uncontrolled powerful bureaucracy,” Mitrokhin said.

Environmentally unfriendly bulbs versus nuclear power stations?

Acad.Alexei Yablokov’s blog at the Echo Moskvi web-site

December 7, 2009

I was wondering why our government suddenly made a complete ban on incandescent electric bulbs its prime concern (Law of the RF No 261-FZ “On Energy Saving and Raising of Energy Efficiency and on Introduction of Changes into Some Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” of November 23, 2009).

And recently I have heard the news that Europe has been closing production of incandescent electric lamps of the first generation (luminescent, with mercury) – the very lamps that have to replace our incandescent electric bulbs. And these environmentally unfriendly productions are offered cheaply to those who would be eager to buy them. Let us make a simple calculation...

YABLOKO’s Political Committee: Russian state acts like an irresponsible business corporation conducting anti-environmental policies

Press Release, December 5, 2009

On December 5, 2009, YABLOKO’s Political Committee discussed the ecological policy of the government. The key report was made by Academician Alexei Yablokov, leader of the Green Russia faction. After a discussion the Committee adopted resolution “On the Anti-Environmental Policies of the Russian Authorities”.

On opening of the meeting the Political Committee commemorated the victims of the Nevsky Express railroad crash and the victims of the Perm nightclub fire by a one-minute silence.

Alexei Yablokov reported on a bad environmental situation in Russia dwelling on the most acute ecological problems and offered ways of their solution. According to the World Health Organisation, 493,000 people die annually in Russia because of ecological problems. Thus, life expectancy for men is only 59 years, which is 15 – 18 years less than in the USA and Japan. And it is even 3 – 4 years lower in the zones of environmental pollution (about 14% of the territory of the country).

YABLOKO’s Political Committee expresses condolences to the Perm night club fire victims

Press Release, December 5, 2009

YABLOKO’s Political Committee expresses condolences to the relatives and next-of-kin of the Perm night club fire victims.

Members of YABLOKO’s Political Committee commemorated the victims by a one-minute silence at the opening of the meeting.

YABLOKO wishes rapid recovery to all the survivors.

Chairs of local electoral commissions speak in favour of cancellation of the results of the elections in the Veshnyaki area, Moscow

Press Release, December 2, 2009

Yesterday on December 1, the Perovo district court conducted the second hearing on YABLOKO’s suit for cancellation of the results of the voting at two electoral districts in the Veshnyaki area, Moscow. According to official data United Russia obtained there by 1,002 votes more than indicated in the protocols given to the observers. The court heard the evidence of the chairs of these electoral commissions and rejected several motions by YABLOKO’s lawyers.

At the first hearings of the case Chair of the Territorial Electoral Commission Vera Stepanova presented to the court her version of the developments. She stated that the protocols given to the observers can not serve written evidence, as the said observers “created psychologically unbearable atmosphere” at the polling station on the election day - October 11, 2009, which “caused a great number of errors on behalf of the chairs and secretaries of the commission”.

Member of St.Petersburg YABLOKO branch Ekaterina Kolesova gets Artyom Borovik prize

Press Release, December 1, 2009

Member of St.Petersburg YABLOKO organisation Ekaterina Kolesova was awarded Artyom Borovik prize. This prize is awarded for achievements in the field of independent journalism and journalistic investigations.

Kolesova obtained her prize for the series of articles devoted to journalistic investigations in St.Petersburg’s Novaya Gazeta. “Everyone heard about the Major Yevsyukov case (Ed. the police officer who shot people in a large department store just because he allegedly “felt upset”, the head of the Moscow Police tried to protect Yevsyukov and was dismissed only after loud public discontent), we had had such case as early as in 2001: a policeman shot students”, Kolesova says.

Sergei Mitrokhin: “The democratic project of the country’s development is closed”

Press Release, November 30, 2009

On Saturday, November 29, 2009, a meeting of YABLOKO’s Bureau took place in Moscow. The Bureau adopted decisions on working over persuading the government not to abolish indexation of unemployment benefits, return gratuitous public transport tickets for pensioners of the Moscow Region and creation of nature reserve Utrish. The Bureau also heard the reports of the Human Rights and the Gender factions of the party.

The meeting was opened by party Chair Sergei Mitrokhin who made a report on the political situation in Russia. “It has become clear after voting on October 11 that elections as a legitimate institution that could be trusted by the society is completely ruined in Russia. This means that the democratic project of the country’s development initiated in the late 1980s has been completely closed now – and not only by the ruling elite, but by the society as well,” Mitrokhin said. According to Mitrokhin, the forthcoming YABLOKO’s congress (that will take place in December 2009) has to formulate the basis of a new democratic project for Russia.

Igor Artemyev’s birthday

November 27, 2009

Dear Igor Yurievich, our dear colleague,

Please receive our hearty congratulations on your birthday. With wishes of health, success and luck,

Your colleagues in the YABLOKO party

Lecture of the Evening Party University “The History of the Party: Changes in the By-Laws and Governing Bodies. The Structure and Political Goals”

Press Release, November 26, 2009

On November 25, 2009, another lecture of the Evening Party University took place. Boris Misnik, Coordinator and member of the Political Committee of the YABLOKO party, deputy of the State Duma of the second convocation and member of YABLOKO since its formation, delivered a lecture on the history of the party, changes in its by-laws and governing bodies. The audience were members and advocates of YABLOKO...

The Evening Party University will maintain its work: on December 9 a meeting with Professor of the Higher School of Economics, member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee and Chair of the party in 1993-2008 Dr. Grigory Yavlinsky will take place.

A trial on the fraud at the electoral districts where over 1,000 votes were stuffed for the United Russia party began

Press Release, November 26, 2009

On November 24, 2009, the Perovo District Court of Moscow examined the claim submitted by the YABLOKO party on abrogation of the results of elections to the deputies of the Moscow City Duma at electoral districts No 887 and 888. According to the official results, the progovernmental United Russia party obtained 1,002 votes more at these districts than it was indicated in the signed copies of the protocols given to the observers at these polling stations.

The territorial electoral commission Veshnyaki submitted to the court its opinion on YABLOKO’s suit. In particular V.Stepanova, the Chair of the said territorial commission, stated that the protocols given to the observers can not serve written evidence, as they had been filed with violation of the rules (the date and time of signing were missing).

However, YABLOKO’s lawyers noted that the liability for violation of the rules of filing protocols lies on the official who signs the protocol...

Three members of the YABLOKO party are elected co-chairmen of the human rights organisation

Press Release, November 25, 2009

Alexander Goncharenko, Valery Borschyov and Andrei Babushkin became co-chairs of the new human rights organisation – the Association of Independent Observers. The foundation conference of the human right organisation which elected five chairpersons took place in Kirov.

Thus, the heads of the Association will be Ludmila Alexeyeva, Chair of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Lev Ponomaryov, head of the For the Human Rights movement and three YABLOKO’s activists – Vlary Borschyov, member of the party Bureau, Andrei Babushkin, Deputy Chair of he Moscow YABLOKO and Alexander Gontcharenko, Chairman of the Altai YABLOKO branch.

United Russia determined its ideology

By Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of YABLOKO’s Political Committee
kommentarii.ru, November 25, 2009

The congress of the United Russia party resembles the congresses of the communist party of the Soviet Union of the Brezhnev’s stagnation period, the present United Russia congress lacked only young pioneers saluting their elder comrades and the statue of the Lenin. The key thing which is common between the two congresses is their absurdity, an obvious discrepancy between the declared goals and the reality. The [proclaimed] “conservative modernisation” ideologeme is something like “dry water”...

Everything except proper elections took place on a single election day October 11, 2009

Press release, November 24, 2009

On November 18, 2009, the interior of the Moscow Region initiated a round table talk “The results of elections to local self-government and municipal entities of the Moscow Region and the role of political parties and public organisations in the formation of civil society and counteraction to political extremism”.

Representatives of all political parties and a number of public organisations participated in the round table. The YABLOKO party was represented by Deputy Chair of the Moscow Region branch of the party Alexander Gunko.

Almost all the participants of the round table marked a high level of security provision at the past elections in the Moscow Region.

“All was organised well on October 11. The police ensured order. The only thing which was lacking was the elections,” Gunko said.

Nikolai Rybakov asks to conduct an audit how Governor of St.Petersburg Valentina Matviyenko could be elected to the Supreme Council of the United Russia party

Press release, November 24, 2009

Deputy Chairman of St.Petersburg YABLOKO branch Nikolai Rybakov applied to Public Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika and Minister of Justice Alexander Konovalov in connection with election of Governor of St.Petersburg Valentina Matviyenko to the Supreme Council of the United Russia party.

According to Rybakov, Valentina Matviyenko joined United Russia only on November 20, 2009, and could not be elected to the Supreme Council of this party, as in accordance with item 7.3.2 of the By-laws of this party, Council members should have party record of at least one year to be elected into the Council...

United Russia congress took place in St.Petersburg in the past weekend. The congress elected St.Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko (who had joined United Russia a day before the congress) to the Supreme Council of this party.

The leader of YABLOKO’s Gender faction made a speech at UNESCO conference

Press release, November 23, 2009

The leader of YABLOKO’s Gender faction Galina Mikhalyova who has recently become the so-called “key partner of UNESCO Bureau in Moscow, made a speech at UNESCO conference devoted to bilateral sectoral priorities and guidelines of UNESCO programme for Russia and the CIS countries for 2010-2011.

Galina Mikhalyova stressed in her speech that “Gender problems – the overpenetrating topic of the forthcoming period – should be present in all the programmes. It is very important for the Russian conditions, as can somewhat compensate for this distinct trend towards strengthening of the androcentric trends, discrimination of Russian women virtually in all the spheres of life, which is to a disadvantage of our country as compared to its CIS neighbours”.

Meeting of the Council for Consolidation of Women’s Movement in YABLOKO

Press release, November 20, 2009

A meeting of the Council for Consolidation of Women’s Movement joining together a number of important interregional and nation-wide women’s organisations took place on November 19, 2009.

The meeting discussed the events to be conducted in the short term, where the Council and most of its members will take part.

The most important events are as follows:

- Round table discussion in the Public Chamber devoted to the 30th anniversary of the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (November 25);
- Conference of the Orthodox Women “Women’s Mission in the Spiritual and Moral Development of the Fatherland” with participation of the Patriarch of Russia (December 3-4, Moscow)...

European Liberals' congress adopts urgent resolutions on Russia’s elections on October 11

Press release, November 20, 2009

Today the congress of the European Liberal Democrat and Reformers Party (ELDR) joining together European liberal parties has unanimously and without objections adopted an urgent resolution on Russia’s elections submitted by YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin.

The ELDR congress is taking place in Barcelona, Catalonia, on November 19-20. Over 600 delegates from all the European countries participate in the Congress. The YABLOKO party which has been ELDR member since 2006 is represented by Sergei Mitrokhin.

The resolution states that the elections that took place in Russia on October 11, 2009, “demonstrated an unprecedented scope of falsification of results of the voting and violations of the law confirmed by observers from all the political parties, except the ruling party, and mass media”.

ELDR Congress 2009
19th-20th November, Barcelona, Catalonia

URGENCY RESOLUTION submitted by YABLOKO

The ELDR congress convening in Barcelona on November 19-20, 2009,

Observes that:
- The elections that took place in Russia on October 11, 2009, demonstrated an unprecedented scope of falsification of results of the voting and violations of the law confirmed by observers from all the political parties, except the ruling party, and mass media.

States that:
- ELDR will closely observe the development of the situation with lawsuits and complaints on election fraud.

Calls on:
The Russian authorities to:
- conduct a full inspection of candidates and parties’ complaints, and the evidence of election fraud published by the media, and take urgent remedy measures up to declaring the elections void;
- observe democratic standards and Russia’s obligations under its membership in the OSCE and in the Council of Europe on ensuring free and fair elections;
- ensure free and equal conditions for all political parties and candidates and maximum public control over elections and voting.

READ MORE

YABLOKO forwarded the first ten claims in connection with election fraud to courts

Press release, November 18, 2009

Moscow district courts file the first ten lawsuits in connection with YABLOKO’s claims that results of the voting at the Moscow City Duma election should be cancelled at 14 election districts.

If YABLOKO wins the cases, the courts will oblige the territorial electoral commissions to recount the votes.

YABLOKO’s claims base on discrepancies between the copies of the protocols of votings obtained by the observers and the official results of the voting.

The Moscow YABLOKO web-site has published data indicating which court will examine the exact type of falsification registered at a definite polling station.

Youth YABLOKO pickets Public Prosecutor General's office demanding to release YABLOKO’s activist

Press release, November 18, 2009

Youth YABLOKO is now picketing Public Prosecutor General's office in Moscow (at the address Bolshaya Dmitrovka, 15a) demanding to release 26 year-old Vladimir Volkov, activist of the Penza branch of the party, detained for 48 hours on suspicion of an arson of United Russia’s office in Penza.

Youth YABLOKO activists hold a placard “Free activist of the Penza branch of YABLOKO Vladimir Volkov”. The police have been checking the activists’ documents, however, have not obstructed the picket yet.

International Federation of Liberal Youth condemned elections fraud in Russia

Special for YABLOKO’s web-site by Ksenia Vakhrusheva, November 17, 2009

Alexander Gudimov, President of the St.Petersburg branch of the Youth YABLOKO and Ksenia Vakhrusheva, International Officer of the St.Petersburg branch of the Youth YABLOKO, took part in the annual General Assembly of the International Federation of Liberal Youth, held on 12-15 November in the Hague, the Netherlands. The GA joined together over130 young liberals from 35 countries, who are ready to stand for liberal values in there home countries and in the world, who shared their experience
The key points of the agenda were elections of the new executive board, voting for amendments to the Manifesto and resolutions... On the initiative of Youth Yabloko the General Assembly developed and adopted a resolution on condemning elections fraud in Russia. The resolution was approved by a majority.

YABLOKO’s activist detained for 48 hours on suspicion of arson of the United Russia office in Penza

Press release, November 17, 2009

Activist of the Youth YABLOKO Vladimir Volkov was detained for 48 hours of arson of the United Russia office in Penza. Earlier his flat had been searched.

Today on November 17, 2009, at 9.00 a.m. several persons who told that they were interior officers came to Volkov’s flat where he lives with his parents. They asked Volkov to come with them, explaining that his lawyer could come to the interior department where they all would “talk”.

However, until 2 p.m. neither his parents, nor the lawyer, nor even investigator Ye.Pluzhnikova had no information where Volkov was.

The Investigation Committee under Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the election fraud of 2007

Press release, November 16, 2009

Today YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin forwarded his statement of claim to the Investigation Committee under Public Prosecutor’s Office on the crime in connection with election fraud in 2007.

YABLOKO party has recently received 56 bulletins each labeled by a special sign (a mark) and stamped by electoral commission 128 of Tagansky District, Moscow.

“Probably these bulletins were prepared for stuffing into ballot boxes,” runs the statement.

It should be also noted that the indicated electoral district demonstrated in 2007 an abnormally high voter turn out and abnormally high percentage of votes cast for the progovernmental United Russia party.

Sergei Mitrokhin and the camera crew of the RenTV channel detained while trying to get to the Kurkino VIP village

Press release, November 16, 2009

Sergei Mitrokhin and the camera crew of the RenTV channel have been detained by the security of the Kurkino VIP village by the Valley of the Skhodnya River natural reserve. The security have detained the politician and the journalists and have called the police.

Sergei Mitorkhin and the camera crew of the RenTV channel went to the Valley of the Skhodnya River natural reserve (where an unknown VIP village was built on the permission of the ex-head of the North-Western District of Moscow Viktor Kozlov) so that to study the situation with returning of the plot unlawfully granted to General Major of the interior Anatoli Petukhov. On November 5, 2009, the Moscow City Court confirmed the decision of the Tushino District Court on abuse of authority by Kozlov. This motion envisages retrieval of this plot amounting to 3,688 sq m, also court rulings on other plots of the natural reserve unlawfully given for construction of cottages have to appear shortly.

On political persecution of human rights organisations in Moscow

Statement of the YABLOKO party, November 13, 2009

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses its concern in view of refusal of the Moscow authorities to prolong contracts on the office premises rent with the Moscow Helsinki Group and For the Human Rights Movement.

A strange coincidence of adopting such decisions on the two most renowned human rights organisations that rent offices in different places of the city is indicative of political motivation of the city heads.

Thus, a new technology has been used against civil society. Human rights organisations are simply ousted out of the offices in the streets under invented pretexts.

YABLOKO assesses President’s Address to the Federal Assembly as controversial

Press release, November 12, 2009

The YABLOKO party shares President’s call to modernization on the basis of democratic values, however, YABLOKO does not see any signs of the real change of the political course towards the indicated goals. Such a statement was made by YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin.
“We welcome the President’s statement that Russia’s modernization should be carried out on the basis of democratic values and free development of individuals. At the same time, the Address does not show a link between modernization and democracy,” Mitrokhin said.
Mitrokhin also added that absence of a tough assessment of falsifications at the regional elections on October 11 demonstrated this too well.
According to YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin, “voting and fraud of elections of October 11 should become one of the key topics of Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly.”

YABLOKO: The key topic of Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly should be election fraud

Press release, November 12, 2009

According to YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin, “voting and fraud of elections of October 11 should become one of the key topics of Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly.”

“Obvious falsification of the results of the voting on October 11 showed to the Russian society and the entire world that the institute of democratic elections has been virtually demolished in the country,” Mitrokhin added.

Mitrokhin thinks that “in such a situation the President should propose the measures targeted at ensuring of honest elections.”

YABLOKO’s leader also thinks that the President should immediately introduce into the State Duma amendments containing the following provisions...

On provocation of the United Russia against YABLOKO’s activists

Statement of the YABLOKO party, November 10, 2009

The YABLOKO party expresses its categorical protest in connection with provocations and acts of pressure and mobbing of the party branches in a number of regions.

On November 8, 2009, there was a fire in the regional branch of the United Russia party. According to preliminary information of the interior, unknown persons threw flame fluid in the window.

There events became a motive to political mobbing of activists from oppositional parties and movements by the United Russia at participation of the interior.

At night on the 8th of October unlawful searches in the homes of YABLOKO members and allies took place. Seven activists were victims of lawlessness. Notebooks, party and publicistic materials, other things having no relation to the arson were confiscated.

The YABLOKO party considers statements of the United Russia leaders and actions of the interior, as well as their accusations in the address of opposition parties in extremism as persecution of the dissenting and intimidation of politically active citizens.

The Moscow City Court ruled that granting a plot of land to the police top official in the nature reserve park was unlawful

Press release, November 10, 2009

On November 5, 2009, the Moscow City Court left in force the decision of the Tushino District Court regarding abuse of rank by the dismissed head of the North-Western Administrative District of Moscow Viktor Kozlov, who unlawfully granted 3,688 sq.m of land in the natural preservation zone of the Valley of the Skhodnya River Park for lease to the ex-top officer of the interior General Major Anatoly Petukhov.

According to the ruling of the court, the plot of land granted on unlawful basis Petukhov has to be retrieved. The decision is final and binding.

YABLOKO asks the President to preserve the Sport television channel

Press release, November 9, 2009

Two members of the Youth Chamber at the Moscow City Duma – deputy head of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO Ivan Bolshakov and member of the Regional Council Alexander Gnezdilov – forwarded to President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev an address with a request to interfere into the situation around closing of the Sport television channel.

The All-Russia Sate Television and Radio Corporation (VGTRK) adopted a decision to close the nation-wide Sport Channel from January 2010 replacing it by a national TV channel Russiya-2.

Information Services at the Ren-TV and the Fifth television channels should be maintained

Statement of the YABLOKO party, October 23, 2009

The YABLOKO party expresses its concern with the information on liquidation of professional news services of the Ren-TV and the Fifth television channels. We consider maintenance of such services extremely important for the Russian society.

The prospects of liquidation of such services and their subordination to one of the state propaganda factories cause much concern especially in the situation of grave mass-scale election fraud on October 11. The Russian citizens were first deprived of elections and then there were announced plans to deprive them of the television news that could tell the truth about this and other events.

We assess such plans as an attempt to finally oust freedom of speech from the Russian television and introduce total censorship there.

Any references to business motives in elimination of the last independent television news services resemble the argumentation of the “dispute of the economic entities” covering the mopping up of the [independent] NTV channel in 2001.

The Sixth Anti-Hatred March took place in St.Petersburg

Press release, November 2, 2009

The Sixth Anti-Hatred March in memory of Nikolai Giryenko took place in St.Petersburg
on October 31, 2009.

Representatives from the YABLOKO and the Right Cause party, Solidarity and Oborona (Defence) movements, Soldiers’ Mothers (St.Petersburg branch), Memorial, the Social-Democratic Youth Union, St.Petersburg Council for Protection of Human Rights, activists of the Vikhod (the Way Out) organisation, anarchists and ordinary citizens concerned by the growth of xenophobia in the society participated in the march. The march joined together over 500 people.

Condolences on the death of Vladimir Baburin, Editor-in-Chief of the Svobodanews radio (Radio Liberty)

November 2, 2009

Please receive our deep condolences on the death of Vladimir Baburin. He was a real journalist, honest, professional and very decent person. This is a great loss for our journalism and a grievous loss for all who knew and loved him. We are mourning together with his family, friends and colleagues.

Liberal International accused the Russian authorities in election fraud on October 11, 2009

Press release, November 1, 2009

The 56th congress of the Liberal International, international organisation of liberals and liberal parties, finished its work yesterday night.

The congress adopted basic resolution World Today reflecting liberal assessment of situation in different countries and regions of the world.
Assessing the situation in Russia the congress noted that “the legislation which has extended the term of the Russian Presidency from four to six years, going against the basic democratic rule of governmental change and leading to the growth of bureaucratic supremacy and corruption in Russia”.

On the initiative of Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO’s delegate at the congress, the resolution also expressed concern about the ongoing trend towards abolishing of honest and fair elections, as well as curbing of human rights in Russia”.

Hamburgs’ parliament heard report on St.Petersburg elections to local self-government bodies

Press release, October 30, 2009

On October 27, 2009, Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of the Political Committee of the YABLOKO party made a report on the St.Petersburg elections to local self-government bodies that took place on March 1, 2009, in the regional parliament of Hamburg. The hearings were initiated by the “Alternative List – the Green” faction. The faction together with Christian Democrats forms the ruling coalition in Hamburg’s parliament.

St.Petersburg is a sister-city for St.Petersburg. Both the cities are closely tied via different economic, social and cultural projects. That is why Hamburg’s parliament expressed its concern over the political situation in St.Petersburg.

On urgent ratification of Protocol 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights

Statement by the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO, October 28, 2009

Possible return of the death penalty to Russia’s law enforcement practices is the urgent issue of Russia’s political agenda today.

On April 16, 1997, Russia, within the framework of its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights signed and ratified in 1996, signed Protocol 6 envisaging abolishment of the death penalty in time of peace. Up to now the Protocol has not been ratified by the State Duma (Ed. Russian parliament). Also on February 2, 1999, the Constitutional Court ruled out that the death penalty can not be imposed by [Russia’s] courts until jury courts in which competence lays the imposing of capital punishment are introduced in all the regions of the Russian Federation...

The Bureau of the YABLOKO party considers it necessary that the State Duma should urgently ratify Protocol 6 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the abolition of the death penalty.

Moscow pays tribute to the victims of political reprisals

Press release, October 29, 2009

Today on October 29, 2009, on the eve of the Victims of Political Reprisals Memory Day the action Returning of the Names has started in Moscow. Moscovites pay tribute to the victims of the Great Terror by the Solovetsky Stone at Lubyanka Square. The participants of the rally read out loud the lists of the killed with the names, professions and the execution date.

YABLOKO’s leaders deputy head of the Moscow YABLOKO Eugeni Bunimovich, members of Political Council Grigory Yavlinsky, Viktor Sheinis, Sergei Ivanenko and Boris Misnik, leader of the Green Russia faction and member of the Political Committee Alexei Yablokov, members of YABLOKO’s Bureau Valery Borschyov and Valery Goryachev, head of the gender faction Galina Mikhalyova, leaders of the Youth YABLOKO and party activists also participated in the action.

Congratulations to Russian human rights activists on winning the Sakharov Prize

From Chairman of the YABLOKO party
October 26, 2009

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO congratulates Ludmila Alexeyeva, Sergei Kovalyov and Oleg Orlov on receiving the Sakharov prize.

It is hard to find more deserving people for this prize. Your names, as well as the names Memorial and the Moscow Helsinki Group have already become symbols associated with fight for human rights, protection of human dignity, for the country respecting its citizens and respected by the citizens.

The YABLOKO party calls to stop criminal persecutions against human rights activist Oleg Orlov

Statement by the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO, October 27, 2009

The YABLOKO party calls to stop criminal persecutions against Oleg Orlov, head of the Memorial human rights centre, that was launched on the complaint of President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov. We presume that there are no grounds for opening of a criminal case against Oleg Orlov.

On the opposite, we assess some of the statements made by Ramzan Kadyrov as open pressure on the human rights organisation and a threat against its representatives: President of Chechnya called Memorial an organisation “created for disruption of Russia”, as well as stated that he did not consider Memorial’s staff being patriots of Russia and he even loathed talking to them.

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses its moral support to Oleg Orlov.

YABLOKO launches “Learn What Happened to Your Vote!” campaign

Press release, October 27, 2009

Today, on October 27, 2009, YABLOKO is launching “Learn What Happened to Your Vote!” campaign. The goal of the campaign is to gather information and analyse the results on every electoral district. These data will allow to annul the results of the election, recount the votes at all electoral districts and further demand that a new election be appointed.

YABLOKO calls all the Muscovites who did not vote for the progovernmental United Russia or took away and destroyed his bulletin or simply abstained from voting to notify YABLOKO by e-mail or by phone...

“Having gathered all this information and comparing it with the official data and the statistical analysis data, we shall be able to access the scope of the fraud and obtain evidence required for recognition of the election void,” runs YABLOKO’s address to the Muscovites published at the Moscow YABLOKO’s web-site.

YABLOKO demands recounting of the votes at all the electoral districts

Press release, October 23, 2009

16 votes cast for the YABLOKO party were detected during recounting of the votes at polling station No 192.

Boris Moiseyev, member of the Moscow Electoral Commission from the YABLOKO party said that all YABLOKO’s bulletins were found in the pile of bulletins cast for the communist party. Also thee bulletins cast for LDPR and one for the Patriots of Russia were also found in that pile. According to official data, these parties also did not get a single vote at the said polling station.

The Sixth Anti-Hatred March to take place in St.Petersburg

Press release, October 22, 2009

The Sixth Anti-Hatred March will take place in St.Petersburg on October 31. Its route lies from Sportivnaya metro station to the Sakharov Square.

Initially the March was planned as tribute to academic and human rights activist Nikolai Giryenko shot by right-wing nationalists on June 19, 2004. Gradually the Anti-Hatred March has been turning into the solidarity day for all people resisting social order based on fear and hatred. Inequality of the rights and discrimination as of social, cultural, national, ethnic, race, religious, gender factors or sexual orientation should be eliminated as contradicting the interests of building a welfare state in the multicultural, multinational and multiconfessional Russia.

Court rules out that the results of the voting at the Moscow City Duma election at polling station No 192 are void

Press release, October 22, 2009

The Khamovniki District Moscow Court annulled the decision of the electoral commission of polling station No 192 in Moscow on the results of the voting and obliged the Territorial Electoral Commission of the Khamovniki District to recalculate the votes.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin and his family cast their votes for the YABLOKO party at the said polling station, however, according to the protocol of the electoral commission not a single vote was given for the party at the polling station. Sergei Mitrokhin who participated in the trial earlier today, expressed his hope that “such decisions will be adopted regarding all the polling stations where discrepancies between the official protocols and the protocols handed to observes were found, as well as regarding those polling stations where final protocols were drawn with multiple violations”.

Address to President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev

Political Committee of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO October 9, 2009

Translation. Part 1.

Adopted by the Political Committee of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO. Resolution No 16 of September 26, 2009.

Respected Dmitry Anatolyevich,

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO at meeting of its Political Committee taking place on September 26, 2009, adopted a decision to respond to your invitation to a discussion and address you on the problems touched upon in your article “Forward, Russia!” Our view, as well as yours, can not claim being absolutely complete and inarguable, however, our long-term experience make us express our views in an explicit from, probably, partially reiterating what we have been stating earlier.

On non-recognition of the results of the elections of October 11, 2009, and the need to investigate cases of franchise violations

Statement of the Bureau of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO, October 19, 2009

Adopted by the party Bureau on October 17, 2009

An obvious fraud of the results of the voting on October 11, 2009, showed to the Russian society and the entire world that the institute of democratic elections was virtually demolished in Russia.

Instead of lawful elections the country saw that the law was defeated by a group of persons who used their administrative and political resource for illegitimate seizure of power.

Total administrative pressure and mass-scale fraud probed and developed during previous election cycles reached unprecedented scope. Violations in Moscow, the Moscow region, Astrakhan and Derbent were particularly mass-scale, open and cynical.

On Iran’s Nuclear Problem

Resolution by the Political Committee of the YABLOKO party. October 6, 2009

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses its deep concern in view of the new aggravation of the situation around Iran’s nuclear problem.
A secret construction of the second Iran’s uranium enrichment plant, which the world public has learned about, shows that Teheran continues its course towards challenging the UN, as well as regional and global security. New tests of ballistic missiles, including medium-range Shahab-3, have shifted the crisis into a dangerous phase...

Iran’s procession of nuclear weapons presents considerable threats for the national interests of Russia, the USA, the EU countries and the entire civilised world. Russia can not allow being turned into a target of nuclear blackmail from another neighbouring state...

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO thinks that it is high time for Russia to take a principled position, stop lulling itself about Iran’s intentions, as well as break Iran’s tactics of playing on discrepancies between the great superpowers and using Russia in its own interests contradicting to the international security goals...

Dissenting Opinion of members of the Moscow Electoral Commission from the YABLOKO and the CPRF parties

October 15, 2009

We are expressing our dissenting opinion with the results of the election to the Moscow City Duma in the Moscow electoral district. Multiple violations detected during voting and calculation of the votes make it impossible to assess the results of the election.

The following violations were detected during voting:
- multiple cases of groundless disqualification of members of electoral commissions and groundless exemption of observers representing oppositional parties from the polling stations;
- infringement of candidates’ rights, in particular, ousting them from the polling stations and not letting them to observe calculation of the votes;
- faking of voters’ signatures and unlawful distribution of bulletins;
- “throwing-in” of bulletins, voting by persons not included into the voters lists;
- refusal of electoral commissions to deal with complaints (for example, electoral commissions from polling stations No 40, 123, 127, 291, 487,762, 869, 1306, 1533, 1701, 1919, 1928, 2005);

YABLOKO refuses to recognize the results of the Moscow City Duma election

Press Release, October 14, 2009

Valery Goryachev, member of the Moscow Electoral Commission with a casting vote from the YABLOKO party, refused to recognize the results of the Moscow City Duma election. He and his colleague in the Moscow Electoral Commission Dmitry Yezhevsky (from the CPRF) have been preparing their dissenting opinion to the final protocol they must sign anyway in accordance with the law.

On October 14, the meeting of the Moscow Electoral Commission recognized the Sunday election to the Moscow City Duma and confirmed the results of the voting. Representative from the LDPR party Ivan Petrov refused to sign the final protocol, thus, loosing the right to his dissenting opinion.

According to Goryachev, such non-recognition of the election is conditioned by a “huge number of violations in drawing the results of the voting by the inferior commissions, first of all, by the local commissions at the polling stations.” Goryachev also added that YABLOKO’s observers reported considerable discrepancies between the prime protocols of the local commissions and the final protocol of the Moscow Electoral Commission.

Sergei Mitrokhin about the Moscow City Duma election in his blog

Press Release, October 14, 2009

Leader of the YABLOKO party Sergei Mitrokhin has summed up the results of the Moscow City Duma election in his blog at the Echo Moskvi radio station web-site.

“Proceeding from a number of direct and indirect data, we can say that YABLOKO obtained about 12% of the votes. Fraud bit almost two thirds of our votes,” Mitrokhin writes.

Answering the question “who is to blame for the fraud” YABLOKO’s leader singles out three groups: “the passive protesting majority allowing the authorities to persuade them that ‘everything has been already decided for us’”; propagandists of the elections boycott called ‘a media-Solidarity batch’ by Mitrokhin; and the authorities.

“Our ultra-radicals are even unable to understand that they are helping the authorities to avoid anything resembling an ‘orange revolution’”. As only those who participated in the election go into the streets to protesting against a deceit,” Mitrokhin says.

According to Mitrokhin, YABLOKO will take another way. “If 100% of the citizens come to the elections, they will inevitably sweep away the ballot-riggers either at the election or at the Red Square after the fraud”, runs the blog.

YABLOKO participated in the municipal elections in ten Russia’s regions

Press Release, October 13, 2009

October 11 was a single voting day in many Russian Federation subjects where regional and municipal elections took place. The YABLOKO party participated in the municipal elections in ten Russia’s regions showing very good results in some of the regions.

YABLOKO’s candidate V.Pshenichnikov won (30.37%) at the election of the Polevsky District Duma, Sverdlovsk region. Another party candidate A.Dulenkov came second in the election race to the Council of Deputies in Golitsino, the Moscow region, obtaining 30.36%.

YABLOKO also demonstrated good results at the elections in Ingushetia. About 30% (preliminary results) of the residents in the Bert-Yurt settlement and about 20% in the Ekazhevo settlement voted for the YABLOKO party list. The party was also a success at the municipal election in the Malgobek city.

Member of YABLOKO A.Ledebev came third with 25.78% of the votes at the election to the Council of Deputes of Vlasovskoye, the Leningrad region.

YABLOKO’s candidates came second after United Russia candidates at the elections of heads of rural settlements in Krivandinskoye and Misheronsky rural settlements, Shatura district, the Moscow region.

Briefing of the leaders of YABLOKO’s list on the preliminary results of the Moscow City Duma election

Press Release, October 11, 2009

A briefing of the leaders of YABLOKO’s list Sergei Mitrokhin and Eugeni Bunimovich on the preliminary results of the Moscow City Duma election took place in YABLOKO’s head-quarters in Moscow on October 11 at 10-30 p.m.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin stressed that in spite of all the difficulties he was satisfied how YABLOKO performed in the election campaign. However, he stressed that he was not going to make any guesses whether the party would get into the Moscow parliament.

“We absolutely don’t know whether we will be able to get in or not, as any elections in Russia represent an equation in two unknowns. One unknown is how the voters may voter, the other – how these votes will be counted. But I am satisfied with our campaign,” Mitrokhin told to Interfax.

He also noted that “elections to the Moscow City Duma are close to the election of a national level, therefore the campaign was very politicized.” “During this campaign we managed to clearly determine our friends and foes,” Mitorkhin said. He stressed that the parties that tried to oust YABLOKO “from the opposition area and become a pseudo-opposition” turned out to be YABLOKO’s foes. “These are Just Russia, part of the Right Course headed by Leonid Gozman, as well as some representatives from the Solidarity movement”.

Mitrokhin also stressed that part of the former Pensioners’ Party which joined YABLOKO creating a faction within the party and Russia’s small-scale business are definitely YABLOKO’s supporters. “This campaign marks our turning to large and potent layers of the society,” Mitrokhin said.

Violations at the Moscow City Duma elections

Press Release, October 12, 2009

The Moscow Duma elections saw multiple violations despite the reports of the Moscow Electoral Commission that “no grave violations” were registered during this election.

Thus, on the threashold of the election day, the Moscow Electoral Commission had suddenly “run out of absentee voting certificates”. This situation was observed in Otradnoye, Basmanniy, Beskudnikovo, Strogino, Northern Tushino.

On the election day, October 11, observers from the YABLOKO party were not allowed to implement their function. Thus, YABLOKO’s activist Semyon Burd was deported from voting station No 118 (Presnya) by force. The local electoral commission gave Burd its decision prohibiting him to observe the counting of votes. Such a decision was adopted in violation of the Election Code. In Meschansky district YABLOKO’s observers were deported from the voting station under a pretext that the stamps on their documents did not overlap Sergei Mitrokhin’s signature.

An hour before expiration of the time of voting (from 7 to 8 p.m.)YABLOKO received a storm of telephone calls from the worried voters. The voters coming to the voting stations between 7 and 8p.m. found out that “someone” had already voted on their behalf.

Also coaches full of “voters” (the so-called merry-go-round) were commuting from one electoral district to another. The same “passengers” of such coachers voted at several districts several times. Such coaches were observed at Begovaya, Mariyna Roscha, Northern Medvedkovo, Arbat, Presnya and some other districts...

March in protection of St.Petersburg gathered 3,000 people

Press Release, October 10, 2009

A march in protection of St.Petersburg has taken place today. Over 3,000 people gathered at the square by the Yubileniy sports complex. The square could not even contain all the participants of the rally.

Well-known St.Petersburg citizens spoke at the rally: Mikhail Amosov, one of the leaders fo the YABLOKO party, Alexei Devotshenko, actor, Lev Luryie, historian, Olga Kurnosova, head of the United Civil Front, Yury Mamin, film director, Alexander Kushner, poet, deputies of the Legislative Assemebly Vladimir Dmitriyev and Sergei Malkov (the CPRF), Oleg Nilov and Alexei Kovalyov (Just Russia), Alexander Margolis, co-chair of St.Petersburg VOOOPIK. Musicians Mikhail Borzikin and Mikhail Novitsky.

Collection of signatures under an appeal to the President of Russia was conducted during the rally. Earlier the appeal had been signed by renowned political and public figures. Several thousand signatures were collected in total. However, the collection of signatures will continue.

The key slogans of the march were “Let us preserve the heart of Petersburg”, “Stop Gazprom-City” and “We defended Leningrad during war and shall defend St.Petersburg”.

On the last day of allowed campaigning Muscovites could see YABLOKO’s photo report

Press Release, October 9, 2009

On the last day of allowed campaigning before the voting date, October 11, the YABLOKO party offered to the Muscovites its photo report on the work done by the faction in the Moscow City Duma. Double stands with photographs were put at Chistoprudniy boulevard in the centre of Moscow.

Leaders of YABLOKO’s election list Sergei Mitrokhin, Eugeni Bunimovich, Zoya Shargatova, Alexander Gnezdilov, Valery Borschyov, Andrei Babushkin, Shamil Amirov, Yulia Timakova, Roman Zhigulsky, Sergei Markov and Pavel Gerasimov came to this exhibition so that to answer questions of the electorate. In spite of a heavy rain Muscovites showed interest to the photo stands, talked to YABLOKO’s candidates and took YABLOKO’s leaflets so that to show them to their relatives, neighbours and friends.

Work of our office on the election day, October 11

Press Release, October 9, 2009

10 a.m. – YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin will vote at the electoral district No 191 (address: Khamovnichesky Val 6)

Whole day – Election headquarters collect information from electoral districts, as well as monitor possible violations. Party lawyers, candidates to deputies of the Moscow City Duma from YABLOKO to inspect electoral districts with alleged violations.

10 p.m. – briefing in YABLOKO’s office, leaders of YABOKO’s election list to report on preliminary results of the election.

Accreditation and information on the election day will be provided at the telephones indicated below:

YABLOKO to report on its performance in Moscow at a photo exhibition

Annoucement, October 8, 2009

A photo exhibition on performance of the YABLOKO faction in the Moscow City Duma for the past four years will take place at Chistoprudniy boulevard (by the Griboyedov monument) on October 9, at 2 p.m.

The exhibition will be opened until 8 p.m. All the time YABLOKO’s candidates to the Moscow City Duma will answer voters’ questions, gather Muscovites’ requests and tell them about YABLOKO’s work in Moscow.

The exhibition will be opened by the leaders of YABLOKO’s list – Sergei Mitrokhin and Eugeni Bunimovich.

Action in memory of Anna Politkovskaya took place in Murmansk

Press Release, October 8, 2009

On October 7, activists from the Murmansk branch of YABLOKO conducted a picket in protection of independent media and paying tribute to Anna Politkovskaya murdered three years ago. Representatives of Murmansk youth organisations joined YABLOKO in the picket.

However, it was very difficult to obtain a permission on the picket from the local authorities. Several times the police sent notifications that the action can not be allowed referring to the orders of the Mayor of the city and the local interior head. Finally the authorities had to yield to YABLOKO’s demands and gave the permission for the action.

Sverdlovsk Youth YABLOKO conducted an action in protection of the freedom of speech

Press Release, October 7, 2009

On October 7 Sverdlovsk Youth YABLOKO organisation conducted an action in protection of the freedom of speech. A picket under slogan “Silence! Or you’ll be killed?” was conducted by the regional Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Young YABLOKO’s activists informed the citizens of the situation with the freedom of speech in Russia illustrating it with a leaflet “Their words cost their lives” - a sad list of journalists murdered since 1993.

On the anniversary of the tragic death of Anna Politkvskaya the Youth YABLOKO and Ekaterinburg Memorial branch conducted a memory action paying tribute to Anna.

Rally in memory of Anna Politkovskaya took place in Moscow

Press Release, October 7, 2009

A rally in memory of Anna Politkovskaya, journalist of the oppositional Novaya Gazeta newspaper, gathered about 300 people in Moscow on October 7.

Dmitry Muratov, Editor-in Chief of Novaya Gazeta, told that Muscovites brought many flowers, books, messages to Anna’s tomb. He also paid tribute to the memory of journalists and human rights activists murdered in the past years, as well as those suffering persecutions from the authorities. “I am absolutely sure, that there will come time, when a monument to Natasha Estemirova will be erected in the centre of Grozny, and a monument to Anna Politkovskaya in Moscow,” he said.

Ludmila Alexeyeva, head of the Moscow Helsinki Group, thanked all who came to the rally to express their tribute to Anna. “As the killers were not found and were not even condemned by those people who are in power now, it is we who condemn them,” she said.

Authorities finally give their permission on the March in Protection of St.Petersburg

Press Release, October 6, 2009

Negotiations on obtaining permission on the March in Protection of St.Petersburg with the St.Petersburg authorities took place on October 6...
The authorities finally gave their permission on the action in the form of a rally (not a demonstration requested by the initiative group) by the Yubileiny Sports Complex (Sportivnaya metro station).
“Obviously, in my opinion, the refusal [of the authorities} to give us a permission on a demonstration is unlawful, however, I think that it is more important to give people a possibility to express their position without fear and police batons,” Maxim Reznik said.
The March in Protection of St.Petersburg will take place as initially planned on October 10 at noon.

Youth organisation of YABLOKO to conduct actions in memory of Anna Politkovskaya and for protection of freedom of speech

Press Release, October 6, 2009

On October 7, 2009, it will be three years since death of renowned journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya. Nation-wide actions in memory of Anna Politkovskaya and in protection of freedom of speech will take place on the initiative of the Youth YABLOKO.
YABLOKO’s activists will conduct actions by Public Prosecutor offices in different Russian regions under the slogan “Silence! Or you’ll be killed?” They will distribute leaflets informing on the situation with freedom of speech in Russia and calling to stop and investigate murders of journalists.
Actions in memory of Anna Politkovskaya will take place in different regions. People will light candles and lay flowers to photographs of Anna.

Presentation of the book Overcoming Stalin’s Legacy took place in Moscow

Press Release, October 6, 2009

Presentation of the book Overcoming Stalin’s Legacy published by the YABLOKO party took place in the Independent Press Centre on October 5.

Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of the Political Committee of the party, said opening the presentation, “The book contains an unprecedented for this country resolution of a political party on overcoming of Stalinism, all the discussions and materials we had prepared based not only on Russian, but also on foreign, predominantly German, sources.” Human rights activists also took part in the preparation of this resolution.

Galina Mikhalyova also noted that YABLOKO had already published several books on Stalinism. In 2007 YABLOKO jointly with the Memorial society published the book “1937” to commemorate a sad anniversary of the Great Terror, a CD entitled “Victims of Political Terror in the USSR” containing 2.5 million names of the victims of the regime was published also in 2007.

Press-conference and a march in support of small business to take part in Moscow

Press Release, October 5, 2009

Press-conference “Nightmarising of Small Business Goes will take place in the Rosbalt information centre on October 6 at 2 p.m.
Ilya Khandrikov and Roman Zhigulsky, leaders of the For the Fair Market movement, Tatyana Rtischeva, leader of non-profit partnership Unity for Legal Protection of Small Business, Stanislav Minayev, leader of the initiative group of the businessmen at Tushino, Sergei Vesnov, leader of interregional trade-union of workers of small and medium-scale business Our Right, Vitaliy Dovzhenko, Chair of the Council of Businessmen of Khasanskiy trade complex will participate in the press-conference.
The rally will take place at YABLOKO’s support at Bolotnaya square at 4 p.m. YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin will participate in the rally.

Boris Strugatsky supports YABLOKO at the Moscow City Duma election

Press Release, October 5, 2009

On the threashold of the Moscow City Duma elections that will take place on October 11, Boris Strugatsky, a world famous science fiction writer (Roadside Picnic, Stalker) send a letter to the YABLOKO party with wishes of success.
“These are hard times: hard times for democracy and hard times for YABLOKO. The rating fell, the allies were not allowed to participate [in the election], and you can count only on yourselves and your firm supporters. Now, we have to arm ourselves with patience, set teeth and not to yield. Confidence and firmness will win.
With wishes of confidence, firmness and victory!
Boris Strugatsky,
October 3, 2009”.

YABLOKO gets representation in the Public Chamber of the Kirov Region

Press Release, October 5, 2009

Members of the Public Chamber of the Kirov Region conducted a meeting on the results of the election of the second half of the Chamber...

YABLOKO’s members - Chair of the Soldiers’ Mothers regional organisation Tamara Bratukhina and Director of the Kirov Centre for Non-Profit Organisations Suport Oleg Tkachyov - were elected during this voting. Valery Makarov, YABLOKO’s activist, had been elected earlier. Thus, three members of YABLOKO’s Regional Council in the Kirov Region will work in the regional Public Chamber.

The Pensioners’ Party joined YABLOKO

Press Release, October 3, 2009

The interregional public organisation The Elder Generation (the former Pensioners’ party) joined the YABLOKO party. Such a decision was adopted by at a joint meeting of the YABLOKO’s Bureau and Presidium of the Central Council of the Elder Generation organisation on October 3. YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin and deputy head of the Elder Generation Alexei Borschenko signed an agreement in the presence of the media.

“It is a great honour for us, as well as recognition of our performance in protection of social rights, and in particular pensioners’ rights,” Sergei Mitrokhin told the journalists.

Presentation of the book Overcoming Stalin’s Legacy

Announcement, October 2, 2009

Presentation of the book Overcoming Stalin’s Legacy published by YABLOKO will take place in the Independent Press Centre (Prechistinka 17/9 bldg 1) on Monday, October 5, at 3 p.m.

The book includes the decision of the Political Committee of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO on overcoming Stalin’s and Bolsheviks legacy, YABLOKO’s political assessment of the key issues of Russia’s history in the 20th century, as well as substantiates the need of overcoming Stalin’s and Bolshevik’s legacy as one of pre-requisites of modernization of Russia.

“Agents Smith” conducted a flashmob against censorship in the Internet

Press-Release, September 30, 2009

On the Internet Day, September 30, a non-party flashmob against the attempts of the Russian authorities to introduce censorship in the Internet, restrict the use of Skype and organise criminal persecutions against bloggers took place in the centre of Moscow at the Manezh square. Portraying Agent Smith (wearing black coats and black glasses), the protagonist of the Matrix who thought that all the people were viruses and denied freedom, the participants of the flashmob walked in circles around the Manezh Trade Centre always turning backwards (showing that the present regime has been trying to return Russia to the totalitarian past)...

Chair of the Moscow City Duma Commission for Education and Science and member of YABLOKO Eugeni Bunimovich agreed with Gnezdilov, “Internet is a space of freedom and real democracy, which irritates the authorities so much.” He also stressed that this also implies that we should fight against terrorist ideas and pornography in the Internet, as well as in the reality. According to Bunimovich, “the [Russian] society receives the most objective political, social and even everyday information in the Internet”. “Internet communities of teachers, journalists, doctors, cyclists, young people, etc. turn into real nucleuses of civil society,” Bunimovich said.

Hands off from Olga Kolokolova!

Statement of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO September 29, 2009

The YABLOKO party expresses its resolute protest against pressure on behalf of the Public Prosecutor Office on the Territorial Electoral Commission of Krasnokamensk municipal district of the Perm Area so that to prevent Olga Kolokolova, candidate from the YABLOKO party and the leader of the Perm branch of YABLOKO to participate in the election of the head of the region

The YABLOKO party considers the increased attention from the Public Prosecutor's Office to the opposition candidate as a political order of the governmental party trying to prevent one of the key candidates to be elected the district head.

Governmental United Russia asks the Central Electoral Commission to defend it from YABLOKO

Press-Release, September 29, 2009

The web-site of the Central Electoral Commission published on September 24 an appeal signed by the leaders of the United Russia, the Fair Russia, CPRF, LDPR and the Right Course parties. The indicated parties complained of “discrediting of their registered candidates” by the YABLOKO and the Patriots of Russia parties in the Klin district, Moscow Region...

Deputy head of the Moscow Region branch of YABLOKO and member of the Federal Council of the party Dmitry Ilyushin commented such a complaint as follows, “Frankly speaking I was surprise to learn that we had managed to scare the judicial and law-enforcement bodies in such a way that now the governmental party decided to protect them from us.”

YABLOKO’s Political Committee determined the tasks of the responsible opposition in modern Russia

Press-Release, September 26, 2009

A meeting of YABLOKO’s Political Committee took place on September 26. The Committee developed the goals of the party in modern Russia.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin indicated in his report to the Committee that a system of bureaucratic cronyism developed in modern Russia. Its goal is to maintain in power one and the same ruling group for an unlimited period of time.

“Supporting a number of President Medvedev’s recent statements on the need of modernisation in Russia YABLOKO states that their realisation is incompatible with the real goals of this system,” Mitrokhin said.

Mitrokhin expressed his certainty that this system “can lead Russia to stagnation reminiscent of the stagnation of the Brezhnev period in the USSR, when the political elite lost the chance to conduct modernisation of the USSR, thus dooming it to disintegration”.

According to Mitrokhin, the task of the opposition is to offer an alternative to the political course of the country present leaders, such as building of a modern state based on democratic institutes and procedures.

No infill development at Tverskoi Boulevard

Press-Release, September 25, 2009

The YABLOKO party succeeded in prohibiting infill construction of a residential and cultural complex at Tverskoi Boulevard 17/7-8. The Moscow Government issued a resolution prohibiting construction works in the historic area.

YABLOKO together with the residents of the house No 8 at Bolshaya Bronnaya has been fighting against infill construction at the historic Moscow boulevard since 2007.

YABLOKO to continue development of law on education of the handicapped

Press-Release, September 25, 2009

On September 24, Commission on Education and Science of the Moscow City Duma discussed draft law “On Education of the Handicapped in Moscow”.

Chair of the Moscow Duma Commission and member of the YABLOKO faction Eugeni Bunimovich stressed that neither Moscow nor Russia had seen a clear system for social rehabilitation of handicapped children, despite some emerging practices in this sphere, especially in Moscow. Bunimovich stressed that one of the key tasks of the law would be to legalise the experience accumulated in Moscow.

Deputies of the Moscow Duma agreed with Eugeni Bunimovich that the draft should be adopted in the first reading. YABLOKO plans in its work over the draft law to introduce amendments with regard to the proposals of public organisations working with the disabled.

YABLOKO’s Political Committee to discuss the political course of the government and the tasks for the opposition

Announcement, September 25, 2009

A meeting of YABLOKO’s Political Committee will take place tomorrow on September 26 at 11 a.m.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin will submit to the Political Committee a draft resolution on the political course of the government and the tasks for the opposition. Alexei Arbatov, member of the Political Committee, head of the Centre of International Security and corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, will propose a draft statement on the problem of anti-ballistic missile defence.

The Political Committee will also hear Boris Misnik’s report on the socio-economic situation in Russia’s regions and the policies of the regional branches of the party.

United Russia interferes with YABLOKO’s election campaign with the help of police

Press-Release, September 24, 2009

Today campaigning of YABLOKO’s candidates to the Moscow City Duma was again hampered by the United Russia. This time representatives of the United Russia questioned lawfulness of YABLOKO’s campaigning by Skhodnenskaya metro station in Moscow. In these minutes YABLOKO’s candidates are expecting police which was called by the United Russia representatives.

Shamil Amirov, YABLOKO’s candidate, who was campaigning by the metro station, told that by 6 p.m. representatives of the United Russia appeared by the metro station. They installed their tents and began their campaign. Soon a representative from the United Russia came up to YABLOKO’s candidates stating that YABLOKO’s campaigning was unlawful as the Prefect’s Office did not gave a “permit” for it. Naturally, it turned out that the United Russia had a “permit” (however, the law does not envisage any “permits” for conducting election campaigns of registered candidates). “Fighting” for “fair campaigning” the United Russia representative called the police.

Governor Matviyenko puts Gazprom above law

Statement by the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO, September 23, 2009

The YABLOKO party expresses its indignation by the decision of the government of St.Petersburg allowing Gazprom to build a 403 m high skyscraper opposite the Smolny Cathedral.

In accordance with the City Planning Code Gazprom cannot get such a permit: Gazprom’s motive that construction of a lower building within the 100 m limit envisaged by St.Petersburg law is commercially unprofitable can not serve as grounds for allowing the company to build a skyscraper. In addition the skyscraper will distort historical panoramas of St.Petersburg, and this is also prohibited by the St.Petersburg laws. This will inevitably lead to excluding of St.Petersburg from UNESCO’s World Heritage, and the city government has been warned about this many times.

The decision by the city government (first of all by Governor Valentina Matviyenko who has been stubbornly supporting the project) despite of all this to do a service to Gazprom represents flagrant negligence of public opinion, a striking example of legal nihilism (the heads of the country are so eager to fight against) and a flagrant example how Gazprom’s commercial interests overweight the law.

St.Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko should think about the inevitable trial of history and not only this

Statement by the St.Petersburg branch of the YABLOKO party, September 22, 2009

Trampling down the law and neglecting public opinion and protests by the renowned cultural figures, scientists, architects, including those who developed the City Planning Code of St.Petersburg, the government of St.Petersburg allowed Gazprom to build a 403 m high skyscraper.
This is a pert spit to all of us, who value the historical look of St.Petersburg.
This is a desire to demonstrate to us that the opinion of the villains is worth nothing compared to the will of the lord.
This is announcing war to the society and Law.
We are accepting the battle. And shall conduct it until victory over vandals who are temporarily set to rule our favourite city.

YABLOKO agreed on strategic partnership with the Russian Medical Association

Press-Release, September 22, 2009

A meeting of YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin and President of the Russian Medical Association Prof. Dr. Ashot Sarkisyan took place today, on September 22.

Representatives of YABLOKO and the Russian Medical Association expressed their concern of the present situation with health care and the system of its organisation in Russia.

The sides also concluded an agreement on strategic partnership and also adopted a decision that the YABLOKO party supports the programme of modernization of the system of health care in Russia developed by the Association and also considers the issue of including it into the party’s programme.

On the need of further steps for creation of a joint Russian-European ABM system

Statement by Chairman of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO, September 21, 2009

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO considers that urgent conclusion of multi-lateral agreements on creation of an anti-ballistic missile defence (ABM) system for Europe jointly with the USA, NATO and the European Union is a challenging and strategically important task for Russia.

Implementation of this project is of global significance. At the expected rates of nuclear missile proliferation, the number of potential threats of missile attacks against Russia, the US, Europe and any country of the world will only broaden. A joint ABM system of the technologically developed states and Russia as a country with one of the largest nuclear missile potentials will become the most important element for protection of the planet from nuclear threats in the 21st century. For Europe creation of ballistic missile defence (BMD) jointly with Russia will represent the first large step towards creation of such a system and will be also important for raising the efficiency of nuclear non-proliferation policy.

Progovernmental United Russia sends police against YABLOKO

Press-Release, September 20, 2009

On September 19 police from the Arbat Police department interfered with the work of YABLOKO’s mobile office at the Arbat street. On the telephone call from a member of Political Council for the local United Russia branch head of the local police department colonel Alexei Platonov and policemen with guns arrived “to restore order” at the place where YABLOKO’s office was stationed.

Colonel Platonov demanded that YABLOKO’s candidates to the deputies of the Moscow City Duma Alexandra Vassilyieva and Shamil Amirov should stop their communication with the local residents threatening with arrest and drawing of a protocol of administrative violation.

Four YABLOKO’s activists detained in Ekaterinburg

Press Release, September 19, 2009

YABLOKO’s activists were detained in Ekaterinburg on September 19 and brought to the local police department for investigation. Four YABLOKO’s activists (including three minors) were handing leaflets inviting citizens to join YABLOKO’s picket against growth of tariffs for housing and utilities services on September 20.

The police told to Maxim Petlin, leader of regional YABLOKO branch, that the activists did not have a right to distribute leaflets without publisher’s imprint data.

Maxim Petlin called these claims absurd, as “the law does not require to indicate imprint data on the leaflets outside the election period”.

YABLOKO supports the decision of US President Barack Obama not to deploy ABM system in the Czech Republic

Press Release, September 18, 2009

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO thinks that the statement made by US President Barack Obama on abolishing of the plans to deploy elements of the ABM system in the Eastern Europe opens new opportunities for the Russian-American strategic partnership.

“This is a correct decision made by President Obama, it wipes away the issue which has been continuously producing unnecessary tensions and makes space for constructive cooperation between Russia and the USA in strengthening of the European security,” that is how Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the YABLOKO party, commented on the US decision to abolish plans on stationing US radar in the Czech Republic.
Sergei Mitrokhin also noted that “signs that the approach of the new US administration as regards deployment of the ABM system in the Eastern Europe would be rational” appeared during President Obama’s visit to Moscow in July.

Round table “Women of Russia: Rights and Opportunities”

Press Release, September 16, 2009

Round table “Women of Russia: Rights and Opportunities. The problem of gender equality” took place in Omsk on September 11. The round table was organised by the Interregional Trade-Union “The 8th of March” at organisational support and participation of the YABLOKO party. About 40 activists from nonprofit organisations, regional administration, ombudsman’s office and mass media participated in the discussion.

Galina Mikhalyova, Chair of the Gender faction of the YABLOKO party was one of the main speakers covering the topics of gender equality and prospects of cooperation for different public institutions in this field.

The authorities prohibit YABLOKO’s campaigning in public transport

Press Release, September 17, 2009

Moscow authorities interfere with YABLOKO’s campaigning in public transport. Moscow Department of Transport and Communication urged the owners of private taxies carrying YABLOKO’s slogans “Protecting Muscovites, Helping Everyone” to dismantle them threatening that taxi owners will have “problems in business”. About 130 taxis with YABLOKO’s slogans have been commuting in the city since September 11, after the taxi owners signed corresponding agreements with YABLOKO.

Also YABLOKO did not manage to conclude and agreement on placing its slogans on the municipal transport (buses, trolley-buses and trams). Mosgortrans (the Moscow City Transport company) which owns the transport means in the city indicated that the Moscow Property Department should give a permit for placing slogans on the municipal transport means. The latter, however, send YABLOKO a bureaucratic note recommending to “work out the issue” with Mosgortrans and also apply to the Interdepartamental Commission for Advertising of the Moscow Government.

An action against memorizing Joseph Stalin in the interior of the Kurskaya metro station, Moscow

Press Release, September 15, 2009

An action against memorizing Joseph Stalin in the interiors of the Kurskaya metro station, Moscow, will take place on September 16. YABLOKO’s activists will hand to all passers-by a book “1937” published by the Memorial society in commemoration of the victims of the Great Terror. This action will take place in the Zemlyanoi Val street (by the metro station).

Deputy head of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO and Chair of the Moscow City Duma Commission for Science and Education Eugeni Bunimovich and member of the Youth Chamber at the Moscow City Duma Alexander Gnezdilov will participate in the action.

An action against memorizing Joseph Stalin in the interior of the Kurskaya metro station, Moscow

Press Release, September 15, 2009

An action against memorizing Joseph Stalin in the interiors of the Kurskaya metro station, Moscow, will take place on September 16. YABLOKO’s activists will hand to all passers-by a book “1937” published by the Memorial society in commemoration of the victims of the Great Terror. This action will take place in the Zemlyanoi Val street (by the metro station).

Deputy head of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO and Chair of the Moscow City Duma Commission for Science and Education Eugeni Bunimovich and member of the Youth Chamber at the Moscow City Duma Alexander Gnezdilov will participate in the action.

Klin residents demand resignation of head of the district A.Postrigan

Press Release, September 13, 2009

A rally organised by the YABLOKO party in Klin, Moscow region, took place on September 13. About 500 people came to the rally demanding Alexander Postrigan, head of the Klin district to resign.

Speaking at the rally Yuri Samsonov, leader of the YABLOKO list of candidates in Klin, noted that Alexander Postrigan “experimented” with introduction of an “absolutely proportional” system at the election and putting under control of the local authorities virtually all the local branches of political parties, but for YABLOKO and Patriots of Russia. The former two parties were not allowed to participate in the election by the local Electoral Commission.

YABLOKO wins another victory in the debate

Press Release, September 15, 2009

On September 14, Rosbalt information agency held a debate among several political parties participating in the Moscow City Duma election. The discussion was devoted to the loud and disputable liquidation of the Cherkizovsky market place in Moscow and problems of the small-scale business in general. Representatives of the expert community, departments heads of different state and municipal agencies, representatives of political parties and businessmen (those whose business suffered with liquidation of the market place inclusive). Roman Zhigulsky, Chair of the For the Fair Market movement and candidate to the Moscow City Duma from the YABLOKO party represented the interests of the business community.

The “ring” was taken by Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of YABLOKO’s Political Committee and Leonid Olshansky, member of the Central Council of the Just Russia party.

Congratulations to Vladimir Yefimov with appointment on the post of the head of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service in Moscow

Press Release, September 15, 2009

Vladimir has been a longtime YABLOKO’s activist and a colleague of Igor Artemyev, member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee and head of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service.

Valdimir Yefimov’s performance as the head of the Department for Control over the Housing and Communal Services Sector, Construction and Natural Resources of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service. I am certain that under his guidance the Moscow branch of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service will consistently oppose mopolism which is one of the most acute problems in Moscow now.

YABLOKO’s candidates to deputies of the Moscow City Duma arrested by police

Press Release, September 14, 2009

The police detained three candidates to the Moscow City Duma from the YABLOKO party (candidates in the South-Eastern administrative district of Moscow), who conducted a meeting with voters by Aviamotornaya metro station. On September 13 (at about 8 p.m.) policemen approached Tatyana Ovcharyenko, Pavel Gerasimov and Yulia Timakova accusing them in unsanctioned picketing and took them to the police station. According to the police, YABLOKO’s candidates lacked a permission for putting a desk and an umbrella with YABLOKO’s symbols, as well as for the use of megaphone.

All the arguments that the law does not stipulate for any permissions in campaigning did not work. YABLOKO’s candidates were taken to the Lefortovo police department in YABLOKO’s coach decorated with YABLOKO’s symbols.

Leaders of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO commemorated victims of fascism

Press Release, September 14, 2009

Today on the International Memory Day of the Victims of Fascism, Deputy Chair of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO and deputy of the Moscow City Duma Eugeni Bunimovich, member of the Youth Chamber at the Moscow City Duma and member of the Regional Council of the Moscow YABLOKO Alexander Gnezdilov and number of two in YABLOKO’s list of candidates in the Western Administrative District of Moscow Shamil Amirov have laid 70 red carnations to the monument to the prisoners of concentration camps.

On infringement of freedom of speech in the Republic of Karachayevo-Cherkessia

Statement of the Karachayevo-Cherkessian branch of the YABLOKO party, September 11, 2009

Everywhere and everyday, almost every hour speakers from television screens assure Russian citizens that freedom of press and freedom to speak openly without fear is the greatest achievement of democracy. And they say that in the sake of this freedom we should endure everything: growth of food-stuffs prices, skyrocketing communal services tariffs, rise of unemployment, growth of crime, as well as drug and alcohol addiction. However, where is the freedom which costs us so much?

The recent developments around official printed media in Karachayevo-Cherkessia demonstrate that we don’t have freedom of press in our Republic and are unlikely to have it until the governments realise that newspapers and other media are not a toy.

Round table on the Ossetian-Ingush conflict took place on the Initiative of YABLOKO in Nazran

Press Release, September 10, 2009

On September 8 round table devoted to the elimination of the Ossetian-Ingush conflict took place in Nazran. The discussion was initiated by renown human rights activist Valery Borschyov, Chair of the Board of the Social Partnership Foundation and member of YABLOKO’s Bureau, Anatoli Sidakov, Chairman of the North-Ossetian YABLOKO branch and Magomed Mutzolgov, head of the MAShR human rights organisation.

The round table turned out to be an event of great importance in the Republic. Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, President of Ingushetia, Vladimir Lukin, Russia’s Ombudsman, Thomas Hammarberg, Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, Daud Garakoyev, leader of the Ingush YABLOKO, heads of human rights organisations and Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Ingushetia participated in the discussion.

Round table “Preservation of Historical Heritage: Public Voice” took place in the Moscow City Duma

Press Release, September 9, 2009

On September 8 round table “Preservation of Historical Heritage: Public Voice” took place in the Moscow City Duma. The round table was organised by Eugeni Bunimovich, Chair of the Moscow City Duma Commission for Education and Science and member of the YABLOKO faction.

Representatives of different public organisations, Moscow museums, architects, artists and journalists participated in the discussion. The discussion evolved around the present Moscow laws for preservation of historical and cultural heritage.

Commission for Education and Science of the Moscow City Duma approved YABLOKO’s draft law targeted at support of vocational training

Press Release, September 10, 2009

On September 10, draft federal law “On introduction of amendments into Article 39 of the Russian Federation law “On Education” submitted by the YABLOKO faction was discussed by the Moscow City Duma at its first meeting after summer vacation.

Chair of the Commission and member of the YABLOKO faction Eugeni Bunimovich in his speech noted that the present law grants research and high school institutions a right to create entities for application of the results of their research. However, institutions of vocational education have not enjoyed such a right yet.

Mitrokhin demands that deception of the electorate should be stopped

Press Release, September 10, 2009

Today speaking at the round table devoted to registration of candidates for elections to local self-government bodies that will take place on October 11, 2009, Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the YABLOKO party, has said that procedure of collection of signatures turned into a nightmare for the candidates.

“It is more or less bearable for the parties, as they have administrative staff [who can help in the organisation of collection of signatures], however, the task becomes simply back-breaking for single-mandate candidates,” Sergei Mitrokhin noted in his speech.

Head of the Klin district Alexander Postrigan to face criminal proceedings

Press Release, September 9, 2009

On September 8 Public Prosecutor of the Moscow Region opened a criminal case against head of the Klin district Alexander Postrigan. However, representatives of the Public Prosecutor’s Office refused to give any details referring to the confidentiality of the investigation.

However, a source told YABLOKO that Postrigan is accused of fraud with real estate. The source also mentioned that as head of the district Postrigan first turned into municipal property and then privatized several objects of the city connected with the military complex. That is why the case is stamped as confidential. It also turned out that Postrigan’s wife heading the local Registration Chamber helped him to privities these entities.

Muscovites together with YABLOKO preserved Sadovniki park

Press Release, September 9, 2009

Two resolutions of the Moscow Government allowing for construction works in Sadovniki park, Moscow, were recalled.

It is not the first time that the authorities allow construction works in the park and the residents of the area together with the YABLOKO party oppose it. Due to the efforts of the initiative group of the residents of the area and YABLOKO’s support, construction works in the park did not start and moreover were prohibited.

YABLOKO’s candidates registered for the election in the Leningrad region

Press Release, September 8, 2009

On September 8 the District Electoral Commission of Vsevolzhsk city (Leningrad region) registered member of the YABLOKO party Olga Nikitina for the municipal election that will take place on October 11.

Earlier the Electoral Commission had expressed its doubts in the authenticity of seven signatures out of the total submitted by Nikitina. The commission had stated that “people different from those who signed in the lists” lived at the indicated addresses. The doubts of the commission were assuaged only after Nikitina submitted to the commission copies of the passports (containing their residence addresses) of those persons whose signatures were questioned.

Youth YABLOKO organisation of St.Petersburg for the protection of an orphanage

Press Release, September 8, 2009

Today on September 8, Youth YABLOKO organisation of St.Petersburg made a statement where it expressed concern about the situation developing around social orphanage Zhizn (Life) in St.Petersburg. The orphanage can be ousted out of its building, as obviously some wealthy investors came to liking these premises.

The Youth YABLOKO sent the statement to Valentina Matviyenko, Governor of St.Petersburg, and Alexei Golovan, Ombudsman for Children’s Rights.

YABLOKO organisation in Klin refutes the allegations of the criminal past of its candidates

Press Release, September 7, 2009

On September 3, the official web-site of the Klin District Administration (Moscow region) published an article entitled Klin YABLOKO Conceals Criminal Past of Its Candidates.

YABLOKO assesses such a publication as a campaign targeted at the discrediting of the party, whose activists have been criticising Alexander Postrigan, head of the Klin district, and prepared a meeting (scheduled on September 13) where they are going to demand his resignation.

YABLOKO’s branch in Tula registered in the elections

Press Release, September 7, 2009

The Electoral Commission of the Tula region has registered YABLOKO’s list of candidates in the elections of the regional parliament (the Tula Region Duma) which will take place on October 11.

The Electoral Commission was dissatisfied with only 2% of the total number of the signatures submitted by the regional YABLOKO branch for registration in the election campaign. In 12 days the regional branch of the party managed to collect 17,640 signatures at required 14,180.

The Moscow Electoral Commission registered YABLOKO for the Moscow City Duma election

Press Release, September 4, 2009

The Moscow Electoral Commission has registered YABLOKO’s election list for the Moscow City Duma election. Such a decision has been adopted by the Moscow Electoral Commission today.

Fayas Khalilulin, head of the working group which checked signatures for registration of the list, released the results of his audit. “The fact that only 1,077 signatures out of total 17,736, i.e. 7,1%, were acknowledged void, allows us to adopt a decision on registration of the list of candidates [for the Moscow election]”, runs the conclusion of the working group.

Sergei Mitrokhin wins the debate among four parties

Press Release, September 3, 2009

Debates of candidates to the deputies of the Moscow City Duma took place at Gazeta.ru on September 3.

Vladimir Platonov, Speaker of the Moscow City Duma and candidate from the United Russia party, Sergei Mitorkhin, deputy of the Moscow City Duma and leader of the YABLOKO party, Nikolai Gubenko topping the CPRF list and Natalya Borodina, candidate from the Fair Russia party, participated in the debate.

Yuri Samsonov about criminal actions of the head of the Klin district (Moscow Region) and non-registration of YABLOKO at the municipal election

Press Release, September 3, 2009

Press-conference “On the criminal and political situation in the Moscow Region” took place in the Independent Press Centre on September 3. Yuri Samsonov, leader of the YABLOKO election list in Klin told the journalists about unlawful actions of local administration headed by Alexander Postrigan who has been heading the district for 17 years already. According to Samsonov, Postrigan has managed to try all the top posts (sometimes he even held several posts at once) for these years. Samsonov also quoted the head of the Klin district saying that “no one will dare to do anything in the district without his personal permission”.

On supporting Andrei Malitsky in his litigation of violation of constitutional rights of the Russian citizens having residence permits in other countries

Statement of the Regional Council of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO

The Regional Council of the Moscow branch of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses support to Andrei Mikhailovich Malitsky in his litigation of the norm of the Federal Law “On the Basic Guarantees of Franchise and the Right to Participate in a Referendum”. Being a citizen of Russia Malitsky received a residence permit in Lithuania in June 2009. In view of this he was expelled from the Territorial Electoral Commission of Preobrazhenskoye District, Moscow, where he represented the interests of the YABLOKO party. Expelling Malitsky the Commission referred to the norm of the law which prohibits to the citizens having residence permits in other countries or other documents confirming the right of the citizens to a permanent residence in the foreign state to be members of electoral commissions.

Book “Overcoming of Stalin’s Legacy” available now

Press Release, September 2, 2009

The book “Overcoming of Stalin’s Legacy” published by the YABLOKO party is available now. The book addresses broad circles of readers.

“Creation of a democratic Russia, its competitive capacity, its respect in the world and its fate in general would be under question without clear and unequivocal state and public assessment of the key issues of our history in the 20th century.”

Grigory Yavlinsky

YABLOKO’s leaders opened YABLOKO’s book stand at the International Book fair in Moscow

Press Release, September 2, 2009

YABLOKO’s deputies of the Moscow City Duma Sergei Mitrokhin and Eugeni Bunimovich opened the book stand of the YABLOKO party at the 22nd International Book Fair in Moscow.

Sergei Mitrokhin personally presented the visitors with YABLOKO’s election programme and Eugeni Bunimovich signed his books of verse.
The stand presented the books published by the party for the recent years, in particular, books by Grigory Yavlinsky, Alexei Yablokov and Alexei Arbatov.

Press-conference “On the criminal and political situation in the Moscow Region”

Press Release, September 2, 2009

Press-conference “On the criminal and political situation in the Moscow Region” will take place on September 3, at 3.15 p.m. Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the YABLOKO party, Seregi Kryzhov, member of the Bureau of the Moscow Region branch of YABLOKO and deputy of Sergiyev Posad municipal council, Dmitry Ilyushin, deputy head of the Moscow Regional branch of YABLOKO and Yuri Samsonov topping YABLOKO’s list at the election in Klin will participate in the press-conference.

YABLOKO to participate in the International Book Fair in Moscow

Press Release, September 2, 2009

The YABLOKO party will participate in the 22 Moscow Book Fair opening at the Exhibition Centre today, on September 2.

Free distribution of YABLOKO’s programme “City Comfortable for Living” will take place at YABLOKO’s stand. The stand will also display books written by YABLOKO’s leaders: Sergei Mitrokhin, Grigory Yavlinsky, Alexei Yablokov, Eugeni Bunimovich, Alexei Arbatov and other.

Underfinancing of the educational sector leading Russian to fall behind

Statement of the YABLOKO party, August 31, 2009

The Russian United Democratic party YABLOKO considers Government’s statement on abolishing of indexation of wages of the budget sphere workers in 2010 absolutely unacceptable.

In particular, such a decision makes government’s announcing of 2010 the Year of Teacher, as well as all the words about respect of this profession that many state bureaucrats will say on September 1 [the day when children go to school after summer vacation] cynical and void.

Young YABLOKO’s activists conducted an action by the Okhta-Centre in St.Petersburg

Press Release, August 31, 2009

Early in the morning on August 31 activists of the Youth YABLOKO organisation of St.Petersburg conducted an action at the planned location of the projected Okhta-Centre. The residents of the city oppose construction of this centre – another Gazprom’s skyscraper. The activists hang a cross-street banner “Here comes a traffic jam! Gazprom”.

Five YABLOKO’s activists brought to trial

Press Release, September 1, 2009

Today on September 1, the court of the first instance will examine the cases of five YABLOKO’s activists accused in unsanctioned picketing at the Red Square.
On August 16 the police detained nine activists of the YABLOKO party collecting signatures (required for registration of the party in the Moscow City Duma election) at the Red Square. Six activists were accused in unsanctioned picketing and three are charged with resisting police.

The Territorial Electoral Commission refuses to register YABLOKO at the election in Klin, Moscow Region

Press Release, August 28, 2009

The Territorial Electoral Commission refused to register YABLOKO at the election in the Klin district, Moscow Region. The election will take place on October 11. The decision on non-registration of YABLOKO’s list was adopted on the night August 26. It should be noted that the decision refers to all YABLOKO lists for all the cities and settlements of the Klin district...

On the night when the Territorial Electoral Commission refused to register YABLOKO in the race someone broke windows in the office of the Klin YABLOKO situated in the centre of the city. YABLOKO’s staff are certain that this case of vandalism is politically motivated.

The Ingush YABLOKO submitted signatures for registration at the municipal elections

Press Release, August 28, 2009

On August 26 the Ingush regional branch of the YABLOKO party submitted signatures required for registration of election lists at the campaign. Now the republican electoral commissions have to decide whether to let YABLOKO to participate in the elections that will be held on October 11. It is the first time in the history of Ingushetia that elections of legislative bodies on the municipal level are taking place. Regional branches of political parties have begun actively campaigning in the republic. Daud Garakoyev, leader of the Ingush YABLOKO, told about the specifics of the election campaign in the region

Information about poisoning of dogs in Ivolginsky Buddhist temple in Ulan-Ude, Buryatia, confirmed

Press Release, August 27, 2009

The information about poisoning of dogs in the Ivolginsky Buddhist temple in Ulan-Ude, Buryatia, specially before President Medvedev’s visit to the temple is confirmed by the largest newspaper of the region Inform Polis.“The local authorities obviously overdid it in their wish to secure President’s visit. The residents of Verkhnyaya Ivolga village neighbouring to the temple found themselves in the transport blockade. From 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. they could not get out or come to the village. And two days prior to this, the police had visited every house and registered all the dwellers, their vehicles and cattle, they had also found out the names of all their cats and dogs. And then dogs who commuted from the village to the temple to get their food became dying. It turned out that the local veterinary service gave poison to all the dogs,” runs the paper.

The Saratov branch of YABLOKO on the coup d’etat of August 1991

Press Release, August 24, 2009

A round table talk devoted to the development of August 1991 took place in the Saratov branch of YABLOKO last Friday. “democrats of the first wave” – members of the Memorial society, YABLOKO, the former SPS party, the Right Course and Solidarity movement, as well as their colleagues, opponents and students participated in the discussion.

Dogs poisoned in the Buddhist temple in Ulan-Ude for Dmitry Medvedev’s visit

Press Release, August 24, 2009

Feeding and giving shelter to homeless dogs and cats is a tradition of any Buddhist temple. Buddhists respect all the living beings in the world, as all of them are in the single Sansara Wheel, the ever going circulation in the world, and each of us, according to the Buddhism, can come as any living being in his next life. Moreover Buddhists honour dogs and cats that have been accompanying man for thousands of years. And every monastry has dogs and cats fed by the monks and the believers.

YABLOKO submits signatures for registration at the Moscow City Duma election

Press Release, August 26, 2009

Today YABLOKO has submitted about 80,000 signatures to the Moscow Electoral Commission for registration at the Moscow City Duma election. Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO’s Chairman and leader of the party election list, and activists of the Youth YABLOKO submitted to the Moscow Electoral Commission ten boxes styled as apple boxes (YABLOKO means “apple” in Russian).

Police stops YABLOKO’s motor race

Press Release, August 26, 2009

Road police blocked YABLOKO’s motor column - 15 cars with YABLOKO’s flags and symbols – by the Kremlin. The motor race was organised on the last day of collection of signatures required for registration of YABLOKO in the Moscow City Duma election race.The police ordered YABLOKO’s cars to stop and took all the driving licenses. Only after that the police explained their actions. Police officers asked for a permit to conduct such an action, and when Sergei Mitrokhin came to the site they accused the activists in “creating traffic obstacles” and ordered to draw protocols of administrative violations.

Police arrests the participants of YABLOKO’s motor race

Press Release, August 25, 2009

The road police stopped YABLOKO’s column – 15 cars with YABLOKO’s symbols – in the centre of Moscow. The police announced that the motor race was unlawful and insisted that it required prior registration with the local authorities.

The police also demanded to take YABLOKO symbols and flags off the cars, saying that they may release the column only on this condition.

Youth YABLOKO organisation in Omsk: “A human rights activist today and a corpse tomorrow?”

Press Release, August 24, 2009

On August 24 activists from the Omsk Youth YABLOKO organisation conducted two pickets at the centre of the city. The activists held placards “A human rights activist today and a corpse tomorrow?” and “’No’ to “unacceptable” versions and ‘yes’ to proper investigation!” The action was targeted at drawing public attention to the frequent murders of human rights activists in Russia. Young activists decided to “visualize” such a situation for the city residents: people covered with white sheets were lying by their feet symbolising murdered human rights activists.

YABLOKO has collected 78,000 signatures

Press Release, August 24, 2009

YABLOKO has collected 78,000 signatures (as of today) required for registration of the party in the Moscow City Duma election campaign. We shall continue collection of signatures until night August 25.
Sergei Mitrokhin, Chairman of the party and leader of YABLOKO’s election list said, “We shall continue collection of signatures in the remaining two days so that to have excess signatures to secure ourselves from possible fault-finding of the Electoral Commission”.

Police of the North-Western District of Moscow interferes with YABLOKO’s collection of signatures

Press Release, August 20, 2009

Police made another provocation against YABLOKO’s collectors of signatures for registration of YABLOKO’s list at the Moscow City Duma election campaign. YABLOKO’s activists planed to collect signatures by the Planernaya metro station (North-West of Moscow). Hardly did they began their work when Leutenant Maxim Seleznyov of the Northern Tushino police department announced to them that they were detained for unsanctioned picketing and had to go to the police department with him.

YABLOKO* celebrated Savior of the Apple Feast Day

Press Release, August 20, 2009

Protection from Arbitrary Rule on Savior of the Apple Feast Day (Yablochny Spas), such was the slogan of the YABLOKO’s action conducted on August 19. A coach with party symbols took YABLOKO’s activists first to the Kitai Gorog police department (the one which detained YABLOKO’s collectors of signatures at the Red Square), then to the court and then to lay flowers to the memorial cross set at the place of the church pulled down 45 years ago.

YABLOKO to collect signatures at the key Moscow railway stations

Press Release, August 20, 2009

On Friday, August 21, candidates to the Moscow City Duma from YABLOKO and party activists will collect signatures required for registration of YABLOKO’s election list at eight Moscow railway stations.

Court postponed examination of the cases of YABLOKO’s collectors of signatures

Press Release, August 19, 2009

Court hearings of the YABLOKO activists cases (collecting signatures at the Red Square) have been postponed. The court sent three cases of alleged “resistance to the police” back to the police department. The trials were appointed on August 25 and August 27.

Police arrests YABLOKO’s activists collecting signatures at the Red Square, Moscow

Press Release, August 13, 2009

On August 16, members of the Youth Organisation of YABLOKO and Deputy of the Moscow City Duma Sergei Mitrokhin came to the Red Square to collect signatures in support of YABLOKO’s election list. (Such collection of signatures is required by law from all the non-parliamentary parties so that to be registered for running their election campaigns. The law does not specify the time and place of collection of signatures).

Several security service and police officers came to the activists and asked for a permit. The young people gave to the officers their written address to the law enforcement bodies where they cited the law and explained that collection of signatures at the Red Square does not require any prior permits or registrations. However, the police was not satisfied with the explanations.

YABLOKO presents it programme for the Moscow City Duma election

Press Release, August 13, 2009

On August 13 top candidates from YABLOKO s electoral list for the Moscow City Duma election Sergei Mitrokhin and Alexei Yablokov presented YABLOKO s election programme in the Interfax press-centre, and renown human rights activist and head of the Moscow Helsinki group Ludmila Alexeyeva told about Public Council she heads in support of YABLOKO s candidates.

The Moscow Region branch of YABLOKO nominated its candidates to run at municipal elections

Press Release, August 10, 2009

21st conference of the Moscow Region branch of YABLOKO took place on August 8. The Conference nominated candidates to run at the municipal elections in the Moscow Region.

Thus, Misheronsky city in the Shatura Area will have four candidates. The Klin branch of YABLOKO headed by attorney Elena Samsonova had the proxies for nominating candidates in the Klin area.

Murders of human rights activists represent the results of the federal policies at the Northern Caucasus

Statement of the YABLOKO party, August 13, 2009

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO calls to a cardinal change of the federal policies at the Northern Caucasus. Kidnapping and murder of Zarema Sadulayeva and Alik Dzabrailov shows inability of the regional governments to perform their functions, marks a failure of the federal policies in Chechnya, where unlimited power was vested to Ramazan Kadyrov and none of the human rights envisaged by the Constitution of the Russian Federation are guaranteed, including the right to life.

Action in memory of human rights activists murdered in Chechnya to take place in St.Petersburg

Press Release, August 12, 2009

An action in memory of Zarema Sadulayeva and Ali Dzabrailov who worked in the Let’s Save the Generation nonprofit organisation will take place on August 12 (at 7 p.m.) by Solovetsky Stone in St.Petersburg. On August 11 Zarema Sadulaeva, head of the Let’s Save the Generation nonprofit organisation and her husband Ali Dzabrailov were kidnapped in midday when armed people came to their office saying that they represented law-enforcement bodies and took the activists with them. The next night the bodies of gunshot activists were found in the trunk of their car.

Investigation of the accident with the Kursk submarine would a step towards responsible governing

Statement of the YABLOKO party, August 12, 2009

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO proposes to conduct objective investigation of the causes leading to the accident with the Kursk submarine and the actions of the officials during the rescue operation. We should conduct such investigation so that to at least to pay tribute to the dead sailors.

The Supreme Court of Dagestan appoints new trial on Farid Babayev’s case on August 25

Press Release, August 12, 2009

On August 11 Dagestan’s Supreme Court appointed on August 25 a new trial on the murder of Farid Babayev, leader Dagestan YABLOKO and candidate to the Deputy of the State Duma.

Earlier on January 20, 2009, the Supreme Court of Dagestan ruled out that Rasil Mamedrizayev was guilty of the murder of Farid Babayev sentencing him to 16 years of imprisonment. The court acquitted the second accomplice Seferali Sefemerzoyev.

Nezavisimaya Gazeta switched into a “black PR” campaign

Press Release, August 3, 2009

Press Service of the YABLOKO party was surprised to see an article entitled Why Yavlinsky Was Summoned to the Kremlin by Elina Bilevskaya in Nezavisimaya Gazeta of August 3. The article states that Yavlinsky made agreement with the Kremlin so that to secure deputies’ mandates for the party in the Moscow City Duma election.

YABLOKO to begin collection of signatures for the Moscow Duma election at the infill plots

Press Release, July 30, 2009

YABLOKO to begin collection of signatures in favour of its list of candidates for the Moscow Duma election in the yard of Vavilova 48, where Alliance Group is going to build an elite block of flats instead of the sports ground belonging to the condominium of the block of flats No 48. The right of the condominium to the sports ground was confirmed by the Court of Arbitration.

Police interferes with YABLOKO's collection of signatures

Press Release, July 30, 2009

Police stopped collection of signatures required for registration of YABLOKO's list at the Moscow City Duma election. Collection of signatures has begun today.
At Pushkinskaya square police stopped 15 people engaged in collection of signatures and took their flags and cloaks with YABLOKO's symbols. When one of the detained said that this demand was unlawful, he was arrested and taken to the local police department as organizer of the action. YABLOKO's symbols were also taken to this police department.

People against “people’s garages”

Press Release, July 28, 2009

About 300 people participated in the protest action against construction of the so-called «people’s garages” in the Sokolinaya Gora district, Moscow. The residents of the area whose garages are to be pulled down so that to construct “people’s garages” instead participated in the action.

St.Petersburg youth organization of YABLOKO commemorates ten years of Putin’s coming into power

Press Release, August 10, 2009

On August 9 St.Petersburg youth organization of YABLOKO conducted the Ten Years Under Putin action. The action took place in the centre of St.Petersburg (Bolshaya Moskovskaya) under close supervision of police.

The police demands that YABLOKO should collect signatures in silence

Press Release, August 6, 2009

On August 5, the police interfered with collection of signatures by the YABLOKO party by Tushinskaya metro station. This time collection of signatures was organized by four groups of businessmen. The police asked the collectors to take off all YABLOKO’s flags and coats with party symbols. They also asked YABLOKO’s activists to show an allowance from the local authority, however, such an allowance is redundant for election campaigns. In spite of this YABLOKO had informed the local authority of the North-Western district of Moscow of such collection.

Municipal head fired due to violations

Press Release, August 4, 2009

“YABLOKO supports the decision [of the Moscow Mayor] to fire the head of the North-Western administrative district of Moscow Viktor Kozlov”, said YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin. According to Mitrokhin, such decision of the Mayor of Moscow demonstrates that he decided to reform his team. Mitrokhin also added that “the fact that Kozlov was sacked confirmed that YABLOKO’s criticism of the ex-Prefect was correct”.

YABLOKO’s candidates to the deputies of the Moscow City Duma to participate in collection of signatures

Press Release, August 3, 2009

On August 3 YABLOKO’s candidates to the deputies of the Moscow City Duma will participate in collection of signatures required for enrollment in the election campaign.

Activists of the Youth Organisation of St.Petersburg YABLOKO to conduct Ten Years of Putinism Action

Press Release, August 6, 2009

On Sunday, August 9, activists of the Youth Organisation of the St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO will conduct Ten Years of Putinism action. That is how young democrats are going to mark the ten year anniversary of Vladimir Putin coming into power. On August 9, 1999, President of Russia Boris Yeltsin appointed Vladimir Putin acting Prime Minister. A week later the State Duma officially approved the appointment.

Court acquitted YABLOKO’s collectors of signatures

Press Release, August 3, 2009

Judge of the court of the first instance (Dorogomilovo Moscow court) returned to the police the case on arrest of two collectors of signatures of the YABLOKO party who were incriminated “conducting propaganda in the restricted period”.

YABLOKO begins collection of signatures for enrollment in the Moscow City Duma election race

Press Release, July 31, 2009

YABLOKO began collection of signatures for registration of its list of candidates for the Moscow City Duma election. However, collectors of signatures encountered hostile actions from the police. On July 30, two party activists were arrested by the Park Pobedi metro station and were detained in the local police office (Dorogomilovo) for several hours, after which the case of “administrative violation” was sent to court.

YABLOKO’s slogans are becoming popular

Press Release, July 28, 2009

YABLOKO has been using its slogan “Governments under Public Control!” since parliamentary election in 2007, now it has turned into the key slogan at the rally in protection of small businesses at Cherkizovsky Market in Moscow (Ed. A popular Moscow market with cheap goods recently closed by the authorities) held by the youth organization of the Labour Russia (Avangard Krasnoi Molodyozhi).

Sergei Mitrokhin and Eugeni Bunimovich top the list of YABLOKO’s candidates at the Moscow Duma election

Press Release, July 23, 2009

Sergei Mitrokhin and Eugeni Bunimovich topped the list of candidates from the YABLOKO party to the Moscow City Duma election. The list of candidates was approved by the conference of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO on July 22.

Olga Zepilova visits the Northern Urals

Press Release, July 22, 2009

On the commission of the head of the Green Russia faction Alexei Yablokov, Olga Zepilova, member of the YABLOKO Bureau and deputy head of the Green Russia faction, visited Chelyabinsk, Ekaterinburg and Severouralsk (Sverdlovsk region) on July 13-17, 2009.

The Federal Security Service and OMON did not manage to clear President Medvedev’s route from all YABLOKO’s banners

Press Release, July 19, 2009

Yesterday morning before the passage of the presidential cortege in the Third Circular Road, Moscow, the Federal Security and OMON (special police forces) rushed into the garage complex at Podvoiskogo street and torn off almost all YABLOKO’s banners and broadsides "Return Our Property!" and "YABLOKO Protects Our Rights" hanging on the facade. The banners and broadsides were fixed by the owners of the garages who together with YABLOKO continue fighting for their property rights.

Moscow housing policy to be corrected

Press Release, July 15, 2009

The Moscow government acknowledged YABLOKO’s criticism and withdrew from the agenda of the Moscow City Duma draft law “The Basis of the Housing Policy in Moscow”. Yesterday at a press conference Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the YABLOKO party and its faction in the Moscow Duma, criticized the draft law for maintaining the provisions allowing for the state to impose its methods of management over condominiums and its prices and norms for communal services.

Sergei Kryzhov elected deputy of the Municipal Council of Sergiyev Posad Area

Press Release, July 14, 2009

Member of the Bureau of the Moscow Region branch of YABLOKO Sergei Kryzhov was elected deputy of the Municipal Council of Sergiyev Posad Area, Moscow Region.

YABLOKO reports on its performance in the Moscow City Duma

Press Release, July 14, 2009

Press conference of the YABLOKO party “What has been done and will be done by YABLOKO in the Moscow City Duma” took place in the Independent Press Centre on July 14. YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Chairman of the Commission on Science and Education of the Moscow City Duma Eugeni Bunimovich reported on YABLOKO’s performance in the Moscow parliament.

Press conference on the performance of the YABLOKO faction

Press Release, July 13, 2009

Press conference on the performance of the YABLOKO faction in the Moscow City Duma will take place in Nezavisimiy Press-Centr (Independent Press Centre) on July 14 at 2.00 p.m. At the conference the YABLOKO faction will report on its performance in the Moscow City Duma and will present of its action plan for the short term.

Garages owners demand that the authorities should return their property

Press Release, July 9, 2009

A meeting of deputy of the Moscow City Duma Sergei Mitrokhin with owners of garages pulled down at Podvsoiskogo street took place by the municipal council building of the Presnya District, Moscow. Sergei Mitrokhin informed the meeting that he had received an answer on his deputy’s inquiry addressed to the head of the property Department of Moscow Vladimir Silkin. The answer, however, did not clear up the point why some owners had been granted property title while other had not.

Sergei Mitrokhin and Barack Obama discussed the Russian ABM system

Press Release, July 7, 2009

“I am currently reconsidering the issue of ABM deployment in Europe. I can not rule out joint actions with Russia in this field. But that will be another security architecture,” that’s how US President reacted on the proposal of YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin to abolish plans of unilateral deployment of ABM systems in Europe and consider organisation of a joint Russian-American ABM system.

YABLOKOs leader proposes a joint Russia-US BMD project at the meeting with Barack Obama

Press Release, July 7, 2009

Strategic partnership and a joint Russia-US BMD system were the key points of Sergei Mitrokhin’s speech at the meeting with US President Barack Obama which took place in Moscow today, on July 7.

Speaking about the possibilities of implementation of the strategic partnership idea Sergei Mitrokhin noted that “today we have a favourable moment for supporting the idea with real actions”.

From a joint ABM system to strategic partnership

Press Release, July 7, 2009

Supporting declarations of strategic partnership by definite actions and improvement of understanding of each other represent the urgent tasks of Russia-US relations from the point of view of the YABLOKO party.

Such statements are made in the document handed by Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO’s leader, to President of the USA Barack Obama during their meeting on July 7.

YABLOKO calls to change Russia’s foreign policy

Press Release, July 3, 2009

“Current trends towards growth of authoritarianism and corruption, neoimperialism, rehabilitation of Stalin’s regime, unbridled anti-Western propaganda in the mass media create a serious obstacle for efficient foreign and defence policies, as well as domestic and economic policies. This trend should be reversed,” runs YABLOKO’s programme declaration on Russia’s foreign policy.

YABLOKO Presents Its Anti-Crisis Plan

Press Release June 30, 2009

Boosting of domestic demand, fight against corruption and protection of human rights should become top priorities for Russia’s domestic policies. Such goals are envisaged by YABLOKO’s Anti-Crisis Plan for Russia.

Opposition is ready to fight for the victory!

Press Release June 30, 2009

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.

One more Moscow park protected by YABLOKO

Press Release June 29, 2009
The Prefect’s Office of the Southern District of Moscow cancelled its resolution on construction of a restaurant on the territory of the Bitsevsky park. Such a statement has been made by an official from the Prefect’s Office today during a protest action against such construction.

ON RUSSIA’S FOREIGN POLICIES

Political Committee of the YABLOKO party. Statement, June 26, 2009
The present situation and prospects of Russia’s foreign policy provoke much concern...

YABLOKO is against “monetization” of the Russian-Ukrainian relations

Press Release June 24, 2009
The YABLOKO party is against appointment of Mikhail Zurabov as Russia’s Ambassador in Ukraine. Such a statement was made by YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitorkhin. “In the situation of escalation of conflict with Ukraine, [the government] proposes to appoint as Ambassador an extremely unpopular ex-official, who symbolizes the merger of business and government and replacement of policies with commerce. There is not doubt that such an appointment may only aggravate the problems,” said Mitrokhin.

YABLOKO disrupted the plans on elimination of a specially protected natural territory in Moscow

Press Release June 24, 2009
Today the Moscow City Duma has declined amendments into the draft law “On Specially Protected Natural Territories in Moscow” that would allow to conduct once in three years the so-called “corrections” [i.e. reductions] of such natural zones not exceeding 1 per cent of the territory. To prove to the deputies that such an initiative will inevitably lead to shrinking of forests and parks Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the YABLOKO party and its faction in the Moscow Duma, visited on June 22 with deputy’s inspection one of such specially protected natural territories (The Valley of the Riva Skhadnaya in Kurkino), where a nameless elite settlement is situated.

1418 Candles per a Day of War

Press Release June 22, 2009
About hundred of activists and advocates of the YABLOKO party participated in YABLOKO’s traditional 1,418 Candles per a Day of War action commemorating the beginning of the Great Patriotic War (the date of Hitler’s attack on the USSR commemorated in Russia as the Memory and Grievance Day). The action took place by the memorial to the moscovites who protected the city in the Second World War situated at Autozavodskaya square.

A Collective Lie from the Bureau of the Solidarnost Party

Press Release June 19, 2009
The Decision of the Bureau of the Solidarnost party that Boris Nemtsov’s 13% at the election of the Mayor of Sochi was the best result of the democrats for the past years contradicts the facts.

Mitrokhin proposed a visa-free regime between Russia and EU at the European liberal leaders meeting
Press Release, June 18, 2009
Introduction of a visa-free regime between Russia and European Union should be put into agenda of Swedish presidency in the EU. Such a proposal was put forward by the leader of the YABLOKO party Sergei Mitrokhin at the ELDR Leaders and Ministers meeting which took place in Brussels on Thursday, June 18, 2009, in advance of the European summit.

YABLOKO to Light up 1,418 Candles to in Memory of the War
Press Release, June 17, 2009
On the night June 21-22 YABLOKO activists will conduct their traditional 1,418 Candles per a Day of War action to commemorate the beginning of the Great Patriotic War (the date of Hitler’s attack on the USSR commemorated in Russia as the Memory and Grievance Day).

Chair of the YABLOKO party will participate in the meeting of ministers and liberal leaders
Press Release, June 17, 2009
Chairman of the YABLOKO party will participate in the ELDR Leaders and Ministers meeting which will take place in Brussels on Thursday, June 18, 2009, in advance of the European summit. This meeting will be the first time that ELDR's leaders will have gathered since the European elections and the main focus of the discussions will be the election results and the composition of the liberal democrat group in the European parliament.

Representatives from the Opposition Will be Included into the Presidential Anti-Corruption Council
Press Release, June 11, 2009
On June 11, 2009, YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin made detailed proposals for fighting corruption during the meeting of President Medvedev with representatives of three non-parliamentary parties. The head of the state supported proposal of the YABLOKO leader to include representatives of the opposition parties into the Presidential Anti-Corruption Council. Mitrokhin also added that “thus representatives of the opposition parties will be able to engage independent experts, and the position of the latter will not be linked with the interests of bureaucracy.”.

YABLOKO’s Leaders Meet with President of Russia
Press Release, June 11, 2009
“Russia requires urgent modernization of its whole political system, rather than its economy only. A modern state implies division of powers, and we should replace the ideology of the vertical of power by the technology of division of power,” said YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin at the meeting with President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev. The meeting took place at presidential residence Barvikha on June 11.

Meeting of YABLOKO’s Discussion Club
Press Release, June 10, 2009
"Are There Historical Truth and Historical Lies?" such was the topic of the final meeting of YABLOKO’s Discussion Club closing this season. The topic of the meeting was connected with the recent resolutions of the Political Council of the party on debolveshevisation and destalinisation as a pre-condition for Russia’s modernization.

Liberals and Women Strengthen Their Positions in the New European Parliament
Press Release, June 9, 2009
The liberal parties considerably strengthened their influence at the European Parliament election which took place at the week-end. It is expected that the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (the ALDE Group) which is largely based on the European Liberal Democrats party (ELDR) will get 84 seats in the new Parliament.

Liberals and Democrats confirmed in kingmaker role in new Parliament
Press Release, June 9, 2009
Liberal and Democrat MEPs will be returning to the new European Parliament after this weekend's European elections in almost exactly the same proportions as they left the old with approximately 12% of the seats of the House. Precise numbers are yet to be confirmed but they expect to form a group with about 85 MEPs. With no overall majority party, this will confirm their role as Kingmakers in the new Parliament.

A meeting of the Council for Consolidation of Women’s Movement in Russia
Press Release, June 5, 2009
An ordinary meeting of the Council for Consolidation of Women’s Movement in Russia took place on June 3. The adopted decisions included the concept of the Council’s web-site, agreement with the Association of Russia’s Local and Municipal Newspapers and participation in the conference “With Traditions to the Present” on the role of women in the republics of Caucasus and Dagestan. The meeting also adopted a decision to support a number of candidates to the Public Chamber.

Ilya Klebanov Have to Resign
Statement. June 4, 2009
The Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO finds the statement of Presidential Envoy in the Northwestern Federal District Ilya Klebanov when he addressed journalist Alexei Makhlov incompatible with his high post.

Closing of the Spring Term of the Evening Party University
Press Release. June 4, 2009
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.

The “Energy Experiment” Stopped
Press Release. June 4, 2009
It has been announced today that energy providers OAO Mosenergosbit and OOO Rusenergosbit M signed an agreement. The agreement put an end to the so-called “energy experiment” conducted in the East and South-East of Moscow. In compliance with the agreement, Rusenergosbit M will collect payments for Mosenergosbit via a single payment document. Thus, the right of the citizens to pay by a separate bill to Mosenergosbit have been restored.

Head of Vasileostrovsky Area Did Not Manage to Interfere in Election of the Heads of the Morskoi District
St.Petersburg YABLOKO Press Service
June 3, 2009
Head and deputy head of the Morskoi municipal district were elected on June 2, three months after the local elections. Irina Matyash, member of the United Russia party, was elected head of the municipal district and Olga Galkina, member of the Bureau of St.Petersburg YABLOKO and head of the local (district) YABLOKO branch was elected deputy head.

500 people came to the meeting for protection of Bitsevsky Forest in Moscow
Press Release. June 3, 2009
In the evening on June 2, 2009, over 500 activists participated in the protest action for the protection of Bitsevsky Forest against construction of a cafe on a safeguarded territory.

Public Hearings: the Institute of Ombudsman for Children’s Rights Should Be Preserved
Press Release, June 2, 2009
Public hearings “Preservation of the Post of Ombudsman for Children’s Rights as a Guarantee for Observation of Minors’ Rights” took place in the Independent Press Centre in Moscow on the International Children's Day, June 1. The hearings were motioned by an unexpected and surprising amendment submitted by the United Russia to the Moscow City Duma envisaging elimination of the institute of Ombudsman for Children’s Rights in Moscow.

The Green Russia and Global Nuclear Legacy
Press Release, June 1, 2009
The leaders of the Green Russia faction of the YABLOKO party Alexei Yablokov and Alexander Nikitin participated in the meeting of the Global Nuclear Legacy project in Budapest on May 29-31. Over 40 representatives of the anti-nuclear movement from the USA, Western and Eastern Europe, and the CIS countries came to Budapest. The meeting joined together victims of the nuclear industry, ecologists and specialists from the nuclear sphere who openly inform the society of the dangers of the industry.

Moscow Government is creating another monopoly
Press Release, June 1, 2009
The Moscow government has decided to abolish tenders for placement of state orders for certain types of work in construction, provision of urban amenities and housing and utilities services. This information was released at the meeting of the Youth Chamber with the Moscow City Duma on Friday. Deputy Moscow Mayor Valery Vinogradov also participated in the meeting.

No to the Transport Tax Raise!
Statement of the Bureau of the YABLOKO party, June 1, 2009
Most of the developed and dynamically developing countries have been trying by different means to lower or at least not to raise their taxes during the crisis. Our Government once again chose a different road finding new ways to shift the burden of the crisis onto the citizens.

The Youth Organisation of the YABLOKO party participated in the political discussion Hyde Park in the Public Chamber
Press Release, June 1, 2009
On May 29, 2009, the Youth Organisation of the YABLOKO party participated in the political discussion Hyde Park. The discussion was held in the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation. Leaders of youth organisations from different political parties joined the discussion.

Accusations against organisers of the exhibition “Prohibited Art – 2006 ” represent a recurrence of Stalinism
Statement , May 29, 2009
YABLOKO is calling to stop criminal action against Yuri Samodurov, Director of the Sakharov Centre, and Andrei Yerofeyev, fines art expert. Accusations in arousing hatred and religious strife for organisation of a fine arts exhibition are not merely absurd, but even dangerous in the 21st century.

Only truth can be set against distortion of history
Press Release, May 27, 2009
A draft statement was submitted by Grigory Yavlinsky with due account of proposals made by Sergei Mitrokhin, Alexei Yablokov, Boris Misnik, Viktor Sheinis and Galina Mikhalyova.

The Moscow City Duma to propose a way out of the “energy experiment”
Press Release, May 27, 2009
The leader of the YABLOKO party and its faction in the Moscow parliament Sergei Mitrokhin submitted to the Moscow City Duma a draft appeal to the Mayor of Moscow on overcoming the consequences of a failed experiment in the energy sector held in the East and South-East of Moscow.

YABLOKO celebrates the Entrepreneur Day
Press Release, May 26, 2009
Picketing under the slogan “Big Support to Small Business!” has taken place by the Economic Ministry building at Triumfalnaya Square today, on Russia’s Entrepreneur Day. Associations of entrepreneurs from Moscow, Oryol, Voronezh, Lipetsk and Tula participated in the action organised by YABLOKO.

Small business will defend its rights on the Entrepreneur Day
Press Release, May 25, 2009
A meeting for protection of small business from bureaucratic arbitrary rule will take place at Triumfalnaya Square on Entrepreneur Say, May 26, at 12:00.

Meeting of the Bureau of the YABLOKO party
Press Release, May 25, 2009
Picketing under the slogan “Big Support to Small Business!” has taken place by the Economic Ministry building at Triumfalnaya Square today, on Russia’s Entrepreneur Day. Associations of entrepreneurs from Moscow, Oryol, Voronezh, Lipetsk and Tula participated in the action organised by YABLOKO.

On the Threat of a Loss of Independence of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation
Press Release, May 25, 2009
On May 20, 2009, the State Duma of the RF adopted in the first reading draft federal law “On Introduction of Changes into the Federal Constitutional Law “On the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation”, submitted by the President of the Russian Federation and stipulating that the Chair of the Constitutional Court and his deputies should be appointed by the Federation Council on the presentation by the head of the state and not be elected by the judges of the Constitutional Court like it has been taking place up to now.

The meeting against growth of tariffs in Gelendzhik took place despite prohibitions (photo)
Press Release, May 24, 2009
Over 400 signatures against the raise of tariffs by natural monopolies were gathered at YABLOKO’s picket by the Economic Ministry building conducted under the slogan “[Minister] Nabiullina, blowing of tariffs provokes population’s patience!”.

YABLOKO gathered 400 signatures against growth of tariffs by the Economic Ministry building
Press Release, May 20, 2009
Over 400 signatures against the raise of tariffs by natural monopolies were gathered at YABLOKO’s picket by the Economic Ministry building conducted under the slogan “[Minister] Nabiullina, blowing of tariffs provokes population’s patience!”.

Moscow ombudsman will protect children’s rights

Press Release May 20, 2009

Today on May 20, the Moscow City Duma has discussed a veto set by the Mayor of Moscow on the law “On the Ombudsperson in Moscow” and adopted the Mayor’s amendments.

YABLOKO’s leader: President should indicate a course towards modernization

Press Release May 17, 2009

“Russian President’s concern about technological level of Russia’s industry is absolutely justified, however, he should realise that economic modernization requires modernization of the whole country, including the society and the political system,” that’s how YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin commented on Dmitry Medvedev’s statement that “modernization of the economy has been taking place only on paper”.

YABLOKO criticizes Economic Minister Elvira Nabiullina

Press Release May 15, 2009

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin expressed protest in connection with the plans of the Economic Ministry to raise gas prices by 15 per cent for companies and by 5 per cent for the population.

YABLOKO’s leader meets with Russia’s Ombudsman

Press Release May 14, 2009

A meeting between YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Russia’s Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin took place on May 13. An initiative group of the citizens from Nekrasovka district, Moscow, told Lukin about their problems: despite their property title their 640 garage boxes were destroyed in the above-mentioned district. The court ruled out that compensations in favour of garage-owners should be paid, however, they were 2 – 2.5 times lower than the market value of the destroyed garages.

A Day of Life

By Lev Shlosberg, Pskovskaya Guberniya, May 13, 2009

Out of many thousands of days that make up the human history I would like to live through only one day – May 9, 1945. Partially this reminds me of my childhood dreams – how I would get back in the centuries or meet the protagonists of my favourite books. And then I would return back. However, my present desire is different. I would like to see and live through this very Day, when millions of people, according to the theory of probability, did not have a single chance to live and see this day.

Will Monopolies’ Tariffs Be Transparent?

Press Release, May 12, 2009

Sergei Mitrokhin, the leader of the YABLOKO party and the Yabloko faction in the Moscow City Duma, submitted for examination of the Moscow City Duma a draft law obliging natural monopolies and companies on budget funding applying regulated tariffs and extra charges to disclose and publish in the Internet their financial information.

YABLOKO commemorates the soldiers who died in combats of the Second World War (photo and video)

Press Release, May 9, 2009

On May 9 activists and leaders of the YABLOKO party participated in the mourning ceremony at Preobrazhenskoye cemetery in Moscow, where thousands of Muscovites – soldiers and officers who died during the Second World War – are buried. YABLOKO activists laid wreathes and flowers to the Eternal Flame by the Bed of Honour of Soldiers who fell in the fights against fascism.

Congratulations on the Victory Day

Press Release, May 9, 2009

Dear friends, YABLOKO congratulates the Russian citizens and all who are against fascism with the Victory Day!

YABLOKO commemorates the soldiers of the Second World War

Press Release, May 8, 2009

On May 8 on the threshold of the Victory Day in Russia (May 9) representatives of the YABLOKO party laid wreathes and flowers to the Eternal Flame and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexandrovsky Garden by the Kremlin wall. YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin, members of the party Bureau Alexander Kuznetzov and Alexei Melnikov and about 50 activists of the party took part in the ceremony.

YABLOKO to commemorate the memory of the heroes of the Second World War

Press Release, May 5, 2009

On May 8 on the threshold of the Victory Day in Russia (May 9) representatives of the YABLOKO party will lay wreathes and flowers to the Eternal Flame and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexandrovsky Garden by the Kremlin wall. The participants gather by the Zhukov Monument at 5 p.m.
On May 9 the Moscow organisation of YABLOKO will participate in the mourning ceremony at Preobrazhenskoye cemetery in Moscow, where thousands of Muscovites – soldiers and officers who died during the Second World War – are buried. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m.

Russia: an Empire or an Autocracy

YABLOKO’s Discussion Club
Press Release, May 4, 2009

Another meeting of YABLOKO’s Discussion Club took place in YABLOKO’s main office in later April. The main speakers on the topic “Russia: an Empire or an Autocracy” were Prof. Vladimir Kantor, writer, historian of Russian culture, professor of philosophy of the Higher School of Economics and Prof. Irina Busygina, prize-winner of the European Academy, professor of political science of the Moscow State Institute of Foreign Relations. The anchor was Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of the Political Committee and Chair of the Gender faction of the YABLOKO party.

YABLOKO held a march on May 1 despite the authorities’ ban (video)
Press Release May 1, 2009
YABLOKO’s anti-crisis meeting on May 1 ended with an unsanctioned march from the Luzhkov Bridge to the Tretyakov Gallery. Part of the participants of the meeting gathering at Bolotnaya square (several hundred people) went along Lavrushinsky Pereulok chanting “Authorities under Public Control!”, “No to the Ban on Demonstrations” and “Observe the Constitution!”.

On May 1 YABLOKO is going to present its anti-crisis programme
Announcement, April 30, 2009
Tomorrow on May 1 an anti-crisis meeting organised by the YABLOKO party will take place at Bolotnaya square, Moscow, at 1 p.m.

Overcoming bolshevism and stalinism as a key factor for Russia’s transformation in the 21st century

March, 11, 2009.

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO regards the current dangerous socio-political situation in the country as rapidly deteriorating: political killings have become a decisive factor and violence against individuals has turned into a key argument...