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Dear Boris Yeltsin!
The Congress of the Association Yabloko thanks you for your
greetings and considers it an asset in the establishment of normal
constitutional relations between the power in Russia and the democratic
opposition.
The Congress has concluded that the threat of a return to power
by the Communists is a reality in the second round of the presidential
elections, and we consider this absolutely unacceptable.
We are convinced that the rise of influence from the Communists
and nationalists is due to failure stemming from the economic,
social and political course of the current regime. The results
of this course? Continued economic crisis, the social sphere of
life in ruins, a weakening in the preparedness of the military,
a war in Chechnya and the loss of the international authority
of Russia.
The results of the vote at our congress show that 57 percent
of the participants favored voting for neither candidate and 41
percent preferred to support you. We think that this reflects
the mood of our supporters at this moment, and it is in your hands
as to whether this changes in the remaining days before the election.
The supporters of the democratic opposition are independent,
reflective-thinking and individual people. The congress also revealed
that the only way we can convince them to support you is if you
alter your present course. They are waiting for your answer to
the following questions which will inevitably influence them on
July 3.
1. Are you ready to undertake a number of changes to the Russian
Constitution which would limit the power of the president and
the government and support a balance of power?
2. What is your position on the development of the democratic
processes in the regions of Russia (concerning the strengthening
of representative organs, development of self-administration,
freedom of the press)?
3. What do you intend to do in order to really put an end to
the war in Chechnya?
4. How do you see the government of the Russian Federation which
must be formed after July 3 (its program, the occupation of key
positions, direction of socioeconomic policy and its first steps)?
5. How do you intend to fill the vacant positions in the power
structure, and what reforms will you undertake to guarantee that
these changes will not lead to the same crisis in the power structure
that exemplifies the past? Our position on these problems was
explained in a document addressed to you on May 18. In this very
important moment for Russia, we say again: In all questions concerning
the strengthening of democracy, a legal state based on the traditional
needs of Russia, and for the development of a free market economy
we are ready to work together with anyone who is really ready
to address these questions for the good of the Russian citizenship.
On behalf of the Congress:
Grigory Yavlinsky
Chairman of the Association Yabloko
from:
http://www.russiatoday.com/special/letterby.php3
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