The leader of the Dagestan branch of YABLOKO: the police are lying about the break of the cordon so that to justify their unlawful actions

Press Release, December 27, 2012.

The police released Artur Babayev, the leader of the Dagestan branch of YABLOKO, who had been previously detained in Makhachkala. The politician stated that the press service of the republican Interior Ministry lied that he had allegedly tried to break through the cordons into the building. Allegedly the building was cordoned as explosives had been found in the roof...

A police officer in the police department took Babayev’s fingerprints and photographed him allegedly "on suspicion of the previously committed crimes". In his report the policeman who brought Babayev to the police department wrote an obvious lie that the politician had tried to “break the cordon". Later this lie was broadcasted by the Interior Ministry.

Later Babayev was released, but the police refused to give him any documents proving the fact of his detention.

YABLOKO is considering the possibility to appeal against the police actions, as the law envisaged that only those "suspected of committing a crime, accused of a crime, convicted of a crime or subject to administrative arrest" are subjects to mandatory fingerprinting.

The leader of the Dagestan branch of YABLOKO detained and the party's office in Makhachkala is surrounded by police cordons

Press Release, December 27, 2012.

Artur Babyev, leader of the Dagestan branch of YABLOKO, is detained in Makhachkala. The party office is surrounded by police cordons.

About an hour ago Babayev came to the party office at Yusupova, 53. The building was surrounded by police. When Babayev tried to clarify the reasons of police cordons, one of police officials told to detain him and escort him to the Leninsky police department of Makhachkala...

Grigory Yavlinsky: “This law is an immense government’s and human meanness against defenseless orphans”

Grigory Yavlinsky’s address to the deputies of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, December 26, 2012

The Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg did not put into the agenda the address to the Federation Council calling the latter to reject the so-called Dima Yakovlev law (the "orphans law"). The address was initiated by ten members of the Legislative Assembly, including the YABLOKO faction. An appeal from Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the YABLOKO faction, was distributed among deputies before the plenary session. Here comes the complete text of the appeal...

The Ministry of Education and Science is inefficient, not universities

Statement by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin in connection with dismissal of Sergei Baburin, Rector of the Russian University for Trade and Economy (RGTEU), December 26, 2012.

At present we can observe an attack against the remnants of independence of the Russian university education. Sergei Baburin, Rector of RGTEU, was dismissed from his post by the order of the Ministry of Education on December 24. This decision is an act of political violence by the Ministry of Education against the rector, who demanded from the Ministry to explain why and under what criteria his university had been listed as "inefficient" and had had to be merged with another university.
I believe that the dismissal of Sergei Baburin, Rector of RGTEU, is unlawful and only aggravates the situation around the merger of universities. It is surprising that federal television channels are employed in the fight against the students and the former rector RGTEU. The pieces of news broadcasted by TV diminish the role and significance of Sergei Baburin as an academic...

Protesters against the Anti-Magnitsky Law by the Federation Council face huge fines and compulsory community service works

Press Release, December 26, 2012.

Activists of the Youth YABLOKO protesting this morning by the Federation Council against the so-called Dima Yakovlev law (“the orphans law”) are facing administrative fines amounting to RUR 30,000 (approximately USD 1,000) and compulsory community service works. Cases of administrative violations are filed against four activists.

A series of pickets against the approval by the Federation Council of the law prohibiting American families to adopt children from Russia started an hour before the plenary session of the Federation Council. In order not to violate the law, as only one-person pickets can be conducted without getting a prior permission from the authorities, the protesters planned to picket in turn changing each other every ten minutes and passing the banners "Senators, fight against corruption, not orphans" and "Children freeze in the cold war” from hand to hand...

YABLOKO to picket against the “orphans law”

Press Release, December 25, 2012.

Tomorrow, on December 26, YABLOKO activists will conduct a series of one-person pickets against adoption by the State Duma of the “orphans law” (the “Dima Yakovlev law”).

The action will be held under the slogan, “Senators, fight against corruption, not against orphans!”

The picket will be held by the Federation Council, as senators will be considering the law on December 26.

The picket will begin at 9:30 a.m...

We demand that prosecution of Suren Gazaryan be stopped

Statement by the YABLOKO party, December 21, 2012.

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses a categorical protest against the prosecution of Suren Gazaryan and putting him on the federal wanted list. Suren Gazaryan is a well-known environmentalist, an organizer of public actions against outrageous environmental violations in the Krasnodar region, the initiator of the resonance investigations of unlawful construction of permanent facilities in the natural reserves, Gazaryan plays an important role in the socio-political life of the region and criminal prosecution of Gazaryan represents nothing but a revenge of the authorities to him for his civil and political activity...

Considering the prosecution of Suren Gazaryan politically motivated, the YABLOKO party demands from Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, to check the actions of his subordinates in the Krasnodar region who have been fabricating the second criminal case against Suren Gazaryan on absolutely fictitious grounds.

YABLOKO calls on all opposition forces, all the honest people to switch into the campaign in defence of Suren Gazaryan. Let us not allow the authorities to imprison him!

YABLOKO conducted a round table on Russia’s migration problems

Press Release, December 19, 2012.

The YABLOKO party invited experts to discuss migration problems in Russia. Opening the round table, Boris Misnik, Coordinator of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, outlined the key issues for the discussion, including control over residence and registration, their legal basis, living conditions in the country of residence, everyday xenophobia and others.

Galina Mikhalyova, Secretary of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, stressed that YABLOKO realized the complexity of the migration problems.

"We have invited experts so that they would help us to develop a clear position on this issue. Because a social-liberal political party offering an alternative to the government’s policy, can not avoid this complex problem," she said...

State Duma’s revenge on the US affects only Russian orphans

Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, December 18, 2012.

The YABLOKO party expresses its resolute protest against the intention of the State Duma to adopt an amendment into the controversial draft law "On measures against persons involved in the violation of the rights of citizens of the Russian Federation" (the so-called "Dima Yakovlev Law") as a “response” by the Russian authorities to the Magnitsky Act adopted in the US. The amendment bans the adoption of Russian children by US citizens

We do not think that the adoption of the Magnitsky Act was right, as the "punishment" in the form of a refuse to issue visas is not based on a court decision. Actually in dealing with this foreign policy issue the US abolished a juridical approach they are guided in the solution of domestic issues.

However, the "response" of the Russian Duma turned out to be not even more unlawful, but simply disgusting. The victims of legal nihilism of the Russian lawmakers are not Americans (who will simply adopt children in other countries), but the most vulnerable category of the Russian citizens – the orphans...

The State Duma should abolish adoption of the law on the homosexual “propaganda”!

Statement by YABLOKO's Gender Faction, December 18, 2012.

On December 19, 2012, the State Duma is going to pass a bill targeted against a part of our society, namely, people belonging to the LGBT community (Lesbian - Gay - Bisexual - Transgender) under the pretext of taking care of children who for some reason should not know about people with other view points and habits.

In the West and other parts of the world the states have ceased to look under their citizens’ blankets prescribing how and with whom they should have sex. Moreover, many countries have legalised gay marriages, and even adoption of children by such couples.

This shameful law against different people disseminating hatred and ousting part of our compatriots into ghettos is virtually accusing them of inferiority. The adoption of such a law means returning of the Soviet law on "sodomy" envisaging criminal prosecution or even refers to the Nazis’ "final solution of the problem" of homosexuality in gas cameras...

Grigory Yavlinsky: reduction of corruption in St.Petersburg implies transparency of financial procedures and control of the St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly over the city budget

Press Release, December 17, 2012.

Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of YABLOKO’s parliamentary faction in St.Petersburg, introduced his amendments to the Rules of the Budget and Finance Committee of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg. These amendments are targeted at improving the transparency of the Committee, as well as enhancing control over the budget planning. According to Yavlinsky, adoption of these amendments would reduce abuse in the field of public funds.

"We need to qualitatively change our approach to the [city] budget. The whole process should be modern and transparent. Only in this case it is possible to reduce corruption," Yavlinsky said. He proposed to the city MPs to publish the agenda of the Committee and all the relevant documents at the web-site of the Legislative Assembly. Also he noted that the agenda of the Committee should be approved in advance...

"[At present] most of St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly MPs vote for the budget without its detailed analysis or control over expenditures, being satisfied by redistribution of less than one per cent of the budget for their own goals within the frameworks of the Committee. It resembles an exchange of services: MPs do not control the budget, and the officials allow them to spend 0.5 per cent of the budget at their discretion. This is a pattern of political corruption," Yavlinsky said...

Grigory Yavlinsky: depriving of officials of their bonuses for failing to implement the budget for St.Petersburg for 2012 is a correct, but insufficient measure

Press Release, December 17, 2012.

Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the YABLOKO faction in St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, commented on the Governor’s decision to deprive a number of city officials of their bonuses for poor implementation of the budget for 2012.

"Implementation of the budget lies in the direct responsibilities of the Government of St. Petersburg. Year after year, we have observed non-implementation of the law [on the budget]. The authorities regularly proclaim that the budget is ‘socially oriented’, however also regularly do not implement the key items of the budget: do not build social facilities such as schools, kindergartens and hospitals, they do not to build roads and other infrastructure facilities. St.Petersburg dwellers pay taxes, and the government in exchange for this promises them mountains of gold, however, in the last minute the government reports that citizens will not receive even what has been planned. The residents of the city quite correctly perceive this as a deceit and their trust to the government drops," Yavlinsky said...

The Supreme Court authorised a total wiretapping of the opposition leaders

Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, December 13, 2012.

The Supreme Court of the RF adopted a resolution announcing wiretapping of any opposition member absolutely lawful.

The resolution was adopted on the Maxim Petlin case. The highest court recognised the sanction of the court on listening to Petlin’s telephone conversations and spying on him lawful, as he is member of the YABLOKO party.

The decision of the Supreme Court, which will clearly form a precedent for the entire court system was based only on Petlin’s participation in the work of the YABLOKO party and, therefore, can be applied to any member of our or any other opposition party.

The court ruled out that participation in the activities of a political party held "some evidence of crime as envisaged by Article 280 of the Criminal Code [namely] "public calls for extremist activities".

Indeed, the YABLOKO party, as was indicated by the court, was aiming at “changing the Putin-Medvedev regime” organizing protest actions, and, which is the worst thing, giving a negative assessment to the "broadening of the proxies of the Federal Security Service of Russia”...

Reduction of budget funding for treatment of cancer patients means genocide!

Statement by the Social Democratic Faction of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO, December 12, 2012.

We are outraged by the statement made by Maxim Mishchenko, leader of the [pro-Kremlin] Young Russia movement, on the need to reduce budget expenditure on treatment of cancer patients. The former MP from the United Russia faction intends to introduce his criminal initiative at the hearings of the Public Chamber devoted to paid medical services, after which he intends to send the draft to the Ministry of Healthcare.

We regard the initiative proposed by the leader of United Russia's youth organisation as an open manifestation of fascism and violation of the Constitution of the Russian Federation guaranteeing all citizens the right to life and free health care.

We demand that the ruling party stop its mockery of Russia’s people and the attack on the right of citizens to high-quality free education and free health care, as well as curbing of the social responsibilities of the state taking place against the background of an unprecedented in Russia's history growth of oil and gas revenues...

YABLOKO’s Elena Dubrovina receives the Lawyer of the Year award

Greetings from Sergei Mitrokhin, December 9, 2012.

Dear Elena Pavlovna,

For and on behalf of the YABLOKO party I am pleased to congratulate you on awarding you the Lawyer of the Year prize. This prize is especially valuable because it is awarded to you by your colleagues. This represents, though to a small extent only, the recognition of your high qualification, your commitment to principles and independence. Your respect for the law, which characterises your professional activity, may serve as a model for all lawyers.

We are proud that our views coincide and that we have been working together...

The third action of Vladimir Putin supporters in front of the Krasnodar YABLOKO office is marked by burning effigies of Sergei Mitrokhin, Evgenia Chirikova and Alexei Navalny

Press Release, Video, December 6, 2012.

On December 4, 2012, the third action of Vladimir Putin supporters took place in front of the Krasnodar office of the YABLOKO party. The action was organised by the Social Justice public organisation uniting Vladimir Putin supporters. The participants of the action burned the effigies of Sergei Mitrokhin, Evgenia Chirikova and Alexei Navalny.

About 50 people participated in the ‘puting’ (a word coined of two words - “Putin” and “meeting” - and meaning a loud action in support of Vladimir Putin). Most of them were elderly people. They stated that “YABLOKO was trying to destroy Russia”, and that “YABLOKO was fungus and moldiness parasiting on Russia’s healthy body”...

YABLOKO’s candidate for the post of the head of the Krymsk District in the South Russia is removed from elections due to a provocation from the authorities

Press Release, December 4, 2012.

YABLOKO’s candidate for the post of the head of the Krymsk District in the South Russia, removed from elections due to a sly provocation from the authorities
A few days ago the Krymsk District Court imposed a fine amounting to RUR 2,000 on a Mr.Petrenko, who pretended to campaign for Yugeny Vitishko distributing food-stuff allegedly on behalf of Vitishko. Vitishko did not know the campaigner and therefore did not interfere into the trial or challenge the court’s decision.
However, due to this decision, the Court was able to remove Vitishko from the elections because bribing of voters was allegedly conducted on behalf of Vitishko. This decision was made by Judge Galina Yurchevskaya on December 4...

YABLOKO to conduct lectures for electoral commission members with a casting vote

Press Release, December 3, 2012.

Next week YABLOKO launches a series of lectures on the work of electoral commission members with a casting vote. All candidates to electoral commissions (those registered at the party web-site and those not registered yet) can listen to the lectures.

A law on formation of precinct electoral commissions for next five years came into force on November 1. These commissions will work at elections of all levels until April 2018. YABLOKO goes on recruiting candidates for nomination as members of precinct electoral commissions with a casting vote...

A “memorial action of the deceased fair elections” took place by the Central Electoral Commission Moscow office and in other cities

Press Release, December 4, 2012.

A “memorial action of the deceased fair elections” has begun by the Central Electoral Commission Moscow office and in other cities. The action was launched by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin by laying flowers to the Central Electoral Commission Moscow office at noon...

Today YABLOKO activists have been laying white carnations to electoral commissions in Ufa, Saransk, Kazan, Izhevsk, Voronezh, Kirov, Penza, Pskov, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tula, Vladimir, Vologda and Novgorod.

Sergei Mitrokhin: Churov has not realized what happened a year ago

Press Release, December 4, 2012.

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has not realized what happened in the parliamentary elections on December 4, 2011. It was not the YABLOKO party which stole the votes, votes were stolen from the YABLOKO party. This is how YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin commented on the statement from the CEC press service running that if YABLOKO did not recognize the results of the voting, then it would be "logical" for YABLOKO to refuse state financing [allotted to all the political parties in Russia that obtaining over three 3 per cent at the elections].
Sergei Mitrokhin compared such a proposal on behalf of the CEC for YABLOKO to give up state financing with a situation when a police would suddenly demand money from a robbery victim as they can not find the robbers.

YABLOKO leader also noted that the party had filed hundreds of complaints to courts, but they had been rejected, despite obvious evidence of violations – election carousels, stuffing of fraudulent ballots into ballot boxes, ousting of observers from polling stations and faking of final voting protocols.

Mitrokhin also said that he applied to Gennady Zyuganov, Communist Party leader, in April 2012 with a proposal to file a joint lawsuit demanding cancellation of the elections. "Only a few days are left until this plan can be realised," Mitrokhin said...

People will be bringing flowers in memory to the Central Electoral Commission in memory of the deceased fair elections for the whole day on December 4

Press Release, December 3, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin proposed to commemorate the death day of the most important democratic procedure – fair elections – on the one-year anniversary of the parliamentary elections of 2011...

The Tula regional branch of YABLOKO also calls on all supporters of fair elections bring white carnations to the 6th entrance of the Government of Tula Region office, where the Electoral Commission of the Tula region is located. The action will be held on December 4, from 12:00 to 13:00.

The Vladimir branch of the YABLOKO party will lay flowers to the office of the Oktyabrsky District Administration in Vladimir on December 4. The territorial electoral commission is located in this building. On December 4, 2011, this commission adopted and counted six thousand fraudulent votes from the "Ladoga" resort complex. All the votes were cast for the ruling United Russia party.

A rally in support of hundreds of deceived farmers to take place in Mozhaisk, the Moscow region

Press Release, November 30, 2012.

On Saturday, December 1, a rally in support of hundreds of deceived farmers organised by the YABLOKO party will take place in Mozhaisk, the Moscow region. YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin will participate in the action.
In 1992, 827 workers of the farms Pavlishchevo and Klementevo received documents confirming their right of collective share on land. Each of the workers received 6.64 hectares of land.
In 2001, the companies management persuaded about 600 farmers (mainly elderly people) to give their documents to the Registration Chamber allegedly for mandatory registration of their rights. According to the victims, the deputy head of the rural settlement who had the right to notarize documents forged the powers of attorney and transferred the land to the companies without any pay to the farmers. Head of the Registration Chamber was bribed and signed the deal...

Members of the YABLOKO faction in St.Petersburg parliament voted against the law on the St. Petersburg budget for 2013

Press Release, Video, November 28, 2012.

According to Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the YABLOKO faction in St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, the city budget was implemented only by 51 per cent for the first nine months of 2012. This had been announced by St.Petersburg government on the eve of discussion of the budget in the parliament. This means that many social facilities, roads, etc. were not built.

According to Yavlinsky, failure to implement the budget in 2012 demonstrates the overall work of the government. "This non-implementaiton of the budget shows that the government of St. Petersburg fails in solving its main task. If this non-implementation goes on, then what is the point in the social obligations declared by the city government? If these tasks are never fully implemented? What's the point in the continuous discussions that there is no enough funding for this or that thing? If the money is in the treasury, then what it is spent on? What's the point in raising taxes, excise taxes, etc.? " Yavlinsky said...

A picket in support of Suren Gazaryan held in Kazan

Press Release, November 27, 2012.

On Saturday activists of the YABLOKO held a picket in support of YABLOKO’s Suren Gazoryan facing several years of imprisonment for standing up against Governor Tkachyov’s unlawful seizure of public lands in the Black Sea Coast.

About 15 people participated in the picket in Kazan. Nailya Biktimirova, representating of the Social-Ecological Union, said that this summer she met with Gazaryan in Moscow at the award ceremony of the Presidential Council for Civil Society Development and Human Rights. At that time Gazoryan was sentenced to three years of probation for graffiti and “damaging” of the fence around Governor’s cottage built on public land. However, a new case against Gazaryan may lead to his imprisonment, as accordikng to the investigators, YABLOKO’s activist had allegedly threatened to kill the three guards of the so-called Putin’s Palace.

"I think any environmental activist may be imprisoned now, as the authorities have been trying to defend the territory they did not have any right to sale and develop,” said Naila Biktimirova...

Sergei Mitrokhin: Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachyov much be charged with negligence in the case of a flood in Krymsk resulting in many victims

Press Release, November 27, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin said that not only officials from district and city governments, but also officials from the Krasnodar Territory Administration and Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachyov much be charged with negligence in the case of a flood in Krymsk resulting in many victims.

“I am satisfied with the fact that a charge was brought against the local authorities, but this is not enough. We have convincingly shown that the regional authorities have failed to implement their duties, however, none of the officials incurred the responsibility. Why Governor Tkachyov guilty of criminal negligence should remain in his post for another five years endangering the population of his territory? “ Mitrokhin said...

YABLOKO faction formed in the Municipal Council of the Presnensky district, Moscow

Press Release, November 27, 2012.

The YABLOKO faction has been formed in the Municipal Council of the Presnensky district, Moscow. It consists of three municipal deputies: Ekaterina Kalatskaya, Sergei Bocharov and Yuri Novikov.

Despite the fact that municipal deputies decided to create a faction immediately after the elections in March 2012, they have managed to implement this only now. Normally formation of a faction does not require a decision from a municipal council, however, YABLOKO’s deputies had to face resistance from the chairman and some deputies of the Council...

Women demanded from the State Duma to protect women from domestic violence

Press Release, Photographs, November 25, 2012.

An action against violence against women was held in Moscow on November 25. The participants demanded from the State Duma to urgently adopt a law protecting women from domestic violence.

YABLOKO’s Gender faction had been conducting such actions for the third year already on the first day of the UN campaign "16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women"...

To investigate the reasons behind the prison riot in the Chelyabinsk region

Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, November 26, 2012.

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO demands investigation of the events that led to the riot in the Penal Colony ? 6 in the city of Kopeysk, the Chelyabinsk region, on November 24, and unjustified cruelty in suppressing of the riot and use of riot police (OMON) for dispersing prisoners’ relatives and human rights activists who gathered by the prison.

So far, the Russian society has not received any coherent explanation from the prison administration and the heads of the Federal Service for Execution of Punishment. However, there is no doubt that such a large-scale confrontation between prisoners and the prison administration can not occur all of a sudden. Unfortunately, Penal Colony No 6 has been notoriously "famous" for a series of scandals involving the deaths and tortures of prisoners. Information coming from the administration and the Federal Service for Execution and Punishment of "an unlawful demand of 250 prisoners on weakening of the regime" does not look credible. We see the prisoners’ calls for help, excessive use of force by the riot police against prisoners’ relatives and human rights activists...

The authorities want to put YABLOKO’s candidate to the Mayor of Krymsk into prison

Press Release, November 23, 2012.

Yugeny Vitishko, a renowned environmentalist and civil rights activist, member of the Regional Council of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO and member of the North Caucasus Environmental Watch, is running for the post of head of the Krymsk District in South Russia (the district which suffered from a large flood this summer) from the YABLOKO party. The elections will be held on December 9.
This summer, Vitishko was sentenced due to fraudulent evidence to three years probation for the "damage to the fence" around the Governor Tkachyov’s cottage. The lands under the cottage and the fensed beach nearby still registered as public are virtually in the Governor’s property. Now new charges are invented so that to withdraw a strong candidate from the election campaign. The authorities threaten to replace a suspended sentence by a real imprisonment...

Stop discrediting Russia!

Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, November 22, 2012.

The campaign of mobbing of renowned human rights organisations - the "Memorial", Transparency International, the Moscow Helsinki Group, the Foundation for Economic and Legal Development USRF and "For Human Rights" movement - unleashed by pro-Kremlin youth movements is unlawful and immoral.

Similar actions are taken in respect of the YABLOKO party. On November 19 a second rally by the pro-Putin organisation called "Social Justice" was held by the Krasnodar office of the YABOKO party. Vladimir Putin’s supporters try to make our party to "publicly apologize for the insulting leaflets against the elected President"...

A second action in support of Vladimir Putin takes place in front the Krasnodar office of the YABLOKO party

Press Service by the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO, Videos, November 21, 2012.

On November 19, a rally of public non-governmental organisation Social Justice (supporting Vladimir Putin) took place in front of the in front the Krasnodar office of the YABLOKO party.
The organizers of the rally tried to make the Krasnodar YABLOKO "publicly apologize for the insulting leaflets against the elected President".

This is already the second action against YABLOKO organised by Krasnodar supporters of Vladimir Putin. The first action in a form of a pocket was held in front of the office of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO on November 1. The pro-Putin rally gathered about 50 participants who carried slogans "The Krasnodar Territory supports Putin" and "Social justice." The overwhelming majority of the participants were elderly women. Several supervisors registered those who came to the rally so that to give them remuneration for participation in the rally...

YABLOKO activists, in turn, spread among the protesters different materials about Putin, including the booklet "The Black Sea Palaces and Their Hosts" and "Life of the Galley Slave" and other booklets (‘anti-government’ from the point of the view of the organizers of the rally). The booklets went like hotcakes, despite of active counteraction of the organizers who tried to snatch the booklets from the hands of their own activists. But the participants of the pro-Putin rally turned out to be interested in alternative information about Putin and carried away about 100 "anti-government’s" booklets...

Grigory Yavlinsky: education and health care should be among the priorities of the state policy

Press Release, November 14, 2012.

Such a statement was made by Grigory Yavlinsky, founder of the YABLOKO party and leader of the YABLOKO faction in the St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, during an open lesson on social studies for senior students in St.Petersburg School No 526 on November 13, 2012.

According to Yavlinsky, health care and education are the most fundamental sectors for the future of Russia. He criticised the policies of the present Russian government, "Recently Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that the expenditures on education in the coming years will be the same as expenditure on the defence. First, this is not quite true, consolidated defence expenditures are considerably higher. Second, these things can not be compared. Indeed, the security of the country virtually bases on the high quality of education"...

YABLOKO and Muscovites inspected Ostankino park

Press Release, November 19, 2012.

Activists of the YABLOKO party, led by party leader Sergei Mitrokhin, together with the residents of the Ostankino district, Moscow, held a public inspection of natural and historical park Ostankino.

The inspection revealed a large number of violations of environmental legislation in the interests of unknown businesses and officials from the administration of the park and the city authorities...

Natalia Yevdokimova and Andrei Babushkin become members of the Human Rights Council

Press Release, November 12, 2012.

Prominent YABLOKO’s activists Natalia Yevdokimova and Andrei Babushkin have been appointed members of the Presidential Council for Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights. They were recommended to the Human Rights Council basing on the results of an Internet voting. Presidential decree on the appointment of new Council members has been signed and published today.

"The Council has been an effective mechanism, it has revealed to the public many violations of civil rights," said Andrei Babushkin, Chair of the "Committee for Civil Rights" and YABLOKO Bureau member.

"I am convinced that such a large number of human rights activists in this body, its openness to the public, and, I hope, President's attention to this body can help in work of protection of human rights. The Council I will do the same thing [I have been engaged with for many years] - development of the law on public control [over the governments] and spread of the institute of amending judicial errors. We will seek so that the removal of judicial errors would became a part of the Criminal Administrative Code and subordinate legislation and regulations," noted Babushkin.

"Hopefully, it will be easier to work for us because we feel a friend’s shoulder,” says Natalia Yevdokimova, Executive Secretary of the Human Rights Council of St. Petersburg and YABLOKO member. “The Council joins together many well-known human rights activists, and for us it is an opportunity to cooperate with them and discuss things with experienced people"...

Sergei Mitrokhin made a speech in the Houses of Parliament in London

Press Release, November 12, 2012.

In his speech in the Houses of Parliament in London YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin stated that policies of the Russian government towards an anti-European way of development had been changing the situation in the country. In his speech Mitrokhin touched upon such topics as political reprisals, toughening of the laws, clericalisation of the state and the problems of the opposition.

“A conflict with the West has become more apparent and moreover demonstrative. Cultivation of xenophobia and hostility to the outside world allows the regime to feel more confident when rejecting accusations of election fraud, destruction of an independent judiciary, and so on,” Mitrokhin stressed.

Sergei Mitrokhin’s briefing was held on the initiative of Lord John Alderdice. The meeting was hosted Simon Hughes MP, Deputy Leader of LibDems, and Lord Alderdice, immediate past LI President. British MPs from the Liberal Democratic Party and their supporters and students from the London School of Economics and other British Universities participated in the meeting...

On YABLOKO’s initiative the Congress of European liberals condemned reprisals against Russian opposition

Press Release, November 10, 2012.

The Congress of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) adopted an urgency resolution “On reprisals against YABLOKO activists and dissenters in Russia”.

The resolution was submitted by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin who was delegate of the Congress.

ALDE (the earlier name ELDR) joins together all the European liberal and democratic parties. The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO has been full member of ALDE since 2006. The ALDE Congress is held in Dublin, Ireland, on November 8-10, 2012.
The resolution marks a new wave of reprisals in Russia against opposition activists and all dissenters against the present government’s policies against the backdrop of the curb on human rights and freedoms; suppression of the freedom of speech; use of the law enforcement and the judiciary as a tool for reprisals”.
The ALDE Congress called on the ALDE groups to raise the issue in the European Parliament and the Council of Europe and draw the attention of the Russian government to the inadmissibility of persecutions for criticism...

Liberal International adopted YABLOKO’s resolution on combating rise of extremism and xenophobia among youth
Press Release, November 1, 2012

The 58th congress of Liberal International which took place in Abidjan, Cote-d’Ivoire, on October 17-21, adopted YABLOKO’s resolution "Combating Rise of Extremism Among Youth". The resolution was submitted to the congress by the YABLOKO party, LI full member.

The resolution expresses deep concern of a global rise of extremism and xenophobia among youth stating that liberals must tackle these challenges “basing on liberal values of human rights, individual freedoms, rule of law, respect for the individual, tolerance and civil and moral responsibility of each person”.

Form now on the resolution prepared by YABLOKO Bureau members Ivan Bolshakov and Alexander Gnezdilov and Dmitry Ilyushin, Federal Council member, will become a guidance for the liberal parties all over the world.
Earlier the resolution had been approved by a joint YABLOKO-ELDR conference, which took place in Moscow on April 21, 2012.

YABLOKO Bureau expels Chair of the Bryansk branch of YABLOKO who supported Governor Denin during elections

Press Release, October 28, 2012.

The Federal Bureau of the YABLOKO party expelled from the party Andrei Ponomaryov, Chair of the Bryansk branch of YABLOKO, and three members of the Regional Council of the Bryansk branch of YABLOKO. The Ponomaryov’s decision to withdraw his candidacy from the gubernatorial elections and support the incumbent Governor Nikolai Denin was recognized as inflicting political damage to the party.

Despite of the decision of the governing bodies of the arty, Andrei Ponomaryov withdrew from the election race for the post of Governor of the Bryansk Region and supported acting Governor Nikolai Denin, candidate from the ruling "United Russia" party...

Sergei Mitrokhin at the Returning of the Names action: the modern Russian state still uses Joseph Stalin’s political methods

Press Release, October 29, 2012.

The Russian state still uses Joseph Stalin’s political methods, said YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin at the Returning of the Names action which is annually held in the centre of Moscow by the Solovetsky Stone monument. People commemorate the victims of the Great Terror and read out loud the names of the people shot during those years.

"The roots of Stalinism have not been removed from our society and our state. Commemorating the victims of the terror we must also recognize our responsibility so that this will never happen again," Mitrokhin said after reading out loud the names of the people shot in 1937 – 1938...

YABLOKO leader spoke at the Moscow Perspectives forum

Press Release, October 27, 2012.

On October 27, YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin participated in the socio-political forum Moscow Perspectives organized by the Democratic Choice party. Other reports on the prospects of Moscow development were made by representatives of the Moscow Mayor Office, political parties, as well as research centres and business associations.

Vladimir Milov, organizer of the Forum and leader of the Democratic Choice party, told about the need to involve Moscow residents in the solution of the different tasks. Milov stated that municipalities lacked real power and bureaucratisation of the city prevented development of small and medium businesses and, consequently, the middle class – the major contributor to the city budget. According to Milov, there is a need of a dialogue between the society and experts with the city administration so that to create a strategy of Moscow development. "Moscow can set the right direction to the rest of Russia", said Vladimir Milov...
"The Moscow government in Moscow should create a platform for a dialogue with the public about the development of the city. Public hearings are a good method here. But the chief architect of the city and Sergei Sobyanin [the Moscow Mayor] government apparently believe that Muscovites are not ready for this and do not conduct hearings on the most important issues of Moscow development, " Mitrokhin stressed...

YABLOKO paid tribute to the memory of Moscow theatre hostages

Press Release, October 26, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Galina Mikhalyova, Bureau member, paid tribute to the memory of hostages of a Moscow theatre who came to watch the Nord-Ost musical (in Dubrovka district, Moscow). They laid flowers to the memorial plaque with the names of the victims set by the Theatre Center.

Ten years ago, on October 26, 2002, security forces stormed into the building where terrorists held the actors and the audience of the Nord–Ost musical. According to the official data, 130 hostages were killed.

Sergei Mitrokhin demands from the Investigation Committee to file a criminal case on the abduction and tortures of Leonid Razvozzhayev

Press Release, October 24, 2012.

Sergei Mitrokhin demands from Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Investigation Committee, to file a criminal case on the abduction and tortures of Leonid Razvozzhayev, Assistant of oppositional Duma MP Ilya Ponomaryov. (Ed. Leonid Razvozhayaev together with Sergei Udaltsov were accused of preparing a coup d’etat in Russia with the help of Georgian money after a notorious film The Anatomy of Protest-2 picturing all the opposition figures as criminals). Mitrokhin insists that the criminal case should be opened in accordance with three articles of the Criminal Code “abduction” (Article 126), “threat of murder or grievous bodily harm” (Article 119) and “compulsion of evidence” (Article 302).

Mitrokhin also applied to Sergei Kudneyev, Public Prosecutor of Moscow, demanding to immediately explain the circumstances of the detention of Leonid Razvozzhayev and how it was announced Rozvozzhayaev had “voluntarily admitted his guilt and surrendered”...

The State Duma amends the law on state secrets according to Joseph Stalin’s model

Statement by the YABLOKO party, October 23, 2012.

...Charges may be brought now against any person or organisation whose activities seem dangerous for the secret services. Punishment envisaged by the draft law for links with an international non-governmental organisation, rendering of “financial, material, technical, consultative or other assistance” spread of information in the Internet which can later be recognized as a state secret by the intelligence, toughening of punishment for violations take us back into the period of mass reprisals and resemble Stalin's methods of dealing with political opponents and lead to the formation of a new "iron curtain."

Any person - an ordinary public activist or a federal level official who may arise discontent – may get under the sanctions of the new law. Russian special services are interested in obtaining a legal basis for the arrests of the dissenting...

YABLOKO leader visited Krasnoyarsk

Press Release, October 19, 2012.

Oksana Demchenko, ex-deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Krasnoyarsk Region, was elected new chair of the Krasnoyarsk branch of YABLOKO. The conference of the regional branch of the party took place on October 21. The conference also elected members of the Regional Council and a representatives of the regional organization in YABLOKO’s Federal Council.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin participated in the conference. He set the following for the delegates: to participate and win in the elections. The next election – to the Krasnoyarsk City Council - will be held in September 2013.

After the conference, Mitrokhin held a roundtable with Krasnoyarsk entrepreneurs and discussed the prospects of development of small businesses in the Krasnoyarsk region and in Russia in general.

This morning Mitrokhin met with Sergei Ponomarenko, First Vice-Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. They specifically discussed the upcoming elections. Deputy Governor expressed his hope that the YABLOKO party will be able to create a faction in the City Council of Krasnoyarsk then...

YABLOKO’s Olga Vlasova made a report in the Federation Council on violations in the recent regional elections

Press Release, October 22, 2012.

Olga Vlasova, member of YABLOKO Bureau, made report in the Federation Council on mass-scale violations in the recent regional and municipal election campaign.

The report was made within the framework of a round table discussion on "The Results of the Elections in the Russian Federation as the Prospect for Improving the Electoral Law" which took place on October 18. The meeting was attended by members of the State Duma, the Federation Council, representatives of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court, the Public Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, representatives of the Russian Central Electoral Commission and electoral commissions of the regions.

In her speech Olga Vlasova focused on the following three main points:

1. Mass-scale violations in all the Russian regions where elections were held. YABLOKO observers documented widespread ballot stuffing, "carousel" votings, illegal refusals to allow observers to the polling stations and use of administrative resources. On voting day, regional electoral commissions turned into battle fields for upholding the rights of observers to be at the polling stations. In one of the polling stations in Tula YABLOKO observer was broken a finger...

YABLOKO leader met with Chairman of the State Duma

Press Release, October 19, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin handed to Sergei Naryshkin, Chairman of the State Duma,
an amendment to the Housing Code which would guarantee voluntary financing of capital repairs of blocks of flats by ordinary citizens. The government had envisaged that the costs of the capital repairs should lie exclusively on the people.

Also Mitrokhin personally handed to the Duma Speaker a file with 1,000 signatures against introduction of mandatory payments for capital repairs and in support of YABLOKO’s amendment. Other 11 files with 15,000 signatures from people from 36 Russian regions will be sent to the State Duma Mail Department on Monday...

Persecution of political opposition must be stopped

Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, October 15, 2012.

Searches in the apartments of Sergei Udaltsov and his parents are deepening the political crisis in the country and reinforce the split between the state and the society.

Sergei Udaltsov is not a criminal and he did not commit any economic crimes.

He is a politician representing the left radical political opposition.

The search in the apartment of a political opponents of the government in connection with his political activities is a repressive act of political revenge.

The state carrying out such actions abolishes the democratic basis of its legitimacy and declares itself a police and repressive state.

The authorities that decided to go to such actions must realise that degrading effects of fear and tyranny will affect the entire country, the entire state system, rather than one or several persons.

We express our resolute protest against the police searches on political grounds and urge the authorities to stop this immediately...

YABLOKO demonstrates success in small cities: YABLOKO factions will appear in Yaroslavl, Pervouralsk, Berezovsky and Elektrogorsk

Press Release, October 15, 2012.

According to the results of voting on October 14, YABLOKO factions will appear in four Russian cities: Yaroslavl, Pervouralsk, Berezovsky in the Sverdlovsk region and Elektrogorsk in the Moscow region.

The best result YABLOKO obtained in Pervouralsk - 20.4 per cent. YABLOKO came second here after the ruling United Russia with 37 per cent. Konstantin Drigin topping YABLOKO’s will also get a mandate. Drigin with 35 per cent of the vote won over Valery Treskin, the ruling party’s candidate, who got 25 per cent of the vote.

In Yaroslavl, the party has overcome the 5 per cent threashold. The candidates running in single mandate electoral districts failed to deputies of the Yaroslavl City Council, however Galina Sokolova came second in her district with almost 26 per cent of the vote, and another eight candidates came third in their districts getting from 7 to 19 per cent of the vote.

In the Berezovsky city, the Sverdlovsk region, 6.6 per cent of the electorate voted for YABLOKO, and now the party will have the right to form a faction in the Council of Deputies.

In Elektrogorsk, the Moscow region, YABLOKO’s candidates got 9.2 per cent which also means that YABLOKO can form a faction in the municipal assembly in the city...

YABLOKO came second with 21 per cent of the votes in Pervouralsk

Press Release, October 15, 2012.

According to the preliminary data, YABLOKO’s list candidates in the elections to the City Duma of Pervouralsk, the Sverdlovsk Region, received 21 per cent of the vote and thus came second after the ruling United Russia party (37 per cent).

YABLOKO’s observers reported to YABLOKO’s call centre the results from 58 of the 79 district electoral commissions of Pervouralsk. Just Russia came third with 14.6 per cent of the vote, and the Communist Party came fourth with 11.7 per cent. Also the Patriots of Russia (9 per cent) and the LDPR (5.7 per cent) overcome the 5 percent threashold. The list of RPR-PARNAS was supported by 0.8 per cent of the voters. It should be noted that the local branch of RPR-PARNAS had applied to court so that to withdraw YABLOKO from the election.

Thus, the YABLOKO party is to get three of the fourteen mandates distributed among the party lists.

In addition, two YABLOKO’s candidates in the binominal precincts – Konstantin Drygin and Vitaly Listratkin - have very good chances to get their mandates. Drygin confidently wins in his precinct...

YABLOKO leader sends a complaint on violations in regional and municipal elections to the Central Electoral Commission and Public Prosecutor General

Press Release, October 14, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin has sent the first complaint on violations in regional and municipal elections to Vladimir Churov, Chair of the Central Electoral Commission, and Yury Chaika, Public Prosecutor General, demanding to examine the violations identified by observers and candidates of the YABLOKO during elections in 11 subjects of the Russian Federation and punish the vote riggers.

The complaint contains information about the most serious violations in 28 polling stations, such as ballot stuffing, "carousel" voting, withdrawing of observers from the polling stations, buying of votes, etc.

The complaint refers to violations in regional elections in the Krasnodar Territory and municipal elections in the Maritime Altai territories, Bryansk, Ryazan, Irkutsk, Saratov, Tula, Moscow and Yaroslavl regions.

In addition, the document runs that observers from “non-administrative” candidates and parties were not let to over half of the polling stations in Tatarstan under a pretext that their papers lacked some stamps...

Stuffing of ballots in favour of the ruling party in the Krasnodar Territory

Press Release and a Video, October 14, 2012.

YABLOKO’s candidates and observes report multiple violations at the elections to the Krasnodar Territory Legislative Assembly.

YABLOKO observer filmed Yelena Sluchevskaya, Chair of Electoral Commission No 4822 (Novopekhovskoye village), stuffing of packages of ballots. The 18 minute video demonstrates several episodes of ballot stuffing...

Also stuffing of ballots was recorded at polling stations No 2230, 2231, and 2228 in Krasnodar. In Ust-Labinsk Chair of the Electoral Commission stuffed the rigged ballots at polling station No 5603. YABLOKO’s commission member was ousted from the room under some pretext...

Dmitry Gutov, YABLOKO’s observer at polling station No 2054, was beaten when he attempted to photograph the participants of a “carousel” who arrived to the polling station by car (No AOBO62, 23). Dmitry was threatened with murder and the attackers snatched his press card.

Also “carousel voting” was reported at polling stations No 2047, 2055,2056, 2215, 2216 and 2213...

Ballot-riggers broke a finger to the electoral commission member who tried to prevented stuffing of fraudulent ballots

Press Release, October 14, 2012.

Ballot-riggers broke a finger to Ludmila Yegorova, electoral commission member with an advisory vote from the YABLOKO party, who prevented ballot stuffing in the election to the City Duma of Bogoroditsk, the Tula region.

About an hour ago, two young men tried to stuff a package of ballots to the polling box. Ludmila Yegorova, YABLOKO’s representative in the electoral commission, managed to prevent it. There turned out to be 80 fraudulent ballots in the package: 40 marked for the ruling United Russia and 40 for candidate Fyodorov...

YABLOKO in the regional and municipal elections on October 14, 2012

Press Release, October 12, 2012.

Regional and municipal elections will take place in Russia on October 14, 2012. The YABLOKO party nominated its candidates for the elections in 22 Russian regions.

In the Krasnodar Territory, the list of candidates to run at elections to the Legislative Assembly represents a coalition of opposition forces in the region. Well-known representatives from different democratic parties and movements, environmentalists, human rights activists, independent journalists and public figures join together under the banner "Yabloko - United Democrats of the Krasnodar Territory". The joint list of candidates includes: Andrei Rudomakha, Chairman of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO and coordinator of the North Caucasus Environmental Watch, Yegeny Vitishko, Chair of the Tuapse branch of YABLOKO, Suren Ghazaryan, member of the North Caucasus Environmental Watch, Lenid Malyavin, ex Chair of the Krasnodar branch of the party RPR-PARNAS party, and Dmitry Pupynin, Chairman of the Krasnodar branch of the Democratic Choice of Russia movement. The party list totals to 36 candidates...

...According to the Central Electoral Commission, YABLOKO has registered 600 candidates for elections on October 14, 2012.

Grigory Yavlinsky visits Kaliningrad to support YABLOKO’s candidates in the mayoral elections

Press Release, October 11, 2012.

On October 11, Grigory Yavlinsky visited Kaliningrad so that to support Alexandra Yakovleva, YABLOKO’s candidate in the mayoral elections and head of the party branch in Kaliningrad.

Answering the journalist’s question how Grigory Yavlinsky accesses the chances of a woman going into Russian politics, he answered that he came to support a talented professional rather than a women running against men in the elections. He also added that speaking about professional qualities people should be divided into “talented people and all the other”, rather than men and women. “Alexandra Yakovleva is a talented person, she has talents in many fields”, she was even a Soviet film star but decided to change her brilliant film carrier and went to a university once again for studying state and municipal governing. Yavlinsky noted her experience in management of complex systems (such as large modern airports) and expressed his certainty that this experience would help Yakovleva to manage Kaliningrad and to make it a convenient and modern city, a centre of tourism and investment...

Dismissal of Radio Liberty journalists and staff is a political mistake

Statement by Sergei Mitrokhin and Grigory Yavlinsky, October 10, 2012.

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses its deep concern with the situation around the Radio Liberty Russian Service. Mass dismissal of the key journalists of the Moscow Bureau endangers the very existence of Radio Liberty as an objective and high-quality media.

The official version about transfer to the new digital technologies and abolishing of broadcasting on the medium waves is beyond any criticism.If this were the real reason, then the Radio Liberty management would not have fired in the first ranks the staff of the Radio Liberty web-site, which made the Radio Liberty web-site one of the most respected and quoted political resources of the Russian segment of the Internet.

Apparently, this demonstrates a bureaucratic error turning into a political error. Bureaucrats from mass media were solving their narrow tasks and did not take into account the political consequences, which are as follows: the Russian audience is deprived of the source of information they have trusted for decades, and it is obvious that the reputation of the media is, above all, the reputation of its journalists...

PARNAS removes YABLOKO from the election race

Press Release, October 10, 2012.

RPR-PARNAS applied to the Supreme Court of Russia asking to cancel the registration of YABLOKO’s list of candidates in the election to the Pervouralsk City Duma.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin said that in this way the Sverdlovsk branch of PARNAS defends the interests of the ruling United Russia party.

"I have no complaints about PARNAS leaders. We realise that they are not in control of their regional branches. But the actions of the Sverdlovsk branch of PARNAS are connected with their strong dependence on the ruling United Russia, which uses them in its fight with a very dangerous rival in the Pervouralsk elections- the YABLOKO party," that is how Sergei Mitrokhin commented on the situation...

A motor rally with participation of Sergei Mitrokhin detained by traffic police

Press Release, October 7, 2012.

A motor rally from Izhevsk in Votkinsk, Udmurtia, organized by the Udmurtian branch of YABLOKO within the framework of the regional election campaign, has been detained by traffic police. YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin also participates in the rally. According to the police, the reason for the detention is that the action has not had a permit from the local authorities. At present Sergei Mitrokhin is trying to convince the police that the rally is lawful...

YABLOKO to publish information on purchases of luxury cars by state institutions and calls to a discussion on the feasibility of such purchases

Press Release, October 1, 2012.

The YABLOKO party has launched a unique project: now all the government’s purchases of luxury cars can be tracked in real time at the party website.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin in his blog suggested a public debate which could lead to developing a norm who of the state servants should have a car, what the price of such a car can be and how often such a state servant can replace the old car be a new car.

At present yabloko.ru/auto has published information on 42 buyers of 145 luxury cars totaling RUR 1.5 bln. Last Friday, the Presidential Administration announced that it was going to purchase 60 BMW 7 Series, RUR 5 mln each. Also Oktabrskiy Concert Hall in St.Petersburg is going to buy a Range Rover for USD 5.5 mln. Among the regional authorities the most blatant example came from penal colony ? 1 in the Chelyabinsk region. They needed a Land Cruiser for RUR 3.5 mln...

Sergei Mitrokhin on a libel case against him: Let us find out in court who from MPs is engaged in unlawful activities running business companies

Press Release, September 30, 2012.

Following YABLOKO’s inquiries to the State Duma and the Investigative Committee to conduct a fair investigation on all the MPs’ businesses (in view of the recent deprivation by the United Russia faction of oppositional MP Gennady Gudkov of his mandate under a pretext of his running a business), Vladimir Zhyrinovsky LDPR party threatened to YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin of going to court and filing a libel case against Mitrokhin. In his letter to the State Duma and the Investigative Committee Mitrokhin had given facts on several United Russia and LDPR MPs...

...“I am glad that members of the LDPR party decided to find out in court who from their faction was engaged in businesses. We will have more opportunities to find out the truth in court, as the State Duma Commission has been working in camera and it is unclear what audits they have conducted,” Mitrokhin said...

Police are trying to disrupt the meeting of Sergei Mitrokhin and YABLOKO’s candidates for the forthcoming elections with the residents of Ilsky village

Press Release, September 28, 2012.

A meeting of YABLOKO’s candidates to run in the regional and local elections (the voting day on October 14) with the residents of the Ilsky village, the Krasnodar Territory, is taking place now. According to YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin, provocateurs from the local administration and the police are trying to disrupt the meeting.

The main issue of the meeting is the discussion of the situation around environmentally unfriendly Ilsky refinery, which is a factor of serious pollution in the area. Expansion of the plant and violation of environmental standards have led to a sharp increase of morbidity in the area and growth of the death rate. All this provokes fair indignation of the local population. The residents of the area demand that unlawful expansion of refinery should be stopped.

State Duma Commission to conduct investigation on deputies’ commercial activities on Sergei Mitrokhin’s inquiry

Press Release, September 27, 2012.

Today, the State Duma Commission on the audit on the data submitted by MPs on their incomes and property will consider the case of five more Duma deputies on the inquiry of YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin. The audit will be conducted on the cases of four United Russia MPs: Andrei Skotch, Vasily Tolstopyatov, Grigory Anikeyev, Airat Khairullin and LDPR’s Vladimir Semyonov...

It would be more difficult of the Duma to apply double standards in dealing with these cases. "If the Investigative Committee conducts a careful investigation, than the circumstances of violations demonstrated by the United Russia deputies will not differ from the “Gudkov case” at all,” Mitrokhin said.

The Commission will consider the cases of nine deputies. Five cases will be considered dealing with Mitrokhin’s inquiry and four more cases (of "United Russia" MPs Yelena Nikolayeva, Alexei Knyshev, Vladimir Pekhtin and Ilya Kostunov) will be considered for on Sergei Mironov’s inquiry.
The Commission meeting is scheduled for 13:30, it will be held in camera.

YABLOKO candidate to run in the elections in Tver severely beaten

Press Release, September 26, 2012.

On September 25, 2012, Murad Nurmuradov, a lawyer and one of the top figures in YABLOKO’s list of candidates for elections to the Tver City Duma was attacked in Tver.

Two unidentified men in masks and camouflage uniforms entered Nurmuradov’s office and severely beaten him. Nurmuradov was hospitalized with a head injury, broken arm and other multiple injuries.

According to the results of the audits conducted by Nurmuradov in seven municipal companies, all seven directors of these companies were dismissed and personnel changes in the Tver city administration were underway...

Opposition forces united so that to fight election fraud in the Yeisk district, Krasnodar Territory

Press service of the Krasnodar YABLOKO, September 25, 2012.

Candidates from the opposition parties who will run in the elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Krasnodar Territory and Municipal Council of the Yeisk District created a joint Coordinating Council for counteraction to violations in elections.

Total defiance of the law and constitutional rights and liberties of the citizens has turned into everyday practices in Russia. The authorities in Yeisk have already tried to prevent the candidates from the opposition from campaigning. The opposition parties decided to join their efforts in the fight against election fraud and created a Single Centre for Response to Violations at elections.

On September 23, YABLOKO initiated a meeting of the opposition. The meeting was attended by the candidates from the YABLOKO party, the Communist Party, the Just Russia party, and independent candidates.

The meeting established a Coordinating Council which should get all information on violations in campaigning and voting and make decisions on counteracting these violations. Also it was decided that a joint training of election observers should be held, and feed-back with members of electoral commissions should be established...

The State Duma once again demonstrated double standards

Press Release, September 20, 2012.

...The Commission did not find “any grounds for launching an investigation” on the four deputies. However, YABLOKO had laid claims to three of the MPs – Demchenko, Reznik and Lebedev – the same as the claims laid by the Duma to oppositional MP Gennady Gudkov.

“The Duma decided that MPs can set up new businesses during their term, however, they are not allowed to change directors of these companies (Ed. Gennady Gudkov was deprived of his mandate exactly for voting for a new director of a company set up before his term of office). This is a clear manifestation of double standards,” Mitrokhin noted...

...An inquiry on Adrei Skotch was filed in July 2012. A person from the Forbes list did not possess any property or income as of his official income statement. Skotch explained this discrepancy between the declared and the real property by transferring his business to his father. He also added that he lived as a dependant of his father. YABLOKO insisted that Skotch had to declare the assets allocated to him by his father.

Organisational Committee “Democratic Petersburg” created a permanent democratic coalition

Press Release, September 19, 2012.

Coalition "Democratic Petersburg" will coordinate and conduct mass-scale public actions of the democratic forces, as well as other events. In the near future the coalition plans to organise the traditional "March Against Hatred" which normally takes place in late October. In addition, the coalition will support the initiatives and projects of its member organisations.

Also the coalition will continue collection of signatures for per-term elections to the State Duma and the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg. This work began at the rally on Saturday.

The coalition adopted a special statement on the Democratic March and a rally that took place on Saturday, September 15...

Mitrokhin questions the legal basis for depriving Gennady Gudkov of his mandate while saying nothing about 29 MPs running businesses

Press Release, September 5, 2012.

..."The authorities accuse Gennady Gudkov of acquiring a business when he was an MP. They say that an MP can not be represented on the board of a commercial organization. However, if one gets a share in a open liability company, he or she can not avoid it, - Mitrokhin wrote in his blog. - If an MP has run such a business for a long time, and he promptly gave it in trust, than [head of Russian Investigation Committee] Bastrykin considers that such a person has not violated the law”.

"I think that such an interpretation of the law seems too broad. Perhaps it would be wise to clarify the requirements of the law first, and after punish deputies. But one thing is clear: if Gudkov is deprived of his mandate, than United Russia MPs must follow. Otherwise it is a selective enforcement of the law, " Mitrokhin concluded.

A leader of public movement against the construction of the Kudepstinskaya thermal plant dies under unclear circumstances

Press Release, September 12, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin expressed condolences to the family and friends of Anatoly Makhnovsky, Chairman of the Territorial Council of local self-government for Kudepsta residential district, who suddenly died yesterday.

Makhnovsky, aged 70, died on September 11 about 1 p.m. under unclear circumstances.

According to one of the versions, he was talking to a local woman at a bus stop, stumbled, fell down, hit his head and died. However, there is additional information: two police officers were standing next to him and their role was unclear. Moreover, a folder with documents on the disputed Kudepstinskaya thermal plant he had with him during the accident suddenly disappeared.

It is not ruled out that Makhnovsky’s death was connected with his fight against the construction of the Kudepstinskaya thermal plant...

YABLOKO to control and monitor elections to the Penza Legislative Assembly together with the Civil Control movement

Press Release, September 10, 2012.

The Penza regional branch of YABLOKO and the Civil Control movement signed an agreement on the joint organization of civil control over voting and counting of votes in the elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Penza region.

According to Olga Sorokina, Deputy Chair of the Penza branch of YABLOKO, "The tasks of the party during the pre-election period and the elections coincide with the aims of the Civil Control movement, and we will definitely involve members and supporters of the party, especially its young members and public activists to the civil control over elections and counting of votes"...

Over 500 people participated in a rally against Kudepstinskaya heat power plant

Press Release, September 10, 2012.

On September 9, a rally against construction of a thermal power plant in Kudepsta near Sochi brought together over 500 residents of Sochi. YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin asked the developer to submit the permission documentation.

Local residents oppose the construction of environmentally hazardous industrial facilities, the operation of which will result in air pollution, noise and other factors posing a serious threat to the health of tens of thousands of residents and holiday-makers in Sochi. Sochi administration and the Olympstroy company plan to locate the thermal plant in the centre of a densely populated resort area...

Grigory Yavlinsky wants independent television channel Dozhd to come to St. Petersburg

Press Release, September 7, 2012.

Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the Yabloko faction in the St. Petersburg’s parliament, proposed to the largest cable operator in the city to include television channel Dozhd (Rain) into the basic package of TV channels offered to braod public.

Grigory Yavlinsky expressed his certainty that St.Petersburg viewers would be interested in receiving honest news and discussion programmes, as well as live broadcasts by the channel, such as had been done by Dozhd from winter and spring mass-scale rallies in Moscow and on the flooding in South Russia.

YABLOKO leader also added that audience would be interested in the views of the leading journalists of the Dozhd channel, including Leonid Parfyonov, Pavel Lobkov, Mikhail Kozyrev, Mikhail Fishman, Mikhail Zygar and Ksenia Sobchak...

Sergei Mitrokhin fined for talking to bloggers and journalists

Press Release, September 7, 2012.

Olga Zatomskaya, Judge of a Moscow court of the first instance, imposed a RUR 2,000 fine of YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin for his talking to journalists and bloggers during the protest action of June 6. The court's decision bases on a false testimony of witnesses and police. The party intends to appeal against this decision...

YABLOKO presented its publications at the 25th Moscow International Book Fair

Press Release, September 5, 2012.

The YABLOKO party presented its publications at the 25th Moscow International Book Fair, which opened today at the Exhibition Centre.

Irina Kopkina, Deputy Chair of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO, noted that “there is no other party which would publish annually dozens of new books, research papers and useful booklets”...

YABLOKO to present its publications at the Moscow International Book Fair

Press Release, September 4, 2012.

YABLOKO will present its publications at the 25th Moscow International Book Fair which will take place on September 5 – 10 at the Exhibition Centre.
On the opening day, September 5, YABLOKO’s authors will present their books in Hall 75 "A" (reception hall). The presentation will be attended by the party Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin, Bureau members Andrei Babushkin, human rights activist, and Galina Mikhalyova, Gender faction leader, and Tatyana Ovcharenko, head of the Party School of Active Citizen. The presentation will begin at 13:00. The visitors of the Fair can get YABLOKO’s books at stand E70 Hall "A" any day.

Lists of municipal candidates from “YABLOKO – United Democrats” submitted to electoral commissions of the Tver region

Press Release, September 3, 2012.

Local electoral commissions of the Tver region confirmed the receipt of lists of municipal candidates from “YABLOKO – United Democrats”. The candidates from the bloc will run in the elections to the City Duma of Vishny Volochok city and the Legislative Assembly of Udomelsky District.

In Vishny Volochok the party lost is topped by Vladimir Tarasov, ex head of a poultry farm. Tarasov is well-know in the city as a professional in farming and also in the utilities sector.

Other candidates also represent small businesses. Young people under 35 constitute 75 per cent of the list which is regarded as a competitive advantage by the “YABLOKO – United Democrats” bloc...

YABLOKO’s candidates have to compete against their namesakes at Yeisk elections

Press Release, September 1, 2012.

YABLOKO’s candidates Alexander and Ekaterina Baturinets have to face an new obstacle in running in the elections in Yeisk, the Krasnodar region. They have to compete against their namesakes (a guard and a shop assistant residing in a different district) at the Yeisk elections.

The election campaign to the Legislative Assembly of the Krasnodar region is in full swing - the elections will take place on October 14. The regional authorities have been closely observing campaigning by the candidates from the opposition - the electoral bloc "YABLOKO - United Democrats". Representatives of YABLOKO, the Republican Party of Russia (PARNAS), the Democratic Choice, Solidarnost, and a large number of non-partisan civil society activists and oppositional public figures are on the list of candidates from the bloc. The authorities have begun employing a variety of political strategies to prevent the oppositional candidates from running in the elections.
Alexander Baturinets from Yeisk is one of the strongest candidates from the "YABLOKO - United Democrats" bloc. He is known for the public campaign "Public Protest: for Yeisk without Oil Terminals". He is also a deputy in the Yeisk District Council. Baturinets has been named a leader of the race by public opinion polls being ahead of a candidate from the ruling United Russia by several per cent...

Organisational Committee "Democratic Petersburg" applies for the "March of Millions"

Press Service of St. Petersburg YABLOKO, August 31, 2012.

On August 31, on the first day of submitting an application in accordance with the law, the Organisational Committee "Democratic Petersburg" applied for conducting of the "March of Millions" on September 15. The public action will consist of a demonstration (a march) and a rally. The march will begin at 1 p.m., a rally will be held at 2 p.m. The exact route of the procession and a place for the rally will be announced later after obtaining an approval from the city administration.

The demands and slogans of the "March of Millions" in St. Petersburg will be as follows: change of the present political regime, fair elections, protection of human rights, provision of real social equality and protection of historical part of the city. The organizers expect that the number of participants in the march will amount to about five thousand people.

The Organisational Committee "Democratic Petersburg" was created on August 28 and comprises representatives from political parties, social, human rights and political organisations, YABLOKO, the Republican Party of Russia – PARNAS, the Christian Democrats, the Libertarian Party, the Russian Socialist Movement, the People's Labour Union of Russian Solidarists, the Russian Social Democratic Union of the Youth, Student Action, Vikhod (Exit), the LGBT Initiative, the Women Voters League, Youth Human Rights Group and the Alliance of Heterosexuals for the Equality for LGBT...

Electoral Commission of the Penza region registered YABLOKO’s list of candidates to run in the elections to the regional Legislative Assembly

Press Release, August 31, 2012.

On August 28 the Electoral Commission of the Penza region registered YABLOKO’s list of candidates to run in the elections to the regional Legislative Assembly.

YABLOKO’s list contains 22 candidates. It is topped by Sergei Oleinik, President of the non-profit foundation AntiSPID (AntiAIDS). Other top candidates are Sergei Illiyev, deputy of local self-government, and Yuri Voblikov, human rights activists.

The elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Penza region will take place on October 14, 18 regional deputies will be elected according to the parties lists.

Sochi Electoral Commission has "lost" documents of the top candidate of "YABLOKO - United Democrats"

Press Release, August 31, 2012.

United Democrats” list submitted all the required documents for registration in the elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Krasnodar Region. The receipt of the documents was confirmed by the Commission. However, yesterday the web-site of the Electoral Commission published a list of candidates who had submitted their documents to the commission and Andrei Rudomakha was not in that list. Yet YABLOKO has got no answer from the Commission explaining this. The Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO will be investigating this sudden "loss" of documents.

Andrei Rudomakha, leader of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO and top candidate in the list of “YABLOKO - United Democrats” has been also nominated to run for the Sochi single-mandate electoral district No 48, where he should compete with Viktor Teplyakov, Sochi Deputy Secretary of the Political Council of the ruling United Russia party...

YABLOKO leader meets the leader of Alleanza Liberali, Malta

Press Release, August 31, 2012.

On August 28, 2012, YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin met with John Zammit, leader and founder of Alleanza Liberali, Malta. The meeting was also attended by Galina Mikhalyova, Deputy Chair of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO and the Executive Secretary of the Political Committee and Olga Radayeva, YABLOKO International Secretary.

John Zammit spoke about the current political situation in Malta and the activities of Alleanza Liberali. The party was founded in 2006. Today Alleanza Liberali has an observer status in the ELDR and is going to become a full member of the ELDR this year. Alleanza Liberali focuses on fight against corruption, protection of civil rights and freedoms, including fight against restrictions imposed on the citizens of Malta by the Catholic Church (e.g. bans on divorce and abortions). The party has been also active in education and environmental protection...

Sergei Mitrokhin to Governor Tkachyov: after a terrible flood in South Russia money should be allotted to creation of the alerting system, not only to cleaning of rivers’ beds

Press Release, August 30, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin said that measures scheduled by the regional administration for prevention of floods in the Krasnodar Territory are insufficient. Yesterday Governor Alexander Tkachyov announced that regional administration was going to allot 3 billion rubles for cleaning and deepening of rivers’ beds, however, he did not say anything about creation of a system which would alert the population in case of a coming flood...

...YABLOKO has been demanding resignation of Alexander Tkachyov who bears full responsibility for the consequences of the tragic July floods leading to numerous human victims. The party is seeking a thorough investigation into the Governor's actions.

YABLOKO’s environmentalist Suren Gazaryan faces several years of imprisonment due to a new case launched against him

North Caucasus Environmetal Watch. Press Release, August 30, 2012.

Russian authorities have launched a new criminal probe against environmental activist Suren Gazaryan after he led an inspection of a public shore near what we believe is President Vladimir Putin's Black Sea dacha for violations. The proceedings are an attempt to stop the activist's efforts to expose illegal palaces built on public funds or land and cutting off access to a public shore...

Suren Gazaryan is required by police to attend a session of questioning regarding the alleged death threat on September 4. He can be kept in custody before trial which has turned into a common practice for persecution of Russian opposition activists.

Sergei Mitrokhin: "Vladimir Putin's promise to evacuate residents from the flooding area in Krymsk has remained unfulfilled"

Press Release, August 26, 2012.

On August 25, YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin held a series of meetings with the residents of Krymsk area which suffered a terrible flood in July.

The meetings had to identify the cases of non-fulfillment by the authorities of their obligations to the residents who lost their property in the flood. People reported red tape in getting compensation for lost property and money for repairs, continuous “losing” by officials of their documents submitted in order to get a compensation and small size of compensations insufficient for repairs. The residents resented such bureaucratic formalism when people were denied compensation...

The police tried to debar Mitrokhin from meeting the residents. Also several cars with representatives of local administration followed YABLOKO leader at the meetings. At the end Mitrokhin managed to make the local officials cooperate in the solution of the problems of the Krymsk residents.

Sergei Mitrokhin demands from the interior to investigate the lawfulness of policemen’s actions during detention of Garry Kasparov

Press Release, August 21, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin applied to Anatoly Yakunin, head of the Moscow interior, demanding to conduct official investigation of the lawfulness of policemen’s actions during detention of Garry Kasparov, Russian opposition figure and ex World Chess Champion, by Khamovnichesky court during the Pussy Riot trial. In his appeal Mitrokhin refers to the documentary ‘The Term’.

The authors of the documentary filmed the detention of the ex World Chess Champion. "Obviously, the police had no reasons to arrest Garry Kasparov," Mitrokhin wrote in the letter. Indeed, during a few seconds before his arrest Garry Kasparov was talking to reporters and was not breaking the law. Garry Kasparov was detained by Khamovnichesky in Moscow on August17 during the hearing of the court verdict on the controversial action by punk band Pussy Riot at the Christ the Savior Cathedral...

In his letter YABLOKO leader also responded to the initiative of Anton Tsvetkov, head of public organization "Russian Officers", who had proposed to introduce criminal liability for non-obeying police. According to Mitrokhin, another measure should be introduced toughening the liability for policemen for lying. "First of all police officers must be punished for lying. In can tell that when I or my colleagues were brought to a police department there was not a single case when policemen did not use lies to achieve their goals. Therefore it is necessary to introduce a very large penalty for policemen for lying with their subsequent disqualification from the service," Mitrokhin told to Interfax on Tuesday.

YABLOKO activists conducted pickets for resignation of Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachyov

Press Release, August 3, 2012.

Today YABLOKO activists conducted a series of pickets for the resignation of Alexander Tkachyov, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory. The action was held by the Permanent Mission of the Krasnodar Territory in Moscow. YABLOKO activists were standing in turn by the Mission with slogans “Tkachyov, go!”

“After the tragic flood in Krymsk, [South Russia], Tkachyov have to resign. The liability for the failure to alert the residents of the coming flood lies directly on the government of the Krasnodar Territory. I am ready to stand here 24 hours a day until Tkachyov leaves post,” told Sergei Sokolov, participant of the action and the deputy of Municipal Council Konkovo...

YABLOKO office opens in Novouralsk, Sverdlovsk Region

Press Release, August 1, 2012.

YABLOKO office opened in Novouralsk, Sverdlovsk Region. Maxim Petlin, head of the Sverdlovsk Region branch of YABLOKO, Galina Mikhlyova, YABLOKO Bureau member, and Kirill Gontcharov, leader of the Youth YABLOKO in Moscow, visited the office.

Vladimir Plyusnin, well-known environmentalist and chair of the YABLOKO branch in Pervouralsk, greeted the guests in the new office. Plyusnin told the guests about the economic and political situation in the city on the threashold of elections to the local Council on October 14.

YABLOKO’s Regional Conference which will take place on August 5 has to nominate party candidates to run in the elections. It is expected that well-known public figures in the city, businessmen and local party activists will be included into YABLOKO’s list.

YABLOKO: Governor Tkachyov and government of the Krasnodar region should be held liable for the tragedy in Krymsk

Press Release, July 31, 2012.

Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachyov, his deputies and officials of the regional Emergency Ministry Department should be included into suspects in investigation of the causes of flooding in Krymsk, South Russia. Such a statement was made by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin at today's press conference, which drew up the first results of YABLOKO's investigation of the causes of the flood.

Activists from the North Caucasus Environmental Watch, Andrei Rudomakha, leader of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO, Yugeny Vitishko, chairman of the Tuapse branch of YABLOKO and Yugeny Pimkin, resident of Volgograd region whose son died in a flood in Gelendzhik trying to save people, also participated in the press-conference. According to YABLOKO's activists, a natural calamity coupled with negligence of the governments lead to such a large number of casualties in Krymsk. No system for public notification in case of emergency had been created in the region prone to flooding. Possible negative consequences of economic activities in the region that may lead to flooding had been also neglected. The governments learned nothing from the experience of the disaster in 2002, when a flood in Krymsk killed 62 people...

YABLOKO demands from the Interior Ministry to disclose the criteria behind awarding gratuitous flats to the policemen participating in dispersing of a rally at Bolotnaya Square, Moscow, on May 6

Press Release, July 27, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin sent an appeal to the Moscow police chief Anatoly Yakunin asking disclose the criteria behind awarding gratuitous flats to the policemen participating in dispersing of a rally at Bolotnaya Square, Moscow, on May 6...

YABLOKO sent the inquiry to the Moscow Government as early as on May 25. The answer received from the officials ran that the city annually allocated housing to the Interior Ministry, however, distribution of the flats was carried out by the ministry...

YABLOKO leaders about their investigation of the causes of dramatic flood in South Russia

Press Release, July 26, 2012.

On Tuesday, July 31, YABLOKO will conduct press conference “Who is liable for the catastrophic flood in Krymsk: the disaster or the governments?” The conference will take place in the Independent Press Centre. YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and leaders of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO will tell about the results of their investigation of the tragedy taking the lives of many people in South Russia.

The participants of the press-conference:

Sergei Mitorkhin, Chairman, YABLOKO
Andrei Rudomakha, head of the Krasnodar Region branch of YABLOKO;
Yugeny Vitishko, head of the Tuapse branch of YABLOKO.

The press-conference will begin at 1 p.m.

Address: Kropotkinskaya metro station, Prechistinka 17/9, ground floor.

Accreditation: tel: +7 495 780 30 19 or by e-mail press@mosyabloko.ru

Leader of the Bryansk branch of YABLOKO nominated to run in the gubernatorial elections

Press Release, July 26, 2012.

Andrei Ponomaryov, leader of the Bryansk branch of YABLOKO was nominated by the conference of the regional party branch to run in the gubernatorial elections due on October 14, 2012.

The next step for registration in the election campaign should be overcoming of a "municipal filter": the nominees have to get support from municipal deputies and heads of municipal districts. According to the law adopted by the regional legislative assembly (Duma), the "municipal filter" amounts to a 7 per cent threshold in the Bryansk Region...

To release all the detained protestors of the demonstration of May 6!
Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, July 26, 2012.

Today Russia’s Investigative Committee has detained two more protestors of May 6, including Nikolai Kavkazsky, ex YABLOKO activist, member of Committee for Human Rights.

The number of persons made liable and the ways in which the Investigative Committee acts towards the suspects in violation of the laws during the opposition march on May 6, clearly demonstrate that the authorities have been returning to the Stalinist practices of intimidation and reprisals against active citizens...

Sergei Mitrokhin studied the problems of the Kolchugin District, Vladimir Region

Press Release, July 24, 2012.

On July 23 YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin visited Kolchugin District, Vladimir Region, headed by Alexei Firsov, member of the YABLOKO party. In March 2011, Alexei Firsov, leader of the local branch of YABLOKO was elected head of the Council of Deputies of Kolchugin District. Firsov won I nthe elections with 29.72 per cent of the vote, YABLOKO’s party list got 20.56 per cent of the vote at the election.

Mitrokhin began his visit from Kindergarten No 10. Firsov and kindergarten director told him that opening of this kindergarten helped to reduce “the queue” for a place in a kindergarten by 120 kids, however, the queue had still contained 300 children...

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin: Governor Tkachoyv should be among those suspected in negligence inflicting deaths of people in the flood in South Russia

Press Release, July 22, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin expressed his opinion that regional government officials and Alexander Tkachyov, Governor of the Krasnodar Region and top officials of the regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, should be made liable for the negligence resulting in mass victims during the recent flood in the Krasnodar region...

In his blog Sergei Mitrokhin analysed the legal acts related to the prevention of emergencies in the Krasnodar region and came to the conclusion that regional authorities did not fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to them by law.

In particular, Governor Alexander Tkachyov did not commission any of his deputies to supervise the implementation of the regulations "A system of warning and informing of the public about the threat of emergencies". After publication of the regulations in 2005, the control over its implementation was entrusted to A. Ivanov, however, now there is no such a Deputy Governor with such a name.

In addition, for the past seven years the regional government has not allotted any funds for creation of a system for alerting citizens about emergencies. This should have been made from the regional budget, however, each year, the regulations of 2005 did not contain such a clause. Also since 2005 they have prolonged the regulations of 2005 without including a clause on funding of the system.

"In any normal state an official responsible for such criminal negligence would be immediately dismissed. Only in Russia such an official can retain his gubernatorial post for another five years presenting a threat to millions of people living in the region governed by him," Mirokhin wrote in his blog.

YABLOKO made it into the legislative assembly of Kasimov despite fraud
Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, July 23, 2012.

The YABLOKO party made it into the Duma (legislative assembly) of Kasimov. According to official data, the party overcame the threashold into the Duma. However, our real vote, despite of the stuffing of ballots in favour of the ruling party, is much more.

These elections were a failure for Russian falsificators. And this is largely due to the work of independent volunteers – the observers who worked in Kasimov. YABLOKO expresses its gratitude to all of them and admiration of their life stance...

Never before had the evidence of crime been so conclusive. YABLOKO will seek to get all those engaged in rigging the elections to justice.

Anniversary of Lyudmila Alexeyeva, head of the Moscow Helsinki Group
Congratulations from Sergei Mitrokhin and Grigory Yavlinsky, July 20, 2012.

Dear Ludmila Mikhailovna,

The YABLOKO party wishes you a happy birthday!

Your understanding of the problems of human personality, your choice of your way in life, the belief that wishes of every person counts in the historical choice made by a country and the vector of the world development made you one of the most prominent public figures not only in our country but all over the world in the history of past decades.

Your uncompromising stance gives you the right to engage in and encourage dialogues and discussions with world leaders on the most pressing issues of modern politics, and you know how to make them listen to you. Your voice is heard on behalf of that part of the people, who are aware of their responsibility for what is happening. That is how real democracy emerges. And no short-term political considerations should prevail over human dignity, freedom and adherence to internal moral imperative. Upholding the humanistic values constitutes the main goal of your work, of your friends and followers...

Police received a complaint of "pornographic" YABLOKO leaflets

Press Release, July 18, 2012.

Vladimir Grachyov, Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission of the Ryazan region, applied to the police of the Kasimov city demanding to stop the distribution of YABLOKO leaflets. The leaflets criticised United Russia for the July raise of housing and utilities tariffs.

Earlier Grachyov had already expressed his concern about the leaflets to YABLOKO activists participating in the elections to the Kasimov City Council. The leaflet contained a caricature picturing a girl washing in the shower. A man bursting into the bathroom says to the scared girl, "I am not looking at you, I am looking at the water counter"...

Vladimir Lukin, Russian Ombudsman, turns 75
Congratulations from Grigory Yavlinsky, July 13, 2012.

Our dearest Vladimir Petrovich,

Happy birthday!

Your sense of inner freedom, fullness of life, constant and conscious presence in the midst of life made you one of the most prominent figures in the Russian history of the recent decades.

Your sense of humor allows you to maintain sanity in the assessment of yourself and the events. Your will and your understanding of the moral duty helps to live and overcome huge difficulties to many people.

Your personality, wit and erudition are a credit to Russia today. Your ability to be a good friend and your zest for life attract to you wonderful people and make you needed to all of us.

Wishing you health and strength!

Yours,
Grigory Yavlinsky

Three villages in the Krymsk District were flooded due to uncontrolled activities of the Private Hunters’ Club

Press Release, photographs by Andrei Rudomakha, July 19, 2012.

..."There is no doubt that economic activity of the Private Hunters' Club played a negative role in the flooding of Armyansky, Sheptalsky and Novoukrainsky villages," noted EcoWatch experts. These villages located in the valley of the Psyzh River are outside the influence of the flood from the Adagum River affecting Krymsk abd Nizhnebakanskaya and Neverdjayevskaya villages. However, these three villages were also serely affected. In addition to destruction and damaging of housing the flood led to human victims there.

On July 16 YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin demanded from Yury Chaika, Public Prosecutor General, to bring to justice the officials whose negligence and lack of action led to flooding of three settlements in the Krymsk district.

President of Russia must take investigation of the attack against Muslim leaders in Tatarstan under his personal control
Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, July 19, 2012.

For and on behalf of the YABLOKO party I am conveying condolences to the relatives and next of kin of Valiulla Yakupov, head of Educational Department of Spiritual Directorate of the Muslims of Tatarstan, who was murdered by criminals. I am also conveying condolences to residents of Tatarstan and the entire Muslim community of our country. I wish speedy recovery to Ildus Faizov, Mufti of the Republic of Tatarstan, who was injured during explosion of his car.

We strongly condemn this crime and demand from the President of the Russian Federation to take the investigation of the attack under his personal control.

We hope that the criminals will not escape punishment...

Youth YABLOKO files an application to Public Prosecutor General on investigation of financing of the Seliger Youth Forum

Press Release, July 3, 2012.

On July 3, 2012, ten activists of Youth YABLOKO led by Kirill Goncharov, Chair of the Youth Faction, filed an application to Yuri Chaika, Public Prosecutor General, demanding to investigate the lawfulness of financing the Seliger Youth Forum and find out why such huge budget funds are spent on an obvious political order.

According to young YABLOKO activists, a clearly politically and ideologically biased Forum "promotes intolerance towards political opponents of the authorities" was financed on such a grand scale by taxpayers' money. YABLOKO will also apply to the Audit Chamber of the Russian Federation asking to investigate the case.

Kirill Goncharov noted that Youth YABLOKO strongly condemned spending of budget funds on this politically biased event promoting political intolerance. "We would like to remind you that odious provocations against journalists, Kremlin’s political opponents and human rights activists were launched exactly by the Seliger Forum. For example, activists of some youth organisations made a "list of Russia’s enemies" which included many of our friends", he said.

It was disclosed that this summer Forum will get about 280 million roubles from the federal budget, as private sponsors refused to finance the event. In spite of this fact, Forum budget grew by 80 million roubles in 2012 as of 2011.

Mitrokhin demands from Public Prosecutor General to bring to justice the officials responsible for flooding of three villages of the Krymsk district

Press Release, July 16, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin demanded from Yury Chaika, Public Prosecutor General, to bring to justice the officials whose negligence and lack of action led to flooding of three settlements in the Krymsk district. Local residents warned the officials and prosecutors about improper condition of a dam of one water reservoirs, but received no reply. In the night of July 6-7 the dam burst, and the flow of water went to the villages.

On July 9 Mitrokhin along with the activists of the party and the North Caucasus Environmental Watch held a public inspection of the area around Armyansky and Sheptalsky villages and Novoukrainsky town...

As early as on March 28 E.Andruhovich, resident of Armyansky village, applied to the Department of Natural Resources of the State Environmental Supervision of the Krasnodar Territory. He complained about improper exploitation of the forest lake, which created a threat of flooding of private lands in a flood prone period. A similar application was sent to Public Prosecutor of the Krasnodar Territory...

Pickets against the law on non-profit organisations and the libel law held by the State Duma

Press Release, July 13, 2012.

Today YABLOKO activists conducted by the State Duma a series of one-person pickets against the law on non-profit organisations and the libel law considerably worsening the situation for civil society activists. YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin who also participated in the action said that the State Duma should concentrate on the creation of a commission for investigating the causes of the tragic flood in the Krasnodar Territory, rather than consideration of reprisals prone amendments to the law on non-profit organisations and restoring liability for libel as a criminal offense.

YABLOKO activists in turn held a banner picturing Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Heinrich Himmler, Felix Dzerzhinsky, Lavrenty Beria and Vladimir Putin with a subscription "Amendments to the law on non-profit organisations. Fascists are for it! KGB people are for it!"
Sergei Mitrokhin also participated in a journalists' picket against the libel law. He drew a placard "No to the libel law" at site...

YABLOKO held a series of one-person pickets against toughening of the law on non-profit organisations

Press Release, July 6, 2012.
On 6 July activists of the YABLOKO party held a series of one-person pickets protesting against the amendments giving a status of a "foreign agent" to a number of Russian non-profit organisations. The action was held outside the main entrance to the State Duma which plans to pass the amendments at first reading.
YABLOKO activists including Sergei Mitrokhin, party leader, Galina Mikhalyova, YABLOKO Bureau member, and Kirill Gontcharov, leader of Youth YABLOKO, picketed the State Duma entrance in turn with a banner "The amendments to the law on non-profit organisations are way to a fascist state"...

Yugeny Vitishko: "We are working 24 hours a day. We have made bunks and sleep in turn". Yugeny Vitishko about the Aid Centre in Krymsk.

Special for the YABLOKO web-site, July 10, 2012.

...Vitishko: We are working 24 hours a day. We have made bunks and sleep in turn. I have not slept since yesterday (laughs). We have about 20 people working here. Our camp is divided into sectors: sectors for delivery and provision of food, clothing, electricity, etc. Now the city is completely de-energized, only we have a generator. People are continuously coming to charge phones or boil tea.
In the coming days we are planning to examine the streets we have not visited yet. We will be walking around with a megaphone, and will look for those who have not received aid yet. I am afraid there will be such people – there are many pensioners and elderly in the city who have difficulty to move independently.

Question: Humanitarian aid is coming to you from all over the country. How do people respond to help?

Vitishko: They express their thankfulness. They asked who we are and where do we come from...

Flood in the Krasnodar Territory

Press Release, July 11, 2012.

On July 5 - 6 July a natural disaster broke out in several regions of the Krasnodar Territory. A heavy flood led to numerous victims among the local residents. Resort city Gelendzhik and Novorossiysk suffered from the disaster, however, but the most affected was the Krymsk District.

In the evening of July 6 YABLOKO and North Caucasus Environmental Watch activists organized a Public Aid Centre in Krymsk for providing aid to the residents of the city and the district. It is located at the address: Krymsk, Sverdlov street 9/1 (in the building of kindergarten No 19). Tel: +7 953 116 81 62 (Alexei Mandrigelya), +7 953 074 73 98 (Victoria Zolotaryova from 7.00 a.m. of July 9).

On July 8 a Coordination Centre was opened in YABLOKO’s office in Krasnodar. Address: Gogol Street 74, Office 20, 2nd Floor, tel: +7 861 275 26 77, +7 861 274 30 58, +7 961 515 69 94 (Igor Kharchenko). The centre is opened from 9:00 to 22:00.

Aid collection points in St.Petersburg:
St.Petersburg Observers office
Address: Liteyniy 31 (red door in the basement), tel: +7 911 954 9121 (Olga)
The office of Grigory Yavlinsky and YABLOKO supporters.
Address: Mozhayskaya 15, tel.: +7 921 700 2664 (Madina) from 8:00 to 23:30.

Humanitarian aid collection centre was opened in YABLOKO’s office in Voronezh. Address: Svobodi 59 bld 5. The first dispatch of the collected aid is scheduled on July 14-15. Tel: +7 920 210 95 98 (Tatyana Shkred).

YABLOKO’s Aid Centre for the victims of the flood in the southern Russia keeps working in Krymsk

Press Release, July 10, 2012.

Public Aid Centre for the victims of the flood opened by YABLOKO’s activists and EcoWatch in the North Caucasus the next day after the flood keeps working in Krymsk. The Centre is situated at Adagumskaya Street 153 in front of the shop Magnit.

Trucks with humanitarian aid arrive here from different cities of the South Russia. For example, today Alexei Mirukov, head of the Anapa branch of YABLOKO, and Victor Krivoshapkin, a civil activist, brought medications and food-stuffs.

A truck carrying a large tent where the Centre will be located is on the way from Novorossiysk. Yet the activists have been working outside day and night. Local government gave neither a tent nor a room to the volunteers...

Criminal negligence of officials led to deaths of people in the Krimskiy district, the Krasnodar Area
Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, July 7, 2012.

A natural disaster leading to numerous victims took place in some parts of the Krasnodar Area (southern Russia) yesterday and today. The YABLOKO party expresses condoles to the relatives and next of kin of the victims.
Resort city Gelindgik and Novorossiysk suffered from the disaster, but the most affected was the Krymsk Area with the highest number of victims. The tragedy was caused by torrential rains leading to a flood which inundated a large number of settlements. However, in the case of Krymsk and Neberdzhayevskeya village the tragedy was caused not only by weather conditions but also the actions of the authorities who had not taken the necessary precautions to prevent the disaster.

As was found out by the activists of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO, the dramatic lifting of water in the Krymsk city last night was caused by an emergency discharge from the Neberdzhayevsky water-storage pond situated in the mountains above the city. The population was not alerted about that discharge which became one more reason for the tragedy...

YABLOKO lit up 1,418 candles in memory of the Second World War

Press Release, June 22, 2012.

The YABLOKO party conducted a memory action "1,418 candles per every day of the war" commemorating the victims of the Second World War. The action was held in Moscow and St.Petersburg at night from June 21 to June 22 (the day the USSR was attacked by Hitler's troops).

The action "1,418 candles per every day of the war" has become traditional for the YABLOKO party and has been held in Moscow for several years already. Party activists and their families come to the action and commemorate the victims of the war.

When all the candles were lit YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin announced a minute of silence.

In St.Petersburg 1,418 candles were lit by the so-called Blockade Ice-Hole where the citizens took water from during the city blockade at the Fontanka embankment...

Flood victims left without help in Krymsk held a spontaneous rally

Press Release, July 9, 2012.

Flood victims left without help in Krymsk are holding a spontaneous rally. People state they may go to extreme measures such as blocking the main street of the city so that to draw attention of the government to their situation.

Such information has been released by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin who is now in Krymsk. According to Mitrokhin, it turned out that about 200 residents of the city (from Chernyshevsky and Lunacharsky streets) waiting for help for three days already have not got any help from the authorities, as well as food or fresh water. Their houses are flooded, but water is not pumped out, and since the beginning of disaster they have received no assistance whatsoever from either the administration, or the Emergency Situations Ministry...

YABLOKO leader arrived in Krymsk with a truck of humanitarian aid

Press Release, July 9, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Andrei Rudomakha, head of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO, arrived in Krymsk, the Krasnodar area, severely ruined by flood. They brought a truck with humanitarian aid to the Aid Centre for victims opened by YABLOKO’s activists and the EcoWatch close to Adagumskaya Street 153 on July 6. This part of the city was most affected by the flood.

The party members brought to the aid centre canned food, salt, rice, macaroni, milk, water, tea, baby food, clothes, shoes, soap, other hygiene aids and medicines.

After their visit to Krymsk YABLOKO activists and Sergei Mitrokhin plan to go to other affected areas were help has not arrived yet...

Grigory Yavlinsky: "We will win over Vladimir Putin at any elections, whenever they may take place".

Press Release, June 17, 2012.

The YABLOKO party is preparing to parliamentary and presidential elections that may take place any moment. Such a statement was made by party founder Grigory Yavlinsky at YABLOKO’s congress held in the Moscow region this weekend.

"We fully admit that new elections may be held not in five or four years, but much earlier, and this period will depend on the moods of the people and their attitude to what has been happening in the country," said Grigory Yavlinsky.

He also stressed that neither his presidential campaign, nor YABLOKO’s fight for creation of the party faction in the State Duma did not stop. "In the recent parliamentary elections, even according to the official figures, we received a mandate from the 2.5 million voters who do not want to live in lawlessness, corruption and continuous lies, and we must live up to this mandate," Yavlinsky concluded...

YABLOKO's congress appealed UNESCO in view of endangered "The Western Caucasus" World Natural Heritage Site

Press Release, June 18, 2012.

On June 17, the 17th Congress of the YABLOKO party unanimously adopted an appeal On the threat of the destruction of unique natural complexes of the World Natural Heritage Site "The Western Caucasus". The appeal is addressed to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee that will meet for a session in St.Petersburg in the end of June. The draft appeal was submitted to the Congress by Andrei Rudomakha, head of the Krasnodar branch of YABLOKO and Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO Chairman.

YABLOKO called the World Heritage Committee to pay special attention to the critical situation in the field of preservation of World Natural Heritage Site "The Western Caucasus"...

On the threat of the destruction of unique natural complexes of the World Natural Heritage Site "The Western Caucasus"

The 17th Congress of YABLOKO, June 18, 2012.

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO calls the World Heritage Committee at its forthcoming session, which will be held in St.Petersburg in late June, to pay special attention to the critical situation in the field of preservation of World Natural Heritage Site "The Western Caucasus".
"The Western Caucasus" based on the Caucasian Nature Reserve is a unique natural area, that is not only a national treasure of Russia, but also the natural heritage of all the mankind. Throughout the period since 1999 up to the present, when "The Western Caucasus" was included in the list of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site this object has been endangered by different projects that could destroy it...

YABLOKO to light up 1418 candles in memory of the Second World War

Press Release, June 19, 2012.

The YABLOKO party will conduct an action "1418 candles per every day of the war" will be conducted in memory of the victims of the Second World War. The action will be held in Moscow at night from June 21 to June 22.

1418 candles (per the number of the days of war of the USSR with Nazis in 1941-1945) will be lit in the Victory Park at Poklonnaya Gora (Park Pobedi metro station). The action will begin at on June 21 at 10 p.m. YABLOKO leaders and activists will take part in the action.

The action "1418 candles per every day of the war" has become traditional for the YABLOKO party and has been held in Moscow for several years already.

YABLOKO modernises its programme

Press Release, June 18, 2012.

The 17th congress of the YABLOKO Party ended in the Moscow Region on Sunday. The party's congress approved a new reading of the programme documents of the party, namely " The Democratic Manifesto" and the programme "Russia Demands Changes!" the party was running with at the latest State Duma elections. Both the documents did not undergo any major changes but were only modernised and adapted to the present moment.

The YABLOKO Party named among its new tasks the fight for the abolishment of the tough amendments on the law on rallies, real gubernatorial elections without any artificial restricting filters and a range of initiatives for judicial reform...

17th Congress of YABLOKO New Section

YABLOKO demands investigation of the actions of the head of Russia's Investigative Committee

Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, June 13, 2012.

Information about an intimidation campaign launched by Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, against Sergei Sokolov, journalist of oppositional Novaya Gazeta, is extremely alarming.

It provides ample grounds to begin an immediate investigation of what happened on June 4 in Nalchik and the Moscow region.

We demand that such an investigation is conducted and full information on the results of such investigation must be publicized.

We also believe that until the investigation is completed, more attention should be paid to security provisions for Novaya Gazeta journalists...

Grigory Yavlinsky led YABLOKO’s column at the March of the Millions

Press Release, June 12, 2012.

YABLOKO's activists and supporters participated in demonstration of the opposition in Moscow. Party members formed a column under the banner "We demand new elections!". The column was led by party leaders Grigory Yavlinsky, Valery Borshchyov, Anatoly Golov, Yugeny Bunimovich, Galina Mikhalyova, leader of the Youth Yabloko Kirill Goncharov and other.

"We participate in today's demonstration because millions of people do not agree with the policies pursued by Vladimir Putin, as well as lawlessness [in the country]. We received a mandate from our voters - and only according to the official data, there are over two million of such people – for a continuous political struggle for a different system: for fair elections, an independent judiciary, equality before the law and the inviolability of property rights," Grigory Yavlinsky said to journalists...

Mitrokhin about searches in the homes of Russian opposition figures: the country has moved to an open dictatorship regime

Press Release, June 11, 2012.

Based on Echo Moskvi reports

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin commenting to the Echo Moskvi radio station the searches in the homes of Alexei Navalny and other opposition activists noted that police reprisals also affected YABLOKO’s activists:

"Our activists are affected, in particular, such psychological pressure was used against Kirilll Gontcharov, leader of the Moscow branch of Youth YABLOKO, as police tried to get into his home yesterday. Now he has to hide. Our activists also suffer from this impudent police pressure, which is not connected to any violations and is not based on law.

I believe that after the adoption of amendments to the law on rallies the country transferred to an open dictatorship regime. Putin ceased imitating democracy, he abandoned all his masks. Searches and other police actions are the links of the same chain."

YABLOKO's congress to take place on June 16-17

Press Release, June 9, 2012.

The 17th Congress of the YABLOKO party will be held in the Moscow region on June 16 - 17, 2012. The congress will elect new party leadership and adopt party programme for 2012 - 2016.

On the first day the congress will listen to a report by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and will elect the party leadership. The delegates have to elect party Chair, Political Committee members, the Bureau, the Audit Commission and the party Arbitrage.

On the second day the congress will discuss the party aims and goals for 2012 – 2016.

About 140 delegates from 72 regional party branches will take part in the congress...

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin to visit Omsk

Press Release, June 9, 2012.
...On June 11, Mitrokhin will participate in the conference of the regional branch of YABLOKO.

On June 12, he will meet students, political scientists and other citizens in the conference hall of hotel Tourist at 11:30. The topic of the meeting is "Omsk on the threashold of mayoral elections". Address: Str. Broz Tito, 2.

Then YABLOKO leader will join the rally in support of Moscow's March of the Millions.

A public inspection on problematic sites of the city will take place at 15:13: Ptichya Gavan (Birds’ Harbour) – Zyelyoniy Ostrov (Green Island) - Metro – Silicon plant.

On June 13 (at 15:00) Sergei Mitrokhin, Alexander Korotkov, YABLOKO's candidate for mayor of Omsk, and Tatiana Ovcharenko, renowned expert in the field of protection of citiznes' rights in the housing and utilities sector, will participate in the press conference "Challenges before Omsk on the Threashold of the Mayoral Elections". The press conference will take place in the press center of the Komsomolskaya Pravda paper.

YABLOKO to protest against the new law on rallies at the March of the Millions

Press Release, June 9, 2012.

The YABLOKO party will participate in the March of the Millions on June 12 where it will protest against signing by President Putin of the new law on rallies virtually putting a ban on street actions.

YABLOKO activists will form a column under the slogan "The law on rallies is a way to a fascist state". All YABLOKO's previous protest actions were conducted under this slogan when the draft law was examined by the State Duma and the Federation Council. Then YABLOKO protested at all the stages of the legislative process - by the Duma, the Federation Council and the Kremlin.

YABLOKO activists will bring banners illustrating the reprisals prone nature of the law: picturing Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Heinrich Himmler, Felix Dzerzhinsky, Lavrenty Beria and Vladimir Putin with a subscription "Fascists are for it! KGB people are for it!"...

Picketing against toughening of the law on rallies took place in Novosibirsk

Press Service by the Novosibirsk branch of YABLOKO, June 7, 2012.
The Novosibirsk regional branch of YABLOKO oraganised a one-person picket (which does not require prior notification or obtaining a permission from the authorities) against toughening of the law on rallies stipulating sharp raising of fines for violations at rallies and demonstrations. About ten activists participated in picketing changing each other in turn for several hours in the centre of the city.

Police stopped the procession to the monument to Pushkin because of the T-shirts with protest slogans

Press Release, June 6, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and 12 activists of a protest action by the walls of the Kremlin were arrested only because they refused to obey the police order to take off their T-shirts. For 40 minutes of YABLOKO’s and other civil society activists were walking in Manezhnaya Square in white T-shirts with inscriptions "The law on rallies is the way to a fascist state". And only when Sergei Mitrokhin proposed to walk along Tverskaya Street to the monument to famous Russian poet Pushkin, the police asked the activists to take off the T-shirts and on hearing refuses the police began detentions...

Arrests of protesters have begun at Manaezhnaya Square, Moscow

Press Release, June 6, 2012.

Arrests of protesters have begun at Manaezhnaya Square in the centre Moscow. YABLOKO activists planned to begin a protest action in the Alexander Gardens by the Kremlin wall, however, it was “suddenly” closed an hour before the action. Therefore it was decided to protest at the Manegnaya Square nearby.

All the activists wearing T-shirts with the slogan of the action “The Law “On Rallies” is a way to a fascist state.”

Sergei Mitrokhin and 11 activists (four girls among them) were taken by police to the patrol wagons...

Activists protesting against the law on rallies arrested in Volgograd

Press Service by the Volgograd branch of YABLOKO, June 6, 2012.

People gathered by the President’s reception office in Volgograd at 2 p.m. today. The participants of the gathering were protesting against the adoption of the law on rallies and were trying to get into Vladimir Putin’s reception office so that to hand in a petition proposing that the President should veto the bill passed by the State Duma yesterday. The police arrested six people: Nikolai Belikov, Sergey Mazanov, Boris Stikhin, Artyom Panenko, Yulia Vlasenko and Leonid Makhinya. Some of them were YABLOKO members other represented public movement "For Fair Elections" and independent media...

Pickets against the law raising fines for rallies has taken place by the Federation Council

Press Release, Photos, Video. June 6, 2012.

According to YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin, the amendments into the law on rallies and the Administrative Offences Code adopted yesterday by the State Duma and proved by the upper chamber of the parliament – the Federation Council – today are installing dictatorship in the country. Mitrokhin has made such a statement today by the Federation Council. Today YABLOKO has conducted a series of one-person pickets (that do not require a permission from the authorities) against the adoption of the such amendments.
Activists of the Youth YABLOKO, Sergei Sokolov, municipal deputy from the YABLOKO party, and Sergei Mitrokhin stood in turn by the main entrance to the Federation Council with a placard “The law on rallies is a way towards a fascist state!” The placard also pictured portraits of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Heinrich Himmler, Felix Dzerzhinsky, Lavrenty Beria and Vladimir Putin approving the new law. “Fascists are for it! KGB people are for it!” ran the placard...

YABLOKO to continue protesting against adoption of the law raising penalties on rallies by the Federation Council and in Alexander Gardens by the Kremlin

Press Release, June 5, 2012.

The YABLOKO party will continue protesting against adoption of the law raising penalties on rallies by the Federation Council and in the Alexander Gardens by the Kremlin. Two actions will be held in Moscow tomorrow. At 11:00 activists of the Youth YABLOKO will hold a series of pickets by the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, which has to give its approval to the law. At 19:00 YABLOKO invites all the people to come to Alexander Gardens by the Kremlin wall so that to appeal to President Putin.

It is expected that tomorrow, on June 6, the Federation Council will consider amendments to the law on rallies and the Administrative Code, which have been adopted by the State Duma in the second and third reading today. At 11 a.m. Youth YABLOKO activists will come to the Federation Council so that to remind the senators: toughening of penalties for rallies is a way towards a fascist state. The activists will hold placards with portraits of dictators and torturers who would have supported the draft law initiated by the ruling United Russia party: fascists Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Heinrich Himmler, as well as KGB people Felix Dzerzhinsky, Lavrenty Beria and Vladimir Putin.

As there are not doubts that the Federation Council will, as usual, support the reactionary amendments, YABLOKO calls all the people to Alexander Gardens at 19:00 so that to appeal to President Vladimir Putin.

The action in the Alexander Gardens will take place without any political symbols and placards, so yet it does not require approvals from the authorities...

YABLOKO leader and 17 activists arrested by the State Duma

Press Release, June 5, 2012.

Police have begun arrests among the participants of walking protests against adoption of the law restricting the constitutional right to assembly and protest. YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin, Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, Kirill Gontcharov, leader of the Youth YABLOKO, Sergei Sokolov, municipal deputy from the YABLOKO party – 18 people in total, nine of them are YABLOKO members - are arrested by the State Duma. The police have also used violence in arresting several civil activists. At present the police are going on detaining activists...

...This YABLOKO’s action was supported by the Moscow branch of Solidarnost and number of other organisations. Earlier Sergei Mitrokhin had called the organizers and the participants of mass-scale protest actions to come to the State Duma on the day of hearing of the law and offer rebuff to such initiatives by the ruling party...

YABLOKO's Commission on Education and Children resumes work

Press Release, June 4, 2012.

On the International Children's Day, June 1, a joint meeting of YABLOKO's Commission on Education and Children under the Bureau of the party (which resumed work in May 2012) and Women's (Gender) Faction of YABLOKO took place in YABLOKO's office in Moscow.

The renovated Commission has considerably expanded its topics, adding new issues to already existing direction of work with orphanages, orphans and foster families.

Commission members and party activists discussed the key problems the party will work at in the field of education and protection of children. The meeting was monitored by Vyachslav Glinchikov, Commission Chair and famous educator, and Galina Mikhalyova, leader of YABLOKO's Women (Gender) Faction...

YABLOKO paid tribute to the victims of shooting in Novocherkassk in 1962

Press Release, June 2, 2012.

YABLOKO paid tribute to the victims of shooting in Novocherkassk which took place 50 years ago in 1962. Activists of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO brought flowers to the Solovetsky Stone by the KGB/Federal Security Service building in Lubyanka, Moscow.

On June 2, 1962, the Soviet interior forced shot peaceful demonstration of workers and other residents of Novocherkassk. According to the official data, 26 people were killed. They were secretly buried in other cities of the region. Later the court sentenced seven "organizers of mass disorders" to death and 105 people were sentenced to 10 – 15 years in maximum security penal colonies.

Workers protests took place after raising of retail prices on food-stuffs (a 25 per cent rise). Simultaneously the directorate of the plant raised the productivity standards for workers resulting in the reduction of their wages. The workers and residents of Novocherkassk went on a demonstration under the slogans "Meat!", "Bread!" and "Milk!"...

YABLOKO supported the rally against commercialisation of education and merger of Moscow schools

Press Release, June 1, 2012.

A mass rally against commercialisation of education and merger of Moscow schools was held in the centre of Moscow on the International Children's Day, June 1. About 400 people – teachers, parents, students, initiative groups of parents, schools and kindergartens, as well as museums and libraries workers – participated in the rally. The organizers of the rally were Trade Union Teacher, Public Council "In Protection of the Education Sphere in Moscow", an initiative group of students and staff from the Moscow State University, the Moscow Parents movement and the OkkupaiMoskva movement.

Olga Vlasova, member of YABLOKO Bureau, post-graduate of the Moscow State University and member of the Coordination Council Against Merger of Moscow Schools, made a speech at the rally on behalf of the party. She noted in her speech that "fraud had already come to schools"...

No to cutting of a city garden under construction of a new parliament’s building!

Statement by the Moscow branch of the YABLOKO party, June 1, 2012.

The State Duma Commission on construction of a new parliament’s center announced the plans to cut apple-trees garden at Kutusovsky prospect in the centre of Moscow under a construction site.

YABLOKO together with the residents of this Moscow district have repeatedly repulsed the attacks on this old unique garden in Moscow.

The intentions of the Duma deputies once again demonstrate that they are ready to eliminate gardens and parks worsening living conditions of Muscovites or take children’s playgrounds for the sake of their own comfort.

The Moscow Regional Branch of YABLOKO states that it and the citizens will spare no effort so that to defend the apple garden from the deputies...

Let us protect Article 31 on the freedom of assembly of the Constitution on June 5!

Open letter by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin to organisers and participants of street protests, May 31, 2012

To organisers and participants of street protests
at Bolotnaya, Sakharov and Pushkin Squares, Chistiye Prudi, Novy Arbat, the participants of the movements “Strategy 31”, “The White Ribbon”, “March of the Millions” and other protest actions: Boris Akunin, Dmitry Bykov, Genadi Gudkov, Dmitry Gudkov,
Eduard Limonov, Alexei Navalny, Sergei Parkhomenko, Vladimir Ryzhkov,
Lev Ponomarev, Sergei Udaltsov, Yugenia Chirikova and others

Today, on May 31, the day when actions in protection of Article 31 of the Constitution guaranteeing RF citizens the right to assemble peacefully, without weapons, hold rallies, demonstrations, marches and pickets are normally held [in Russia].

On this day, I am turning to you calling you to pay very close attention to the amendments prepared by the State Duma to the Administrative Offences Code and Federal Law No 54 "On Assemblies, Rallies, Demonstrations, Processions and Pickets". These amendments are prohibitive and maximally limit the constitutional right of citizens to protests.

Not only do they set high penalties [for the rallies], but also make any form of street activity impossible and broaden the possibilities for abuse by the police providing grounds for absurd accusations...

Moscow Mayor Sobyanin supports YABLOKO’s proposals
Press Release, May 30, 2012.

Moscow Mayor Sobyanin partially supported the proposals made by YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin to delegate municipal assemblies the right to coordinate some issues of urban planning.

On April 22, Moscow hosted the Municipal Deputies Forum which supported Sergei Mitrokhin’s draft law on introducing amendments into the law "On the organization of local self-government in Moscow."

Speaking today at the Congress of the Moscow Municipalities Councils Sergei Sobyanin proposed to expand the powers of urban municipalities relating to construction of new facilities.

"I propose to grant the municipal assemblies the right to coordinate construction of facilities that have to serve the needs of the residents of specific areas," said the Mayor...

Dmitry Medvedev's statement on political reform made under the pressure of mass protests turn out a simulation and even a mockery

Statement by the YABLOKO Bureau, May 25, 2012.

This is most clearly demonstrated by hasty appointments of governors in a large number of regions. The "filters" built-in into the nomination of governors made it virtually impossible to nominate candidates from the opposition. In addition to the presidential recommendations, there were adopted extremely tough requirements to collection of signatures from municipal deputies in support of [nominated] candidates. A formally possible nomination of alternative candidates at a time when the vast majority of municipal deputies are representatives of the ruling party or its affiliated groups in reality results in the creation of an insurmountable barrier for the opposition or independent candidates in entering the election race.

A number of regional legislative assemblies where the positions of "the United Russia are particularly unstable hastily pass laws fixing the most stringent of the proposed regulatory frameworks for the candidates from other parties"...

Muscovites dismantle the fence around an unlawfully seized beach at Serebryanniy Bor
Press Release, May 30, 2012.

A meeting of the residents of the West and North-West of Moscow who oppose unlawfully seizure of Moscow beaches will take place in Serebryanniy Bor on Thursday, May 31. The residents will dismantle un unlawfully erected fence.

On May 28 YABLOKO’s public inspection which also included environmentalists and journalists managed to get inside the fenced territory of the beach. (See the photo report here.) The guard of the fenced beach was unable tell the name of the “owner” of the beach, but said that the place was a "barbecue site" for Federal Security Service and Interior Ministry officers and their families...

Forum "Environmental Problems in the Political Context" held in the Moscow Region
Press Release, May 29, 2012.

"The Green Forum: Environmental Problems in the Political Context" was held on the initiative of YABLOKO’s Green Russia faction in the Moscow Region on May 28, 2012.

Representatives from 64 environmental organizations from 35 Russian regions from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka participated in the Forum so that to discuss the political and environmental situation in Russia.

YABLOKO leader Grigory Yavlinsky and the leaders of the Green Russia faction (Acad. Alexei Yablokov, Alexander Nikitin and Olga Tsepilova) participated in the Forum. The discussion was also attended by leaders of environmental organisations such as Greenpeace Russia, the Russian branch of the World Wildlife Fund, the International Socio-Ecological Union, as well as a number of influential regional organisations such as Dodo, Nizhni Novgorod, Ecodefence, Kaliningrad, Plotina.Net!, Krasnoyarsk, Bellona, St. Petersburg, Siberian Ecocentre, Novosibirsk, the Far East Fund for Environmental Health, Vladivostok, the Kamchatka League of Independent Experts, the Union of Moscow Environmental Organisations, the Union of Bashkirian Environmentalists and the Green Branch, Yaroslavl...

YABLOKO leader participated in the inauguration of Yugeny Urlashyov, the Mayor of Yaroslavl
Press Release, May 26, 2012.

YABLOKO leader participated in the inauguration of Yugeny Urlashyov, the Mayor of Yaroslavl, and congratulated him on taking the office.

Sergei Mitrokhin discussed with the Mayor the issues of urban economy and the city budget. "We will try to restore the law on financial foundations of local self-government developed by YABLOKO and revoked later by United Russia. If it had worked, then today the Yaroslavl tax base would have been several times larger,” he said...

Organiser of an action against raising of penalties for rallies to stand trial
Press Release, May 27, 2012.

Pyotr Ivanchikov, YABLOKO’s activist and organiser of an action against raising of penalties for rallies, will to stand trial for oragnisation of an action. After his detention he was held for in a local police department for four hours (instead of the maximum three hours allowed by law). He is incriminated “violation of the established order of oragnisation of a rally” (Article 20.2 of the Administrative Offences Code).

Ivanchikov is accused that the topic of the rally differed with the topic agreed upon with the authorities. YABLOKO had applied for a permission to conduct a rally stating the topic of urgent elections of the Moscow Mayor, however, in light of the events of raising penalties for rallies by the parliament, YABLOKO changed the topic (such a change is not prohibited by the law)...

YABLOKO’s action: toughening of penalties for rallies is a straight way towards a totalitarian state
Press Release, May 27, 2012.

A theatrical action against toughening of penalties for violations at the rallies took place in Novopushkinsky Garden on May 27. Potential "violators" were implementing compulsory community services under the sounds of military marches of Hitler's Germany without waiting for the final adoption of the draft law toughening the penalties by the ruling United Russia faction. Half an hour after the start of the action, its organiser Pyotr Ivanchikov was detained by police for alleged non-conformity of the declared topic of the rally with the actual one. "Muscovites complain about the Nazi marches," a police lieutenant told the journalists.

While the protesters were filling Novopushkinsky Garden, YABLOKO activists wearing prisoners' hats broomed the pavement under the sounds of military marches from Hitler's Germany.

"We want to show that the State Duma is going to adopt a law natural in a totalitarian state," said YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin opening the meeting. “Under the clamour of possible reduction of fines from 1.5 million roubles to 300,000 roubles, the State Duma adopted a resolution listing these monstrous amendments,” he noted.

Participants of the action demonstrated disproportionate punishment for “violations” that would be introduced by the new law. They could have been convicted to compulsory community services only for wearing the Guy Fawkes masks. In addition, each of them wore a plaque innumerating other "aggravating circumstances", such as "walking across Moscow", "trampling the grass," and "wearing a white ribbon"...

Grigory Yavlinsky on the global economic problems
Press Release, May 23, 2012.

We can overcome the global economic crisis only changing the present rules of our life and checking them with such concepts such as trust, morality and the public good, said Grigory Yavlinsky, member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee and Doctor of Economic Sciences.

"There is a substitution of meanings, when the market economy is viewed at solely as a tool for deriving profit, manufacturers are not oriented to the real needs of the people depriving the latter of choice and imposing what will bring the greatest profit. This is not the post-industrial economy, but a postmodern world where not only businessmen, but also experts and politicians are guided only by self-interests and that is why they can not cope in principle with the ongoing crisis," Yavlinsky stressed in the debate on the global economic problems with political philosopher Prof. Michael Sandel, Harvard University and Diane Coyle, academic and economist...

A protest action against raising penalties for rallies
Press Release, May 22, 2012.

The State Duma has been examining amendments stipulating the raise of penalties for rallies up to 1.5 million roubles. The amendments constitute another crime buy the ruling Unite Russia party against the nation.

A general protest rally against the draft law will take place on Sunday. The rally has a permission from the Moscow authorities.

The government has to see that no penalties will stop us. We are not going to speak about some abstract democracy. We will say #DumaStop. We are against the amendments. And we will make them listen to us.

Novopushkinskiy Garden (Pushkinskaya metro station). Sunday, May 27 at 14:00.

Mitrokhin released without charges, other activists will stand before court
Press Release, May 22, 2012.

The police released YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin without any charge. However, other YABLOKO activists detained by the State Duma will have to stand before court "for participation in an unsanctioned picket"...

All the detainees were transported to the police department and all of them but for Sergei Mitrokhin were charged with “violation of the established order or organization of a rally”. The policemen did not set any charges against Mitrokhin referring to some order.

The activists will stand before court on May 30. Their cases will be examined by a judge notoriously famous for her tough sentences to opposition activists.

Sergei Mitrokhin and activists detained at the "walking protests" by the State Duma
Press Release, May 22, 2012.

Several YABLOKO activists were detained by police during “walking protests” conducted by YABLOKO by the State Duma this morning. The police detained YABLOKO Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin and Kirill Gontcharov, leader of the Youth Yabloko, and three other activists of the party...

...Sergei Mitrokhin called the police actions be absolute lawlessness, as the activists were detained at a legal action which did not require a special approval. " The police actions have proved once again how dangerous the adoption of the amendments [on raising fines of rallies] are to all of us," Mitrokhin said. He noted that the parliament wanted to set impossibly high fines for violations at the rallies which would deprive people of an opportunity to peacefully express their views. "This may push people to an armed rebellion," he said...

Youth YABLOKO to picket the State Duma protesting against raising of fines for rallies
Press Release, May 17, 2012.

Tomorrow on May 18, Youth YABLOKO activists will conduct a series of pickets by the State Duma against adoption of the law on toughening punishment for violations at rallies. Kirill Gontcharov, leader of the Youth YABLOKO, will participate in the action.The picket will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Tomorrow the Russian parliament will examine a draft law on the introduction of a fine amounting to RUR 1.5 mln (approximately USD 50,000) for violations at rallies. The draft law was submitted by the ruling United Russia deputies and envisages a raise of a maximum fine for the organizers and participants of mass-scale actions to RUR 1.5 mln.

On Tuesday, the Duma Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building recommended to adopt the draft law in the first reading.

Mitrokhin visits the protesters camp at Chistiye Prudi, Moscow
Press Release, May 14, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Galina Mikhalyova, First Deputy Chair of the Moscow YABLOKO, joined YABLOKO activists who had been visiting the opposition camp at Chistiye Prudi by Abai Kunanbyev monument all these days.

Mitrokhin and Mikhalyova answered protesters' questions and even tasted food from the mobile kitchen.

"We support any peaceful protest forms that do not violate the Russian law and are not connected with provocations and adventurism," Mitrokhin said. He added that the scope of mass-scale protests and their efficiency can only grow only like this.

Mitrokhin also noted that "the government does not have any motives for violent action against the campers."

"We will be categorically against any attempts to provoke violence whoever would initiate these – either the government or the protester," he stressed.

Mitrokhin asks the President to solve the housing problem for 11 homeless families with many children
Press Release, May 16, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin has forwarded a letter to President of Russia Vladimir Putin asking him to take under his personal control the problem of 11 large families that for various reasons remained homeless.

These are families from different regions of Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tatarstan, Krasnodar and the Moscow region. Many of these families have seven children and more and in some families there are disabled children. These families have not received child benefits and other allowances for years...

Mitrokhin appeals against the decision to liquidate the opposition camp in Moscow
Press Release, May 15, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin appealed against the decision to liquidate the opposition camp in the garden at Chistiye Prudi boulevard, Moscow.

"I believe that this decision violates my right to free walking in the garden without time restriction and at any time," he said.

In addition, Mitrokhin noted that the decision by the Basmanny Court, Moscow, did not envisage immediate implementation, as the law stipulates that it should be implemented only after the decision comes into force, i.e. after 30 days from the date it was made...

Houses of 80 families pulled down in Sochi on the Day of Family
Press Release, May 15, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin demands from President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachyov and Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov to immediately stop pulling down blocks of flats in the center of Sochi (Plastunskaya street 80 and Golenva street, 7).

Bailiffs and riot police have thrown out 80 families, hoodwinked investors, who lived in these blocks of flats and have begun pulling down the houses. The houses are pulled down so that to build a parking for coaches and buses for the guests of the Olympics for the two weeks of the Olympic Games in 2014...

Grigory Yavlinsky participated in the memorial ceremony at Piskaryovskoye Cemetery, St.Petersburg
Press Release, May 8, 2012. Photo report.

A memorial ceremony devoted to the 67th anniversary of victory in the Second World War took place at Piskaryovskoye Cemetery, St.Petersburg. Representatives from the city government, veterans and siege survivors organisations, delegations from other countries and cities, representatives of diplomatic corps, different confessions, youth public organisations and thousands of St.Petersburg residents came to the cemetery to pay tribute to those who died in the 872 days long siege of Leningrad.

According to Grigory Yavlinsky, Chair of the YABLOKO faction in St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, who participated in the ceremony, “The city has been feeling the pain from the wounds from the Leningrad siege even decades past the events”. Yavlinsky together with other deputies of the faction and YABLOKO’s activists laid wreaths and flowers to the monument to the victims of the siege.

The Piskaryovskoye Cemetery contains 126 collective graves with burials of 420,000 civilians who died during artillery bombardments, bombings and from hunger and 70,000 military who defended the city.

YABLOKO paid tribute to the memory of soldiers of the Second World War
Press Release, May 8, 2012. Photo report.

YABLOKO’s delegation laid a wreath and flowers to the Tomb of Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall. “In cherished memory of the heroic liberators” ran the inscription on the wreath ribbon.

Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO Chair, and Political Committee members Alexei Arbatov, Sergei Ivanenko and Grigory Yavlinsky participated in the ceremony. They wore White Ribbons, symbols of the winter and spring protest actions in Russia, together with St.George Ribbons, the symbols of memory of the victims of the war.

YABLOKO pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Second World War on the Victory Day
Press Release, May 9, 2012. Photo report by Anton Baskakov

Mourning ceremony in memory of those killed during the Second World War was held by YABLOKO activists at Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery - the largest military burial in Moscow - today.

Activists and leaders of the YABLOKO party laid flowers and a wreath at the Eternal Flame at the Memorial.

The participants observed a minute of silence in memory of those killed in Second World War.

14,000 signatures in ten days collected for YABLOKO's candidate in the mayoral elections in Omsk
Press Release, May 5, 2012.

Collection of signatures for registration of Alexander Korotkov, YABLOKO member and ex Vice-Governor, as a candidate in the mayoral elections in Omsk has finished.

Within ten days only (from April 25 to May 4) YABLOKO collected 14,000 signatures in favour of his nomination. Now the election headquarters of the candidate have to select 9,916 signatures required for Korotkov’s registration and wil forward them to the Electoral Commission until May 7.

Alexander Korotkov, ex Vice-Governor of the Omsk region, was nominated to run for the mayor of Omsk at YABLOKO’s Federal Bureau meeting on April 20...

YABLOKO to pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Second World War
Press Release, May 4, 2012.

The leaders and activists of the YABLOKO party will pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Second World War. Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO Chairman, and Grigory Yavlinsky, YABLOKO founder and member of Political Committee, will lay a wreath to the Tomb of Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall on May 8 at 17:20.

On Victory Day of May 9, according to long-term YABLOKO’s tradition, Sergei Mitrokhin, Grigory Yavlinsky and YABLOKO activists will honour the memory of the dead soldiers at Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery, the largest military burial in Moscow. The participants of the ceremony will lay flowers there at 13:30.

Address: Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery, Preobrazhensky Val 17A.

Public Prosecutor General's Office violated the law by refusing to investigate the circumstances of the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi
Press Release, May 2, 2012.

Public Prosecutor General's Office refused to investigate whether there was a conflict of interests in the March meeting between President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Italian citizen and businessman Silvio Berlusconi. Mr.V.Volkov, Asistant to Public Prosecutor General, informed (in the response to the inquiry by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin) that President and Prime Minister can not be subject to the prosecutor's investigation. This contradicts the Law "On Public Prosecutor's Office", and YABLOKO is preparing a lawsuit...

Condolences on the act of terror in Makhachkala, Dagestan

May 4, 2012

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses condolences to relatives of the victims of a double bombing in Makhachkala, Dagestan. We are wishing all the injured a speedy recovery.

Despite repeated assurances by the Russian leadership that terrorism has been defeated in Russia, the Caucasus and the armed gangs are not eliminated and terrorist attacks do not stop.

We demand an immediate investigation into this crime and punishment of all guilty in this in this crime in accordance with the law.

We demand that President-elect Vladimir Putin should take investigation of this act of terror under his personal control...

YABLOKO leader proposes to form Public Television Supervisory Board out of representatives of political parties
Press Release, April 26, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin in his speech at the “Open Tribune” meeting criticized the President's initiative on public television. According to Mitrokhin, the key problem was the functioning of the state-owned television "uncontrolled by the society, censored and manipulating with public opinion”, rather than absence of public television in Russia.

Mitrokhin also noted that Presidential Decree on establishing of public television represented "another bureaucratic imitation": "public's attention would be simply switched onto channels functioning of decimeter frequencies, while the meter channels would remain mouthpieces for propaganda"...
He proposed a different mechanism for formation of the Supervisory Board, which "would create truly independent television". The Board should include representatives of various political parties or parliamentary factions. “However, there should be an equal number of representatives from each of the parties, so that to avoid the dominance of the [ruling] United Russia [party]," stressed Mitrokhin.

YABLOKO conducted a picket by the Russian Atomic Energy Agency on the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster
Press Release, April 26, 2012.

...YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin, who also attended the action, said that the party had been commemorating the tragic Chernobyl anniversary for many years already. "Not only we commemorate those who died and express sympathy for those who got sick in this tragedy, but we also speak about the danger of the new Rosatom’s plans,” said Sergei Mitrokhin.

He spoke about Rostam’s plans to build a nuclear power plant on the border of Novgorod and Vladimir regions, near the town Murom. The nuclear power plant would be built on moving karst soils, where an accident may occur at any time and this would inevitably lead to a disaster similar to that in Chernobyl. At the same time Sergei Mitrokhin said that the money for this construction came from the state budget rather than private investors. "This is the taxpayers' money, the money of ordinary Russians, teachers, doctors and people with disabilities. Moreover, Rosatom builds with our money nuclear plants not only in Russia but also abroad," Sergei Mitrokhin stressed...

Academician Alexei Yablokov, leader of YABLOKO’s Green Russia faction and renowned environmentalist, told about independent assessments of the Chernobyl disaster being significantly more pessimistic than the official reports. "It's millions of deaths and diseases, cancers, premature aging and diseases of the endocrine system," stressed Yablokov.

According to Yablokov, 43 per cent of toxic sediments polluted the territory of the former Soviet Union after the disaster and the rest were spread across the globe. "Today, Chernobyl sediments can be found in the lakes of China, the Nile Delta and Japan," he said...

YABLOKO to picket the Russian Atomic Energy Agency on the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster
Press Release, April 25, 2012.

On Thursday, April 26, the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, YABLOKO will conduct a staged action by the Russian Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) under the slogan "Save the world from the peaceful atom"...

The action will start at 12:30.

Address: Tretyakovskaya metro station, Bolshaya Ordynka 24.

Also YABLOKO will hold the same action in Chelyabinsk, where YABLOKO activists, environmentalists and civil activists will pay tribute to the memory of liquidators of the Chernobyl disaster.

The activists will fly 26 balloons symbolizing 26 years since the tragedy.

The action will begin at 18:00.

Sergei Mitrokhin demands from the Investigative Committee to file a criminal case against the lawyer promising "to flood Moscow with blood"
Press Release, April 25, 2012.

Leader of the YABLOKO party Sergei Mitrokhin demands from the Investigative Committee to file a criminal case against Dagir Khasavov, lawyer promising "to flood the city [Moscow] with blood" in the REN TV channel, "unless sharia courts are created in the capital [of Russia]”.

"Muslims do not want to get involved into the judicial system. You think that we are coming here to Russia as to some strange place. And we believe that we are at home. Maybe you are foreigners here, but we are at home. And we will establish the rules that suit us, whether you like it or not. Any attempt to stop this will lead to bloodshed. The second dead lake will be here. We will flood the city with blood," announced the lawyer and Assistant to Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy and Healthcare in the federal television channel. He was quoted by the Russian News Service...

YABLOKO-ELDR conference "Threats of Extremism and Xenophobia Among Youth: the Liberal Answer". Resolution
Moscow, April 21, 2012.

...We think that such liberal response should include the following:

- steady rejection by the society of all forms of xenophobia and extremism and personality cult, as well as revival of nazism, Stalinism and fascism; abolishment of the cult of superiority and crude force, as well as manipulations with public opinion by means of pseudo historical myths and conspiracy theories;

- broadening of possibilities for engaging people in social and political life, provision of free and fair elections and independence of the judiciary; development of institutes of democracy and civil society which allow each citizen to participate in the social and political life and feel that his or her beliefs, points of view and interests influence government’s politics;

- protection of human dignity protection, person immunity and freedom of individual choice; strengthening of the secular state principles and freedom of conscience and rejection of all forms of anti-Semitism;

- conducting policies stimulating maximum integration and socialisation of people into economic, political and cultural life of Europe; gradual liquidation of barriers either in the society or between the states. Creation of a pan-European visa-free area...

YABLOKO-ELDR conference "Threats of Extremism and Xenophobia Among Youth: the Liberal Answer" adopted a resolution
Press Release, April 21, 2012.

Participants of the conference "Threats of Extremism and Xenophobia Among Youth: the Liberal Answer" adopted a resolution where they expressed their deep concern of noticeable rise of extremism and xenophobia among youth in almost all European countries.

Nevertheless, "liberal and democratic forces are capable of tackling these challenges basing their response on human rights, individual freedoms, respect for the individual, tolerance and civil and moral responsibility of each person"...

International Conference organised by ELDR and YABLOKO "Youth under Threat of Extremism and Xenophobia. A Liberal Response" to be held in Moscow on April 21
Press Release, April 17, 2012.

The European Party Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR) and the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO will hold an international conference “Youth under Threat of Extremism and Xenophobia. A Liberal Response” on Saturday, April 21.

The conference will be opened by Dr.Sergei Mitrokhin, Chair of the YABLOKO party, Emil Kirjas, Secretary General of Liberal International, Dr. Marc Guerrero, ELDR Vice President, Vladimir Lukin, Russia’s Ombudsman and Dr. Astrid Thors, ELDR Vice President.

The conference will consist of four panels...

Rally held on the birthday of Vladimir Putin's censorship on TV
Press Release, April 14, 2012.

About 300 people took part in the rally "For the freedom of the media! Against the lies and censorship on TV! The rally was held by the Ostankino TV centre on April 14. The action began and ended with demonstrations. A column of YABLOKO activists led by party Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin marched from the metro station to the site of the rally despite the ban of the authorities on a march. In the end of the rally the participants made a “present” to "Putin's censorship" on its birthday.

April 14 is considered to be the birthday of Vladimir Putin's censorship on television. At night of April 13 on April 14, 2001, there was forceful change of the Board of the key Russian independent private television company NTV...

ALDE calls for EU wide visa ban on Russian officials involved in the Sergei Magnitsky case
Press Release, ALDE, April 11, 2012

The ALDE Group in the European Parliament has today launched a procedure inside the European Parliament seeking to establish a common EU list of officials responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky, for the subsequent judicial cover-up and for the on-going and continuing harassment of his mother and widow...

Court dismissed a complaint on the arrest of YABLOKO’s Maria Kozhevatova
Press Release, April 4, 2012.

On April 4, The Kuibyshevsky District Court dismissed a complaint on the arrest of YABLOKO member Maria Kozhevatova arrested for ten days for her participation in the campaign in defense of the Article 31 (on the freedom of assembly) of the Russian Constitution.

During the hearings Judge Julia Trofimova questioned the witness A.Vinovkina, but did not consider her testimony, stating that "the witness was helping Kozhevatova”. Consequently, Kozhevatova will be held in prison until April 10...

An opposition march towards Ostankino television centre banned. A rally for the freedom of the media to take place by the television centre
Press Release, April 4, 2012.

The local authorities of the North-Western Administrative District of Moscow denied YABLOKO a permission to hold a march towards the Ostankino television centre on April 14. The officials proposed to the organizers to hold a rally instead. Also they limited the number of participants from 5,000 (as in YABLOKO’s application) to 200.

Initially it was planned to hold a march and a rally. The local authorities did not give any reasons for not giving a permission for the march...

Alexander Shishlov, member of YABLOKO Bureau, elected Commissioner for Human Rights in St. Petersburg
Press Release, April 4, 2012.

Alexander Shishlov, member of YABLOKO Bureau, is elected Commissioner for Human Rights in St. Petersburg; 45 deputies of St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly out of total 50 deputies supported his candidacy.

Speaking to parliamentarians Shishlov promised to focus on protection of labour rights, the rights of the most vulnerable groups of population, rights to education, medical care and a healthy environment.

He also highlighted protection of citizens' political rights – the freedom of speech, the freedom of assembly, the right to participate in governing - 'the rights and freedoms ensuring sustainable development and prosperity of the country in today’s world"...

Mitrokhin congratulated Eugeny Urlashov on winning the post of Mayor at elections in Yaroslavl
Press Release, April 2, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin congratulated Eugeny Urlashov on winning the post of Mayor at elections in Yaroslavl. "This is an important event for the whole of the opposition,” Mitrokhin said.

YABLOKO supported the candidacy of Eugeny Urlashov in the elections. About 100 YABLOKO’s observers from Moscow, Tver and Tula participated in the monitoring of the voting in the second round...

Despite of all the attempts to rig the elections, Eugeny Urlashov was supported by 69.65 per cent of the voters. His opponent Yakov Yakushev obtained 27.78 per cent of the votes.

Mitrokhin explained to the Russian senators that the law on political parties is adopted in favour of the ruling party
Press Release, March 26, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin believes that the full restoration of the right to form electoral blocs will prevent deepening of the political crisis, which is boosted by mass-scale creation of new parties. He made such a statement at the meeting of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation. On March 26 the Committee examined amendments to the new law on political parties...

YABLOKO's Alexander Shishlov on his nomination for the post of Ombudsman in St. Petersburg
Press Release, March 23, 2012.

St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko introduced candidacy of Alexander Shishlov, YABLOKO Bureau member, for the post of Human Rights Commissioner in St.Petersburg.

Here comes Alexander Shishlov’s statement in connection with the nomination:

I am grateful to St.Petersburg Governor for nomination of my candidacy to the post of Human Rights Commissioner in our great city. I am also grateful to all who supports my candidacy.

In case I am elected, my activities on the post of Ombudsman will be based on close cooperation with civil society institutes, critical and positive interaction with the governments and local self-governments for fair, peaceful and lawful solution of a human rights problems in St. Petersburg. I undertake to be unbiased, impartial and objective, regardless of personal preferences on the post of Ombudsman...

Sergei Mitrokhin in the State Duma: a new law on political parties can not be considered as “a victory of common sense” until formation of electoral blocs is permitted
Press Release, Video, March 23, 2012.

The new law on political parties can not be considered “a victory of common sense” as long as the electoral law bans creation of electoral blocs. This statement was made by YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin at the hearings of the State Duma. It was the third and final reading of the draft law on liberalization of establishment of political parties.

"What victory of a common sense can we speak about if voters get their ballots with dozens or maybe hundreds of pages innumerating the names of political parties, or when the voter sees unstructured political area and a register of absolutely unknown names of political parties?” Mitrokhin asked deputies of the Duma.

According to Mitrokhin, if the parties are not allowed to make electoral blocs, they will simply disperse the votes, and "a huge number of voters will remain turn out below a 5 per cent threashold” to the Duma, and thus will get no representation in the parliament...

YABLOKO's protesters detained by the Ostankino television centre in Moscow are finally released.
Press Release, March 18, 2012.

...Kirill Goncharov, leader of the Moscow Youth YABLOKO, and his colleagues Gleb Sitnikov and Oleg Rumyantsev were detained at a protest action against smearing of the public mass-scale protests against elections fraud in a film produced and broadcasted by the NTV channel. Goncharov, Sitnikov, and Rumyantsev were taken to police stations.

According to the police, about 100 people were detained at the action. about 100 people. Valery Borshchyov, member of YABLOKO Bureau and head of the Moscow Public Observers' Commission condemned the police actions...

Pickets in support of Gazaryan and Dutlov take part in different Russian cities
Press Release, March 17, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin who is now in Novosibirsk on a working visit participated in a series of pickets in support of the Suren Gazaryan and Viktor Dutlov. Young activists also joined the action in Novosibirsk.

Solidarity actions with the detained environmentalists took place all over Russia. In Moscow, the police detained dozens of picketers, including four members of YABLOKO – Galina Mikhalyova, deputy head of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO, and activists Maya Zavyalova, Gleb Sitnikov and Oleg Rumyantsev...

Maxim Petlin, Chair of YABLOKO’s branch in Ekaterinburg, is granted bail
Press Release, March 16, 2012.

..."I am certainly glad that such a decision was adopted. We know that President Medvedev whom I handed the documents on Maxim facilitated the adoption of such a decision. These documents clearly demonstrate that the case was framed up," Mitrokhin said. He also added that imprisonment was an "inadequate measure showing that the case was purely political".

According to Mitrokhin, obvious inability of Maxim Petlin’s family to pay such a bail is the vest evidence that there was corruption in Petlin’s actions, and this also another indirect proof that the accusation in corruption was absurd...

Maxim Petlin, Chair of YABLOKO’s branch in Ekaterinburg, is granted bail
Press Release, March 16, 2012.

Judicial Board on Criminal Cases of the Sverdlovsk Regional Court refused to extend arrest for Maxim Petlin, leader of Ekaterinburg YABLOKO, and granted him bail amounting to RUR 5 million. Petlin will come out of prison after the bail will be at the account of the Investigation Committee of the Russian Federation in the Sverdlovsk region.

Maxim Petlin took an active part in the fight against illegal construction of a recreational centre in the place where a city park was. The fight between YABLOKO and civil activists with the developer - Forum Group - had loud public resonance. Maxim Petlin was the victim of a provocation on the part of the Forum Group and was accused of extorting bribes...

YABLOKO leaders had a meeting with Bundestag deputies
Press Release, March 16, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin and Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of the Political Committee, had a meeting with Bundestag deputies from the Free Democratic Party. The German side was represented by Patrick Kurth, MP, and Serkan Toeren, MP, and Maximilian Spinner, Secretary of the Political Department of German Embassy.

Deputies of German Parliament were interested by the progress and assessment of the Russian parliamentary and presidential elections, growth of public activity in Russia and prospects of Russia’s political development. The discussion also evolved around the Russia-EU relations and Germany’s role in their improvement. "Visa-free regime for the Russian citizens to the EU and an anti-ballistic missile defence system that could be developed jointly with NATO are the initiatives of our party that we put forward as early as in 1990s," Sergei Mitrokhin stressed.

A meeting of YABLOKO leaders with Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Liberal Group in the European Parliament
Press Release, March 5, 2012.

Grigory Yavlinsky said that the main objective of all the opposition forces in Russia should be radical change in the socio-political system rather than simply a replacement of top officials. He said this during a meeting with representatives of the European Parliament's Liberal Group (ALDE). The sides discussed the political situation in Russia after the presidential elections and prospects for further development.

The meeting was held on March 5 in YABLOKO’s office. Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the liberals in the European Parliament and ex Prime Minister of Belgium, Renaldas Vaisbrodas, Political Adviser, ALDE, Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO Chairman, Galina Mikhalyova, Executive Secretary of the Political Council and head of the Gender faction and Olga Radayeva, International Secretary...

Environmentalist Suren Gazaryan and lawyer Viktor Dutlov get ten days of imprisonment on a framed-up case
Press Release, March 14, 2012.

Tuapse. On March 14 Suren Gazaryan, environmentalist and YABLOKO member, and Viktor Dutlov, lawyer, YABLOKO member and activist of the North Caucasus Environmental Watch, detained by the country cottage of Governor of the Krasnodar Terriroty Tkachyov a day earlier, got ten days of administrative arrest for “non-obeying to the lawful orders of police”. The judge refused to call the witnesses of the defence, as well as to consider audio and video recordings proving innocence of Gazaryan and Dutlov.

On March 13 Gazaryan and his attorney Dutlov approached the Governor’s cottage so that to inspect the “damages” (graffiti) they had allegedly made to the fence. Such inspection was required for their defence in court (as they were accused in damaging the fence) and was sanctioned by the investigator. When activists approached the fence, the guards came out and put handcuffs on the activists. Gazaryan was beaten by one of the guards...

Sergei Mitrokhin asks Public Prosecutor General to investigate the aims and goals of the meeting of Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev with Silvio Berluskoni
Press Release, March 12, 2012.

Today YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin have sent an appeal to the Public Prosecutor Generals' office asking to check whether there was a conflict of interests in the recent meeting between President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and Italian citizen and businessman Silvio Berlusconi.

Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Silvio Berlusconi on March 8-9. It should be also noted that ex Prime Minister of Italy is under investigation in Italy for a number of criminal cases related to corruption. Also he does not occupy any government post at present and is a private person - a billionaire and owner of the FinInvest financial holding...

The Green Russia faction conducted an action commemorating the tragic anniversary of nuclear disaster at Fukushima
Press Release, March 13, 2012.

YABLOKO’s Green Russia faction conducted a memorial action commemorating the victims of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The action was held on the first anniversary of the disaster on the nuclear power plant.

Environmentalists held pickets in Volgograd, Petrozavodsk, Sosnoviy Bor, Ulan-Ude, Ufa, Arkhangelsk, Kostroma, Chita, St. Petersburg and Moscow. The participants of the actions tried to draw attention of the Russian citizens to the dangerous consequences of the nuclear industry, and distributed leaflets "Rosatom, shut down your Fukushimas!"

YABLOKO leaders Sergei Mitrokhin and Grigory Yavlinsky spoke at a rally in Novy Arbat prospect, Moscow
Press Release, March 10, 2012.

YABLOKO leaders Sergei Mitrokhin and Grigory Yavlinsky spoke at a rally in Novy Arbat prospect, Moscow. Sergei Mitrokhin gave his time for the speech to Alexei Sklyarov, Editor-in-Chief the Pulse television company in Azov. It is the only independent television company in southern Russia, however, local authorities began pressing the company after Alexei Sklyarov headed the League of Voters in Azov.

"We together with the League of Voters conducted monitoring and control over voting [at elections] across the country. And once again I would like to state that the elections of March 4 were rigged. We are not going to make speeches today, we would like to give the time allotted for our speeches to a unique person - Alexei Sklyarov. He is the head of the only free, independent television company in the southern Russia. His television company has been attacked because he together with YABLOKO monitored the elections," Sergei Mitrokhin told to the protesters...

Grigory Yavlinsky addressed the participants of the rally with n a brief speech, "Friends, I am glad to meet you again. It is already my sixth speech at a rally for the past three months. I remember every word I said. We will accomplish all this. The road is long and difficult. The victory in the fight will not come soon, but it will come. Russia will be free. Russia demands changes!"

Over half candidates nominated and supported by YABLOKO won municipal elections on March 4
Press Release, March 6, 2012.

Over half (44 out of total 86) candidates nominated and supported by YABLOKO and the Democratic Choice won municipal elections in Moscow on March 4; whereas 36 of these 44 newly elected deputies of municipal councils come from YABLOKO and eight people represent the Democratic Choice.

Andrei Babushkin, Vice-Chairman of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO won the race in Otradnoe, Moscow, with 43 per cent of vote and YABLOKO's Zoya Shargatova running in Dorogomilovo, Moscow, won with 46 per cent of the vote...

YABLOKO leaders spoke at the rally For Fair Elections at the Pushkin square
Press Release, March 5, 2012.

YABLOKO leaders Sergei Mitrokhin and Grigory Yavlinsky spoke at the rally For Fair Elections which took place at the Pushkin square, Moscow.

Sergei Mitrokhin said that statements made by Vladimir Churov, head of the Central Electoral Commission, that elections was fair was a blatant lie. The hot line organised jointly by YABLOKO and the Voter’ League got thousands of calls from observers and voters on violations.

Mitrokhin also reiterated that the December slogan “Churov must go!” emerging after parliamentary elections of December 2011 was still on the agenda. The participants had unanimously chanted this slogan together with Mitrokhin...

Head of Central Electoral Commission decided to "ban" YABLOKO's observers
Press Release, March 2, 2012.

YABLOKO has obtained information that the Central Electoral Commission has been preparing a letter to the subordinate commissions demanding not to let journalists and observers from YABLOKO's paper YABLOKO ROSSII come to the polling stations...

"Such a decision by the Central Electoral Commission would mean that the authorities decided to go for a grand-scale fraud," Mitrokhin said.

According to Mitrokhin, at December parliamentary elections YABLOKO's observers detected most of the violations and fraud. If dozens of thousands of YABLOKO's observes are not allowed to monitor the elections, they will go into the streets on the next day, March 5.

YABLOKO’s observers will work in the Russian embassies and consulates in 36 countries
Press Release, March 1, 2012.

...To date 170 Russian citizens who are currently abroad decided to become observers from the YABLOKO ROSSII paper helping the YABLOKO party to monitor voting in the Russian embassies and consulates on March 4...

In addition, the YABLOKO’s activists will control voting in Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Thailand, Australia, Austria, Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Great Britain, Hungary, the Netherlands, Israel, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Canada, Kenya, China, Luxembourg , Morocco, Norway, Poland, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Finland, Montenegro, Switzerland, Sweden, Estonia, South Africa and Japan...

Application “I Am an Observer” is available for downloading on iPhones
Press Release, February 29, 2012.

Application “I Am an Observer” is available for downloading on iPhones and iPods.

Application “I Am an Observer” is available for downloading on iPhones and iPods from today. The application was developed by the YABLOKO party jointly with the Appsolute company specially for observers and electoral commissions members.

The application contains a simple and clear interface. It contains instructions for observers, references to laws, forms for filing complaints, contact information where to get help, etc.

An authorised observer will receive support from YABLOKO’s "hot line", the Voters’ League and the Rosvybory project...

Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO leader, made a speech in the State Duma
Press Release, February 28, 2012.

Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO leader, believes that lowering of a threashold on the number of party members required for party registration and a ban on electoral blocs will only lead to fragmentation of the political field and mutual alienation of the society and the parliament. He made such a statement in the State Duma today, when Duma was examining the package of President’s draft laws targeted at a political reform. Mitrokhin stressed that the draft laws on political parties and elections of deputies of the State Duma can not be examined separately from each other.

According to Mitrokhin, a ban of electoral blocs will give a “powerful impulse to alienation for the society from the government”, and this on the threashold of a coming political crisis can lead to something more than recent mass-scale rallies. “A huge number of votes will be distributes between small parties and they will not be able to make it into the Duma, thus a significant part of the Russian society will not be represented in the State Duma and will not regard as a body reflecting their interests,” he said...

YABLOKO distributed about 5,000 leaflets among the participants of the Great White Ring action with information on observation of the presidential elections
Press Release, February 26, 2012.

The YABLOKO party supported the Great White Ring action with an automobile race in the inner part of the Garden Ring in Moscow.

Several dozens of vehicles participated in the race. The cars were decorated with stickers "For Fair Elections", white ribbons (a symbol of fight for democracy and free and fair elections) and flags with party symbols.

Party members made several stops during the race so that to distribute leaflets calling the democratic voters to become observers at the forthcoming presidential elections. Trainings for observers are held daily in the YABLOKO headquarters. About 5,000 leaflets were distributed in two hours...

YABLOKO to conduct an auto race to support the Great White Circle action for fair elections
Press Release, February 24, 2012.

The YABLOKO party will support the Great White Circle action with an automobile race in the inner part of the Garden Ring in Moscow. The rally will be held on Sunday, February 26. A column of cars decorated with white ribbons (a symbol of fight for democracy and free and fair elections) and flags with party symbols will start from the party office at Pyatnitskaya Street...

The participants of the race will make stops so that to join the chain of people standing shoulder to shoulder in the Garden Ring protesting against election fraud and curbing of human rights in Russia.

YABLOKO’s activists will also distribute flyers among the participants in the Great White Circle. The flyers call all the democratic voters to become observers at the forthcoming presidential elections. YABLOKO launched trainings for observers on February 20, the trainings will be conducted until March 2...

February 23 is Maxim Petlin's day
February 24, 2012.

Unfortunately we have such a situation in our country when those who defend their Motherland and celebrate their professional holiday on February 23 should be defended from this Motherland.

On February 21 custody for Maxim Petlin, leader of Ekaterinburg YABLOKO, was extended once again.

At present maxim Petlin, MP of Ekaterinburg City Parliament and leader of YABLOKO’s regional branch, is in the hospital of the detention facility. He has a kidney problem. Probably his state deteriorated as he was kept in a prison guards’ cold room which had no heating.

We are wishing Maxim health and strength. We hope and wait that soon Maxim will return to his family and public work. Russia needs such strong and honest people.

Maxim, the Defender of the Motherland holiday of February 23 is your holiday!..

YABLOKO's Federal Council to develop a position on voting at the presidential election of March 4
Press Release, February 22, 2012.

The Federal Council of YABLOKO which has to develop party’s position on voting at the presidential election of March 4, and the political reform announced by the President will take place in the Moscow region on Saturday, March 25.

The Federal Council is a representative body of the party, it comprises 160 members, namely, Chairman of the party, members of the Political Committee, the Bureau, the Audit Commission, party arbitration, heads of regional branches as well as one delegate from each regional organisation and YABLOKO faction elected at their conferences...

Stop persecution of Novaya Gazeta!
Statement by the YABLOKO party, February 22, 2012.

Pressure on the National Reserve Bank financing Novaya Gazeta can not be regarded as accidental.

It is a deliberate political persecution on the threashold of the presidential election of one of the best Russian printed media which has always demonstrated its honest, objective and independent position.

The authorities are mortally scared of the society and of the truth. Therefore, they have launched persecutions against journalism.

We demand to immediately cease persecution of Novaya Gazeta and ensure normal publication of the paper...

On the creation of a pro-Putin pseudo-green party
Statement by the Green Russia faction of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO,

February 16, 2012.

On February 12, 2012, Russia's environmental movement The Green decided to once again form an environmental party. Its first public action was the decision to support Vladimir Putin's candidacy at the presidential elections in Russia. Also prior to its self-liquidation this party had already declared its support to Vladimir Putin. This party had also supported the decision to import foreign radioactive waste into Russia. Obviously, the revival of the party is aiming at supporting the government in their fight against ecologists, rather than change of antiecological policies in Russia. The newly released government’s report "On the Situation with Environmental Protection in the Russian Federation in 2010" confirms that the quality of environment in Russia has been deteriorating, and respectful international ratings give Russia one of the lowest ratings in the world as of the trends of its environmental changes...

President Medvedev supported a number of YABLOKO's initiatives
Press Release, February 15, 2012.

A meeting of leaders of registered political parties with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has just finished. The key issue of the meeting was discussion of the political reform. The YABLOKO party was represented by Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO Chairman, and Sergei Ivanenko, Political Committee member.

Sergei Mitrokhin handed to President Medvedev a list of demands put forward by participants of the demonstration and rally of February 4, including the general resolution of the rally, the resolution demanding registration of Grigory Yavlinsky in the presidential election campaign and the list of political prisoners...

YABLOKO begins trainings for election observers
Press Release, February 15, 2012.

The YABLOKO party begins training of observers for presidential and municipal elections in its Moscow office. The first seminar held on Monday evening was held for future trainers of observers. The event was attended by 25 people. They will train observers in Moscow and other regions. From February 20 through to March 2 there will be daily trainings. The trainings start at 19:00 on weekdays and at 15:00 and 18:00 on weekends...

Not only YABLOKO observers but also observers (who will get accreditation from the YABLOKO Rossii newspaper) from other candidates and public projects will be able to participate in the training. YABLOKO co-operates with all public projects for elections monitoring, in particular, YABLOKO will provide them party offices in Moscow and the regions.

Thus, Rosvybory project has begun distribution of its documentation to its observers in YABLOKO’s Moscow office. Observers from Rosvybory receive documents from the headquarters of presidential candidates. (Note for the Rosvybory observers: you should come for the documents only after receipt of a notification that your documents are ready.)

YABLOKO also collaborates with the Voters’ League (Liga Izbiratelei). Reception desks of the Voters League will be opened in YABLOKO’s offices nationwide soon. Volunteers will be able to get their accreditation from the media there after a short training. Collection of observers’ reports within the framework of a joint nationwide project "Final Summarised Protocol" will be also conducted in the same YABLOKO offices.

Despite the fact that candidate from the YABLOKO party at presidential elections Grigory Yavlinsky was not registered as a presidential candidate, the party intends to seriously engage in organisation of elections control. Professionals who trained the party observers who were acknowledged to be most qualified work in YABLOKO, they also helped prepare applications to courts in hundreds of cases of election fraud...

Extradition of writer and journalist Anne Nivat represents probation of a reprisals response on the growth of civil activity
Statement by YABLOKO Chairman. February 15, 2012.

The Federal Migration Service unlawful and insulting actions against Anne Nivat, French journalist and writer, create a dangerous precedent. A journalist implementing her professional duty and never violating Russian laws was put under surveillance and was expelled from the country on political grounds – after she had spoken to the opponents of the present Russian government.

Such actions return us to totalitarian practices, when the state regarded any oppositional activities and contacts with foreign press a direct threat to the state security. This has never happened even in Putin’s Russia. However now we have witnessed an attempt to restore such practices.

We regard this as purposeful actions by the representatives of the state, a reprisals tryout as a response to the civil activity growth. We demand an immediate revision of the decision by the Federal Migration Service on Anne Nivat and offering her an apology at a level of at least a service head. We demand punishment for those responsible for abusive actions against Anne Nivat.
If this is not done, the reprisals tryout will pass successfully into our life.

Vladimir Putin shown that there are political prisoners in Russia
Press Release, Photographs, February 13, 2012.

Activists of the Sverdlovsk region branch of the YABLOKO party conducted an action "Putin, look, here are political prisoners…" on Friday, February 10. The activists held a many meters banner in front of the Representation of the President in Ekaterinburg. The banner contained names of political prisoners from the list handed to the current President Dmitry Medvedev.

The action represents a reaction of Vladimir Putin’s statement during his meeting with political scientists when he asked them to show him "at least one political prisoner".

According to YABLOKO activists, the people from the list were convicted with the help of falsified evidence, the actual reason for putting them into prison were their political activities.

Maxim Petlin, leader of the Sverdlovsk branch of YABLOKO, kept in the pre-trial detention prison now is also in the list of such political prisoners.

Grigory Yavlinsky: the authorities have confirmed once again that they want uncontested elections
Press Release, February 8, 2012.

Grigory Yavlinsky commenting on the decision of the Supreme Court which upheld the refusal to register him as a candidate for President, once again emphasized that he regarded this decision as political and not anyway related to any litigation or the Central Electoral Commission (CEC).

He emphasized that the court did not question the authenticity of the 1,932,112 signatures that had been found valid by the CEC...

YABLOKO won the first case on election fraud

Press Release, February 6, 2012.

The Moscow City Court overruled the decision of Kuntsevsky District Court and declared removal of Aslan Artsuyev, member of electoral commission from the YABLOKO party with a deliberative vote, from polling station No 2451.

Aslan Artsuyev worked at the parliamentary elections and was member of the PEC No2451 with a deliberative vote, was removed from the polling station 15 minutes before its closure...

Grigory Yavlinsky appealed to the Supreme Court against the decision of the Central Electoral Commission denying him registration in presidential elections

Press Release, February 6, 2012.

On Monday Grigory Yavlinsky, founder of the YABLOKO party, appealed to the Supreme Court against the decision of the Central Electoral Commission denying him registration in presidential elections.

Yavlinsky asked in the appeal to revoke the decision on the denial in registration in the presidential election campaign and oblige the Central Electoral Commission to register him in the campaign.

Grigory Yavlinsky ran in presidential elections twice: in 1996 and 2000. In 1996 he came fourth with 7.34 per cent, and he was third in 2000 with 5.8 per cent. In 2004 and 2008 he did not participate in the presidential elections.

In 2012 he planned to participate in the presidential elections, however, on January 27 the Central Electoral Commission officially denied him the registration...

Grigory Yavlinsky "Politically we will really unite this year"

Press Release, Videos, Photographs. February 4, 2012.

...Grigory Yavlinsky, party founder, spoke at the rally on behalf of YABLOKO:

"They wish to oust us all from elections. This won't go! This is our right and we are defending the future of our country.

We have gathered here so that to see that there many of us, that we are not alone, that a friend’s shoulder is by your side. We are different, but we all have three colours in common – the colours of the Russian flag.

All together we are defending the future of the country, the Constitution, freedom, life according to laws rather than arbitrary rule. It is important for us and we will never surrender.

Now the most important thing I would like to tell you is that life does no end on March 4 [the voting day of presidential elections] or March 5. This is only the beginning.

And our opponents and foes will see and realise – may be they realise – soon that it is a beginning for us, and an end for them.

This year we will create thousands of committees for the political reform, join us!

This year we will make them abolish censorship in the mass media.

This year we will make an extremely important thing – politically we will really unite.

We will prove that morals and ethics can be the main force both in politics and in Russia.

We love our country and we will not surrender it to thieves, fascists, Stalinists or other parasites...

On a demonstration and a rally on February 4
Press Release, February 3, 2012.

YABLOKO participates in the demonstration and rally For Fair Elections of February 4. The participants should gather at 12:00 at Bolshaya Yakimanka (Oktyabrskaya metro station).

YABLOKO’s activists and supporters form the second column (out of total six). The demonstrators should gather by lamp-posts Nos 4 and 5 (out of total nine numbered lamp posts). You will be able to easily locate YABLOKO column by YABLOKO flags. Also you will be able to find information about the location of the column from activists wearing green YABLOKO uniform jackets.

The demonstration will start at 13:00. The columns will go along Bolshaya Yakimanka and Maliy Kamenniy bridge to Bolotnaya square. The rally at Bolotnaya square will begin at 14:00...

Sergei Mitrokhin will distribute leaflets calling to join the march of February 4
Press Release, February 1, 2012.

On February 2 – 3, on the threashold of the march and rally For Fair Elections, YABLOKO activists will distribute leaflets calling to join the action. Leaflets will be distributed by seven Moscow metro stations.

Tomorrow YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin (who is also member of the organisational committe of the action) will be distributing leaflets by Novokuznetskaya metro station from 3 to 4 p.m.

Picketers will also distribute leaflets by Pushkinskaya, Arbatskaya, Chistiye Prudi, Mayakovskaya, Sretenskiy Bulvar, Tretyakovskaya and Novokuznetskaya metro stations from 4 to 7 p.m.

Also leaflets can be obtained in YABLOKO Moscow office (Pyatnitskaya ulitsa, 31/2 bldg 2) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m...

YABLOKO website threatened with closure
Press Release, January 31, 2012.

Public prosecutor of Moscow requires the YABLOKO party to provide information about the organization, where the web-site server of yabloko.ru is physically located. Investigators are interested in the actual location of the organization, its legal address and contact telephone numbers.

The request of the prosecutor's office was given to the party this morning. Further, the information must be provided to Zamoskvoretskaya Interdistrict Prosecutor's Office as early as 15:00.

The requirements put forward during the audit were launched upon request to the prosecution by the Central Electoral Commission’s chief Vladimir Churov. The latter appealed to the prosecutors after YABLOKO published on its website the so-called "Churov list" - a list of leaders of local electoral commissions, where protocols of voting were falsified or the observers were removed without any reason on the parliamentary elections voting day December 4, 2011...

YABLOKO launched a lawsuit for the votes of other parties stolen at the parliamentary elections
Press Release, January 31, 2012.

...Thus, an observer’s protocol (certified by the Chair of the Precinct Electoral Commission) ran that the Just Russia party obtained 290 votes (201 vote according to the Central Electoral Commission). The discrepancy in votes for Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s LDPR party amounted to 32 votes (142 against 108 votes), 15 votes for the Patriots of Russia (29 against 14 votes), the vote for the Right Cause was worsened by half (from 14 to 7 votes). However, the ruling United Russia improved its total vote (from 506 votes on the protocol of the observer to 651 vote, according to official data of the CEC). The votes for the Communist Party and YABLOKO remained unchanged.

"Probably, the election committee members thought that YABLOKO and the Communist Party can go to courts only if their interests are affected. And they decided to "modify" the results of other parties," said YABLOKO’s lawyers. There are also discrepancies in the numbers of canceled and absentee ballots...

Unidentified persons burnt the office of "Vechrniy Krasnokamsk" weekly published by YABLOKO
Press Release, January 28, 2012.

Fire resulting from an arson fire has completely destroyed the office of "Vechrniy Krasnokamsk" weekly this night. The founder and editor-in-chief of the weekly is Olga Kolokolova, leader of the Perm YABLOKO branch and deputy of the City Council in Krasnokamsk. Olga believes that it is a revenge by Yury Chechyotkin, the city Mayor, for journalists’ investigation into his embezzlement of budget funds allocated for housing repairs in the city...

In April 2011, unknown persons assailants beat Olga Kolokolova’s father – deputy of the Krasnokamsk City Duma Arkady Kolokolov. He helped the crew of the "Riphey-Perm" television company, which investigated the circumstances of the repairs in the TSZh Parkovoi. The contractor hired by the managing company providing services for the house received 4.5 million rubles, but the works were not completed...

In addition, in November 2011, on the eve of the parliamentary elections of December 4, 2011 and the Legislative Assembly of the Perm Area, Svetlana Ivanova, candidate from the YABLOKO party was attacked by an unidentified person. She was hit on the head, the blow broke the frontal bone. She will remain disabled...

YABLOKO leader indignant at the refusal of the Moscow authorities to coordinate the route of the march of February 4
Press Release, January 25, 2012.

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin expressed his indignation at the refusal of the Moscow authorities to coordinate and give a permission to the march scheduled on February 4. The march continues the actions launched after parliamentary elections of December 4 that had demonstrated unprecedented fraud.

"The decision of the Moscow Mayor’s office provokes tension,” Mitrokhin said. “Neither broad pubic [gathering for the march via Internet] nor we can agree to the route they proposed to us (from the Luzhniki Stadium to the Krimskiy bridge),” he noted...

Picket in favour of registration of Grigory Yavlinsky at presidential elections in Nizhny Novgorod
Press Release, January 25, 2012.

Picket in favour of registration of Grigory Yavlinsky at presidential elections took place at the Teatralnaya square in Nizhny Novgorod on January 23, 2012.

The participants of the action held placards “YABLOKO for Fair Elections!”, “YES to Elections! NO to Churov*!” and “Elections Without Yavlinsky Means Elections Without Choice!”

The picketers chanted “Yavlinsky Is Our President!”, “Honesty to the Central Electoral Commission and the “Magician”** , Go to the Circus!” and “Let elections be fair!”...

Grigory Yavlinsky proposed to St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly to create a commission for investigation of election fraud at elections
Press Release, January 25, 2012.

Grigory Yavlinsky, YABLOKO leader and head of the YABLOKO faction in St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, proposed to St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly to create a commission for investigation of election fraud at parliamentary elections of December 4, 2011.

19 deputies out of 50 voted for this proposal. The United Russia and the LDPR factions did not participate in the voting. Thus, the decision on creation of such a commission failed...

YABLOKO expects escalation of claims on behalf of Central Electoral Commission after Grigory Yavlinsky was supported by organizational committee of the rally scheduled on February 4
Press Release, January 24, 2012.

YABLOKO does not see anything new in today’s statements by representatives of the Central Electoral Commission that the number of defective signatures give them grounds to refuse Grigory Yavlinsky registration in the presidential election campaign.

Grigory Yavlinsky and other party leaders gave assessments of this decision during press-conference at Interfax yesterday.

However, we expect further escalation of claims on behalf of the Central Electoral Commission after organizational committee of the rally scheduled on February 4 adopted a decision on nominating Grigory Yavlinsky presidential candidate...

Why Putin bars Yavlinsky from presidential election
Sergei Mitrokhin’s blog at the Ekho Moskvi web-site, January 22, 2012.

In the coming days the verdict of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) will be announced: who of the candidates submitting voters’ signatures to the CEC will be registered as presidential candidate. The quality and authenticity of the signatures have nothing to do with this [check up by CEC] and registration. It will be Vladimir Putin who will make the decision on the issue.

My prediction is like this: [oligarch] Mikhail Prokhorov will be registered, and Grigory Yavlinsky not. Why?
We have learned from The New Times, that the evening on December 9, Vladimir Putin telephoned Mikhail Prokhorov and asked him to run for president.
The 9th of December was just the last day of filing the application for the registration. In the evening the CEC gave the names of all those who applied and were registered. Prokhorov was not among them...

Grigory Yavlinsky: the authorities decided that the stability of the ruling group is more important than the stability of the country
Press Release, Video, January 23, 2012.

Presidential candidate from the YABLOKO party Grigory Yavlinsky said that the intention [of the Central Electoral Commission] to refuse to register him in the presidential elections campaign was "purely political" and "did not have anything to do with signatures and their quality."

"Their refusal means that all the people who do not agree with what has been happening in Russia, the people who want a different perspective - an open, democratic, European and modern perspective – will not be allowed to participate in the elections by means of this political decision," Grigory Yavlinsky said at a press conference at Interfax.

This is done for two reasons, Yavlinsky noted, "Vladimir Putin and the present government fear the choice that will be made by the part of citizens tired of stealing, lies and corruption." In addition, “they are afraid that tens of thousands of observers” whom YABLOKO planned to send to the polling stations...

YABLOKO to submit to the Central Electoral Commission voters' signatures for Grigory Yavlinsky's registration in the presidential election campaign
Press Release, January 17, 2012.

YABLOKO will submit to the Central Electoral Commission voters' signatures for Grigory Yavlinsky's registration in the presidential election campaign on January 18 at 4 p.m. Files with 2,100,000 voters’ signatures will be transported to the Central Electoral Commission on four minivans. In total YABLOKO’s volunteers managed to collect 2,132,000 voters’ signatures in 25 days only (from December 23 to January 16).

Address of the Central Electoral Commission: Bolshoi Cherkasskiy pereulok 9
Accreditation for journalists: tel +7 495 606-13-25.

Sergei Mitrokhin discussed with US Ambassador Michael McFaul the issue of joint Russian – US ABM system
Press Release, January 17, 2012.

YABLOKO Chairman Sergei Mitrokhin participated in the meeting of representatives of the Russian opposition with new US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul.
“I spoke to Ambassador about the need to continue the dialogue on the problems of joint Russia-US anti-ballistic missile defence initiated by the YABLOKO party in the end of 1990s,” Mitrokhin told the journalists after the meeting...

YABLOKO to create Fund for Donations for provision of elections transparency
Press Release, January 16, 2012.

The YABLOKO party is going to complete creation of a fund for citizens’ donations for organisation of election monitoring and encourages people to become observers on the election day March 4.

"Today we are initiation creation of a special fund, which we are calling the Fund for Promotion of Public Control over Elections", said Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO Chairman, a press conference in the Interfax office on Monday...

YABLOKO collected 2.1 voters signatures for registration of Grigory Yavlinsky in the presidential election campaign
Press Release, January 16, 2012.

2,100,000 people signed up for registration of Grigory Yavlinsky in the presidential election campaign. As expected Grigory Yavlinsky’s electoral head-quarters received large quantity of sheets with signatures these days. Today, on the last day of collection of signatures, the head-quarters will receive about 100,000 signatures.

According to the law, the number of signatures submitted to the Central Electoral Commission should not exceed 2.1 mln. On January 17, the staff of the head-quarters will pass 2.1 mln signatures to the print shop for binding. On January 18 the signatures will be submitted to the Central Electoral Commission...

Mikhail Gorbachev signed up for nomination of Grigory Yavlinsky presidential candidate
Press Release, January 14, 2012.

Ex-President of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev signed up for nomination of Grigory Yavlinsky presidential candidate. The sheet with Mikhail Gorbachev's signature was brought by Gorbachev Fund officer to YABLOKO’s head-quarters yesterday...
Collection of signatures for registration in the election campaign began on December 23 and will go through January 15.
As of yesterday, the Grigory Yavlinsky’s electoral head-quarters disposed of 1.7 mln voters’ signatures. YABLOKO activists hope that the remaining 400,000 signatures will be collected in the coming days. YABLOKO attracts volunteers (YABLOKO members and supports, ex-observers at the parliamentary elections and people who left their telephones within the framework of the project "The Glasnost Territory") for collection of signatures. A number of public organisations, including the staff of the Gorbachev Fund, help YABLOKO to collect signatures.

YABLOKO collected over 1.7 mln signatures for registration of Grigory Yavlinsky in the presidential elect ion campaign
Press Release, January 13, 2012.

As of today, YABLOKO collected over 1.7 mln signatures for registration of Grigory Yavlinsky in the presidential elect ion campaign. Collection of signatures will go until January 15, sheets with voters’ signatures have to be filed and prepared for dispatch to the Central Electoral Commission on January 18.

YABLOKO activists think that they will manage to collect the remaining 400,000 signatures (as a non-parliamentary party such as YABLOKO has to submit to the Central Electoral Commission 2.1 mln signatures for registration of its candidate in the face). Grigory Yavlinsky’s headquarters call all the supporters of an alternative at presidential elections to focus on the solution of this task...

Members of the Central Electoral Commission representing the YABLOKO party say that commission head should resign
Press Release, January 12, 2012.

Yelena Dubrovina, member of Central Electoral Commission from the YABLOKO party, voted for introduction of the issue of resignation of Vladimir Churov, head of the Central Electoral Commission, into the agenda of the commission. Most of the commission members (including members from the Just Russia and Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s LDPR) voted against this proposal...

Only Yelena Dubrovina from YABLOKO and Eugeni Kolushin from CPRF voted in favour of this proposal. Other 13 commission members, including representative of the Just Russia Sergei Danilyenko and Oleg Lavrov from LDPR voted against this...

Russian citizens collect signatures in nine countries for nomination of Grigory Yavlinsky at March presidential elections
Press Release, January 12, 2012.

Volunteers are collecting signatures for registration of Grigory Yavlinsky as candidate for President of Russia among Russian citizens living or working abroad. Collection of signatures is held in seven European countries, the US and Canada. So far, none of other Russian parties and candidates have attempted to collect signatures of Russian citizens living or working abroad.

Russian citizens working in the UK, France, Germany, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, USA and Canada wrote to YABLOKO with a proposal to collect signatures among compatriots abroad...

Moscow Mayor prohibits rallies at Chistiye Prudi
Press Release, January 11, 2012.

Such a decision by the Moscow authority was announced to the organiser of the rally that have to take place this Saturday and introduce the so-called “Churov List” (Ed. The list includes the names of people engaged in the parliamentary elections fraud). It was planned to conduct the rally by Griboyedov Monument at Chistiye Prudi.
Earlier the bureaucrats had refused to allow a rally at this place under a pretext of paving the square...

1.1 mln signatures for nomination of Grigory Yavlinsky for presidential elections collected
Press Release, January 9, 2012.

1.1 mln signatures for nomination of Grigory Yavlinsky for presidential elections collected during Christmas holidays in Russia. YABLOKO’s electoral headquarters expect abrupt rise of the number of signatures after the end of holidays.

In Moscow signatures are collected not only in YABLOKO's office but also by six metro stations...