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Human Rights
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Press releases
Publications |
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| Police
begins persecutions against the defenders of the Khimki
Forest
Press Release, July 30, 2010.
Police has begun persecution of the
activists from the "In defense of the Khimki
Forest" movement and Euvgenia Chirikova, the
movement’s leader. According to the defenders
of the forest, yesterday they found out that they
were under surveillance, police officers came to their
homes without informing their relatives of the purpose
of the visit. Also the activists did not get any official
notifications from the police.
"Yesterday, shortly after we came out of the
court of the Khimki town, we found our that we were
under surveillance. It a stout man in a white suit.
However, we managed to escape him: luckily we quickly
got into a taxi and headed to Moscow", Yaroslav
Nikitenko, Aid of Euvgenia Chirikova said... |
| Sergei
Mitrokhin applied to Prime Minister Putin and Public
Prosecutor General Chaika in view of unlawful cutting
of the Khimki Forest
Press Release, July 30, 2010.
Today on July 30, YABLOKO’s
leader Sergei Mitrokhin applied to Prime Minister
Putin and Public Prosecutor General Chaika in view
of unlawful cutting of the Khimki Forest.
According to the federal law "On
Highways”, "cutting of the woods is only
possible after obtaining a permission for construction
of a highway. The Forestry Code requires that every
user of the forests should obtain a land declaration.
The normative acts of the town of Khimki require obtaining
of a special cutting ticket, which should be supplied
with a dendroplan and a tally sheet. According to
our data, all of these documents are missing, thus
cutting of the woods is unlawful,” runs Mitrokhin’s
letter to Public Prosecutor General... |
| Sergei
Mitrokhin stopped cutting of the trees in the Khimki
Forest
Press Release, July 30, 2010.
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin
and party activists once again managed to stop cutting
of the woods in the Khimki Forest.
Mitrokhin told the workers about the
order of Public Prosecutor to stop all the works.
After this the driver of a harvester stopped his work
and was going to leave the site. However, one of the
guards from the private security company tried to
stop him, however, the driver refused to resume work.
At the same time the other guards were calling their
chiefs... |
| The
Phobos company continues eliminating the Khimki Forest
despite Public Prosecutor’s ban
Press Release, July 30, 2010.
Despite Public Prosecutor’s
ban the workers of the Phobos company constructing
the Moscow-St.Petersburg highway continue cutting
of the Khimki forest. Vyacheslav Sorokin, whose house
is located in 200 meters from the Khimki Forest, informed
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin of it today... |
| Ecologists
and civil activists detained in the Khimki Forest
are facing 15 days of arrest
Press Release, July 29, 2010.
At present YABLOKO’s leader
Sergei Mitrokhin is in Public Prosecutor’s office
in Khimki filing an application of unlawful actions
by the police.
The police confiscated mobile phones
of nine detained ecologists and journalists, thus
depriving them of an opportunity to get in touch with
lawyers and get a legal consultation.
The police officer on duty told Mitrokhin
that confiscation of mobile phones was lawful, and
the activists are kept in the wards. The police issued
protocols of administrative violation (disobeying
the police orders) against them, which can involve
such punishment as 15 days of arrest. The leader of
the defenders of the Khimki Forest Yevgenia Chirikova
(who is one of the nine detained ecologists) managed
to tell Mitrokhin that the policemen referred to an
order of the Moscow Region Governor Boris Gromov who
“had prohibited any persons to appear in the
Forest”... |
| Police
breaks into ecologists’ camp
Press Release, July 28, 2010.
At night of July 28 special riot police
(OMON) broke into the camp of the Khimki Forest defenders
made close to the cutting site. The police detained
16 persons, including the leader of the ecologist
Yevgeniya Chirikova and five journalists.
However, YABLOKO and ecologists continue
defending the Khimki Forest. YABLOKO’s experts
state that the highway Moscow – St.Petersburg
can well take one of the alternative routs without
going through the Khimki Forest which is acting as
the “lungs” of the region. Cutting of
the woods has been held without any permits. Representatives
of the construction company did not come to the scheduled
meeting with the ecologists and residents of Khimki
where they had promised to show “all the due
permits”. |
| Public
hearings on the Khimki Forest postponed
Press Release, July 28, 2010.
The meeting of the residents of the
Khimki city, the Moscow regions, and Sergei Mitrokhin
with representatives of OOO Teplotekhnik conducting
cutting of the woods in the Khimki Forest is postponed
for an undetermined period.
At the agreed time (June 28, 5 p.m.)
the residents of the city and YABLOKO’s leader
and party activists came to the meeting. However,
the doors were closed and a sheet of paper notifying
that the meeting is “postponed” was pinned
on the doors. The notification gave no time or date
of the new meeting. |
| YABLOKO
to participate in public hearings on the Khimki Forest
Press Release, July 28, 2010.
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin
and party activists will participate in the meeting
of the residents of the Khimki district with representatives
of a contracting company eliminating the Khimki Forest.
The hearings will take place at 5 p.m. in the Dom
Kulturi Rodina (address: Khimki, Leninsky prospect
2, by the Khimki railway station in the Leo Tolstoy
Park).
Please note that tonight despite an
announced moratorium on construction works and cutting
of the woods, OAO Teplotekhnik continued cutting of
the trees. According to the witnesses the work was
conducted under spotlights. It is expected that after
public hearings the participants of the meeting will
go to the place of cuttings so that to stop unlawful
works.
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| Unlawful
works in the place of destructed architectural heritage
stopped
Press Release, July 26, 2010.
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin
stopped construction works in the place of destructed
architectural heritage in Tishinsky lane, Moscow.
Despite a ban of the Moscow regulator the builders
began excavation works. After arrival of Sergei Mitrokhin
the workers disappeared.
The building at Bolshoi Tishinsky
30/44 building 1, was built in the early 20th century
by the architect Nirnzeye and was almost completely
destroyed in 2008. Under the pretext of renovation
the construction company left only a corner wall of
the building. The residents of the area jointly with
the YABLOKO party have been fighting against construction
of a new building with a multi-level underground garage
on the site of the destructed monument of architecture
for two years. In early May 2010, head of the Moscow
construction complex Vladimir Resin said that the
contract with the developer - the Phobos company –
was dissolved...
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| YABLOKO's
activist detained in the Red Square
Press Release, July 26, 2010.
Today on July 26, a one-person picketing
under the slogan “Medvedev, do not be a FSB
puppet!” was conducted at the Red Square. YABLOKO’s
Artur Grokhovsky was holding a placard picturing the
“KGB men” - Felix Dzerzhinsky, Lavrenty
Beria and Vladimir Putin – and a photograph
of President Dmitry Medvedev tied to their fingers.
YABLOKO called the President not to
sign the law broadening of the proxies of secret services.
The police detained the activist who was picketing
at the Red Square, broke the placard picturing the
“KGB men” and their “puppet”
President Medvedev. Also, allegedly a FSB (Federal
Security Service) officer tried to wipe out all the
records from the journalists’ cameras and recorders
and also tried to break a camera...
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| Off
with your hands from the defenders of the Khimki Forest!
Statement by the YABLOKO party,
July 23, 2010.
...The Russian United Democratic
Party YABLOKO calls the human rights community and
democratic politicians to defend the constitutional
rights of the Khimki activists and render them all
possible assistance. This is the case, when Russia’s
civil society has virtually shown itself and dared
to resist the big money and the state machinery. Its
support in this confrontation is far more important
than hundreds of rallies in defense of democracy in
general.
We also fully support the requirements
of the defenders of the Khimki Forest. Destruction
of a unique natural complex providing fresh air to
the capital of Russia will bring to nothing all the
talks about modernization and demonstrate to Russian
citizens and the entire world the inability of the
Russian state to modernise...
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| One-person
picketing against broadening of the competence of
secret services conducted by the Federation Council
Press Release, July 19, 2010.
One-person picketing against broadening
of the competence of secret services was conducted
by the Federation Council (the upper chamber of the
Russian parliament) as the latter had to examine the
draft law today on July 19. Artur Grokhovsky, Advisor
to YABLOKO’s Chairman, was holding a huge placard
(1.5 x 1 meters) picturing Felix Dzerzhinsky, the
head of the KGB, Lavrenty Beria, Stalin’s closest
accomplice standing behind mass-scale reprisals and
Vladimir Putin with an inscription “The KGB
men are for it!”...
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| Action
in memory of Natalya Estemirova took place in Nevsky
Prospect, St.Petersburg
Press Release, July 16, 2010.
An action in memory of renowned human
rights activist Natalya Estemirova kidnapped and murdered
a year ago in took place in Nevsky Prospect, St.Petersburg,
on July 16, 2010. Activists from the YABLOKO party,
Memorial and The House of Peace and Non-Violence dressed
in T-shirts with a photograph of Natalya marched along
the main street of the city Nevsky prospect and distributed
leaflets about the killed human rights activist among
passers-by. The latter asked questions about Natalya
and about the news of the investigation...
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Young
YABLOKO activists detained for protesting against
the secret services law by the parliament
Press Release, July 16, 2010.
Three activists of the Youth YABLOKO
were detained by police by the State Duma (the Russian
parliament) when attempting to conduct a protest action
against introduction of amendments broadening the
competence of secret services (FSB).
Today deputies of the State Duma are
to consider the draft law in the final third reading.
YABLOKO’s activists came to the State Duma disguised
as prisoners with a placard, a scaling ladder and
leaflets...
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YABLOKO’s activists convicted for a one-person
picket against the new law on secret services
Press Release, July 15, 2010.
Deputy Chairman of the Moscow branch
of YABLOKO Galina Mikhalyova and young YABLOKO’s
activist Igor Savyolov were found guilty of committing
a misdemeanor and fined 500 rubles each. The cases
of the other two activists - Maxim Kruglov and Arthur
Grokhovsky - were postponed until July 23 as the policemen
were late for the trial.
The decision states violation of Article 20.2 of the
Code of Administrative Offences (Violation of the
set order in organsing or conducting a gathering,
rally, demonstration, march or picketing”).
YABLOKO’s activist had to stand
before court for holding a one-person picket by the
State Duma on June 11 - when the draft law for broadening
of the proxies of the secret service (FSB) was examined
by the Duma in the first reading. Galina Mikhalyova
stood by the walls of the State Duma with a placard
while of other party activists waiting for their turn
at a distance. The police detained
all the activists of YABLOKO despite the fact that
a one-person picketing was conducted only by Galina
Mikhalyova.
"The example of this particular
case demonstrates that our courts are biased and not
impartial. The court’s decision was not guided
by fraudulent administrative violation cases provided
by police rather than by Russian laws," Mikhalyova
said...
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Tula
City Duma deputy persecuted for his criticism of the
Governor’s work
Statement by the Tula branch
of YABLOKO, July 15, 2010.
The Tula regional branch of the YABLOKO
party expresses its deep concern with criminal prosecution
of deputy of the Tula City Duma from our party Vladimir
TImakov [launched under a pretext of a libel case].
Timakov gave his assessment of the
Governor’s work at his post.
Actually Timakov’s statements
are based on his believes, and, in our view, there
are no grounds for criminal prosecution in our opinion
no. The fact that the Investigation Committee with
the Public Prosecutor's Office in the Tula region
three times refused [the Governor] in launching a
criminal case for the lack of the elements of crime
[in such criticism] is one more proof of this.
In our opinion, this constitutes a
demonstrative political "bashing" of a dissenting
oppositional politician and journalist so that to
force him stop his activities and give up his believes...
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Sergei
Mitrokhin: President crossed out the course towards
modernisation
Press Release, July 15, 2010.
“The President’s statement crosses
out the course towards modernisation he has proclaimed.
Amendments proposed to the law on the Federal Security
Service demonstrate that instead of building a modern
state in Russia the President has been restoring the
most archaic institutions of the totalitarian past,”
YABLOKO’s leader said.
According to Mitrokhin no one but
corrupted bureaucracy which is afraid of the people
and tries to maintain at any price its power and riches
accumulated with the help of this power needs these
amendments.
Today President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev
said at a joint press-conference with German Chancellor
Angela Merkel that the draft law “has been developed
on his order”. However, the draft law was submitted
to the parliament by Chair of the Government Vladimir
Putin...
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Judge
sends the cases of young YABLOKO activists to additional
investigation
Press Release, July 14, 2010.
Judge Olga Borovkova sent the cases
of three activists of the Youth branch of YABLOKO
(Kirill Goncharov, Vladislav Pankov and Igor Savyelov),
who had chained themselves on July 9 with handcuffs
to the fence of the State Duma in protest against
broadening of proxies of the Russian secret service
(FSB). The judge detected numerous violations in issuing
the protocols. Motivated decisions will be handed
to Stanislav Gorlov who defends the activists tomorrow.
Hearing of the case of the fourth activist Veronica
Belozerskikh has not yet been scheduled yet...
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Young
YABLOKO activists are facing 15 days of arrest
Press Release, July 9, 2010.
The detained activists of the Youth
YABLOKO and Artur Grokhovsky, Advisor to Sergei Mitrokhin,
are facing 15 days of arrest in accordance with Article
19.3 of the Administrative Violation Code “Non-obeying
to the lawful police order”.
Protocols on administrative violations by the activists
were made in the Tverkoye police station, Moscow.
“I access this as an act of moral pressure,”
Artur Grokhovsky said over the phone. YABLOKO’s
leader Sergei Mitrokhin told that this constituted
an attempt of intimidation of the activists as they
had dared to oppose Vladimir Putin’s initiative...”
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Activists
of the Youth YABLOKO enchained themselves with handcuffs
by the Russian parliament protesting against the new
security service law
Press Release, July 9, 2010.
Four activists of the Youth YABLOKO
were detained by police after they enchained themselves
with handcuffs by the State Duma (the Russian parliament)
protesting against the new security service (FSB,
the former KGB) law. Artur Grokhovsky, Advisor to
party Chair Sergei Mitrokhin, was also detained.
“YABLOKO has been conducting this action protesting
against adoption of the draft law broadening the proxies
of the FSB. Today deputies of the State Duma has to
examine the draft law in the second reading. Artur
Grokhovsky stood by the entrance to the parliament
building with a placard picturing Byeria (Stalin’s
main accomplice), Dzerzhinsky and Putin with an inscription
“Amendments to the FSB law – the KGB men are for it!”
with the signatures YABLOKO had collected against
this law...
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Investigation
of Yuri Schekochikhin’s death should go on
Statement by the YABLOKO party.
July 3, 2010.
July 3 marks seven years since the
death of an outstanding journalist and fighter against
corruption Yuri Schekochikhin.
On this day the Russian United Democratic
Party YABLOKO considers it necessary to remind to
Russia’s leadership that the circumstances of
the death of Yuri Schekochikhin have not been determined.
The decision on termination of the
investigation adopted by the Investigation Committee
of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in 2009 demonstrates
inability or lack of desire of the present Russian
state to conduct a full-fledged investigation...
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YABLOKO
wins a case in the Constitutional Court
Press Release, June 22, 2010.
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin
expressed his satisfaction with the decision of the
Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation on
the complaint from YABLOKO’s member Andrei Malitsky.
The Constitutional Court ruled out
that some provisions on the Russian Federaiton law
“On the Basic Guarantees of Franchise and the
Right to Referendum” connected with a ban for
the citizens residing in a foreign state to be members
of electoral commissions. Being a Russian citizen
Malitsky obtained in 2009 a residence permit in Lithuania.
Due to this fact he was expelled from a territorial
electoral commission in Moscow where he represented
YABLOKO’s interests...
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Svetlana
Kuznetsova, head of the Soldiers’ Mothers faction
on amendments to the law on the military service submitted
to the Russian parliament
Press Release, June 9, 2010.
Svetlana Kuznetsova, head of the Soldiers’
Mothers faction in the YABLOKO party, says that “YABLOKO
is categorically against the amendments referring
to a legalized “buy-out” from the army
service, as they are discriminatory and targeted at
commercialization of the army. The authors of the
amendments say that the state does not have enough
money for a contract-based army; whereas every such
one million roubles [about USD 30,000 paid by a young
person wishing to avoid mandatory military service]
will suffice for maintenance of two contract soldiers.
Since 2001 YABLOKO has been insisting that the state
has enough money on a contract army and our economists
can prove that”...
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Action
against mandatory army conscription took place by
the Ministry of Defence
Press Release, June 15, 2010
Action against mandatory army conscription
organised by the Youth YABLOKO took place by the Ministry
of Defence on June 15. Ten YABLOKO’s activists
were holding a slogan “How many of us should
die so that you abolish mandatory army conscription?”
and also chanted “Away with mandatory army conscription,
let’s transfer to a contract conscription!”...
...The picket resumed at the Gogol
Boulvalrd. The organiser of the action Kirill Gontcharov
stated that incessant chain of deaths of young conscripts
made YABLOKO to hold such an action. He also noted
that “due to corruption only children from poor
families serve in the army”. “Instead
of defending our motherland our soldiers have to build
country houses for generals and clean water closets,”
he added. He also said that “harassment of subordinates
became a symbol of the Russian army”...
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YABLOKO’s
activists arrested by the Russian parliament for picketing
against the FSB law finally released, however, are
facing a trial
Press Release, June 11, 2010.
..Major Brezhnev personally participated
in detaining Grokhovsky: first he dragged Artur to
the police car and then hit him in the belly. Now
Anton is heading to the hospital to certify the bruises.
Grokhovsky also told that in February
he had been already arrested by the same policeman
for one-person picketing. Due to the video recording
made by YABLOKO Grokhovsky was acquitted by the court
then. Grokhovsky hopes that the court will acquit
the activists this time too, as the action was also
recorded...
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Liberal
International to discuss arbitrary actions of Moscow
police in breaking YABLOKO's picket
Press Release, June 11, 2010.
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin
expressed his indignation with police breaking of
YABLOKO’s one-person picket and arresting the activists
protesting against the amendments to the law on the
Federal Security Service (former KGB) by the Russian
parliament building. No permission or coordination
with authorities is required for conducting one-person
pickets in accordance with the Russian law. Nevertheless
the picket was brutally broken and the activists were
arrested.
Mitrokhin said that actions by police
officers who arrested the activist holding the placard,
as well as three other activists who were standing
by were a rude violation of the Constitution and the
law “On assemblies, meetings, demonstrations and pickets”...
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Action
“Preventing Extremism” brutally broken
by police
Press Release, June 11, 2010.
Video, photos.
Action against introduction of amendments
on the law on the Federal Security Service (the former
KGB), which YABLOKO attempted to hold today by the
building of the State Duma (the Russian Parliament)
was brutally broken by police. Despite of the fact
that it was a one-person picketing (four activists
had to replace each other in turn) and did not require
any permissions or notifications from the authorities,
four YABLOKO’s activists were arrested and taken
to the local police department and a placard depicting
the head of KGB Felix Dzerzhinsky, the closest accomplice
of Stalin in setting terror in the country Lavrenty
Beria, and Vladimir Putin and bearing a the words
"The KGB people vote FOR it!" was confiscated.
On June 11, at 9.30 am, half an hour
before the plenary session the Russian parliament
had to start, First Deputy Chair of the Moscow Yabloko
Galina Mikhalyova took her place by the main entrance
to the parliament building with a placard depicting
Felix Dzerzhinsky, Lavrenty Beria and Vladimir Putin
against a black ground and a hand voting for them.
“The law on preventing extremism. The KGB people
vote FOR it!" ran the slogan under the picture.
The Russian parliament will discuss this draft law
in the first reading today...
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Journalist
and YABLOKO member Yuri Schekochikhin would have turned
60 today…
Grigory Yavlinsky’s letter
to Vsevolod Bogdanov, Chair of Russia’s Journalists
Union, June 9, 2010.
Yuri Schekochikhin is an event in
the lives of all of us, an event both in our journalism
and in politics. Whatever he did - wrote play scripts,
engaged in journalist investigation or worked as a
Russian parliament member – all was very different
from how other people did this, all had an imprint
of his personality, talent and his understanding of
freedom and justice.
Yuri Petrovich was not merely a politician
in the ordinary sense or the word, he understood life
as the one who had the ability to transform it. A
special atmosphere always emerged around him, and
there was place for different people by his side.
And he still unites us all, we do not simply keep
memories of him, but feel his presence in our life.
Yuri Schekochikhin has always been
and remains our friend.
Sincerely,
Grigory Yavlinsky |
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Action
in memory of Larissa Yudina took place by Representation
of the Republic of Kalmykia in Moscow
Press Release, June 7, 2010
Today, on June 7, on the tragic anniversary
of the murder of leader of Kalmyk YABLOKO and oppositional
journalist Larissa Yudina took place by Representation
of the Republic of Kalmykia in Moscow. The participants
of the action demanded to release the names of those
who ordered the murder of Larissa Yudina, who, according
to YABLOKO’s data, were determined by the investigation.
“We can not rule out that [President of the
Republic] Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was the one who personally
ordered the murder,” Sergei Mitrokhin said at
the picket.
Today it is the 12th anniversary since
the murder of Larissa Yudina, the leader of Kalmyk
YABLOKO, editor-in-chief of Sovietskaya Kalmykia Segodnya
and main opponent of the President of the Republic
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. On this day YABLOKO’s activists
brought portraits of their murdered colleague and
lit candles by the Representation of the Republic
of Kalmykia in Moscow...
Mitrokhin promised that YABLOKO will
hold the action by Representation of the Republic
of Kalmykia every year until those who ordered the
murder are punished.
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Breaking
up of rallies means professional incompetence of the
Russian government
Statement by the YABLOKO party.
June 1, 2010
The Russian United Democratic Party
YABLOKO consders the reaction of the authorities to
the protest actions that took place in Moscow, St.Petersburg
and other Russian cities yesterday be unacceptable
and absurd.
A deliberately tough use of obviously
superior police forces against the groups of citizens
who simply expressed their opinion without endangering
anyone’s security represents a proof of inability
of state officials, top officials inclusive, to adequately
assess the situation in the country... |
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YABLOKO
demands raising of children’s allowances to
the subsistence minimum at picketing by the Ministry
of Health Care and Social Development
Press Release. June 1, 2010
Today, on the International Children’s
Day, the YABLOKO party conducted a series of one-person
pickets by the Ministry of Health Care and Social
Development demanding raising of children’s
allowances to the child’s subsistence minimum.
YABLOKO’s activists demonstrated what a person
can buy with child’s allowance amounting to
RUR 750 (approximately USD 25 per month).
The Moscow authorities did not give
their permit to conduct this action. The activists
held placards “Raise the allowance to the subsistence
minimum!” and “Subsistence minimum of
RUR 7,006 = children’s allowance of RUR 750?”... |
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Ombudsman’s
Report for 2009 published
Press Release. May 28, 2010
Russia’s Ombudsman and one of
the founders of the YABLOKO party Vladimir Lukin published
Report - 2009. The Report deals with the most acute
problems of human rights in Russia, provides information
on Ombudsman’s activities, including dealing
with citizens’ requests, interaction with the
state bodes and civil society institutes, analysis
of the present law in the field of human rights, as
well as proposals on its further development. The
key factor determining the composition of Lukin’s
Report was the dynamics of developments in the field
of human rights in Russia... |
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Nomination
of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov’s candidacy by the Russian
Chess Federation to the post of FIDE President means
a disgrace for Russia
Decision of YABLOKO’s
Bureau from May 22, 2010. May 31, 2010
The Russian United Democratic Party
YABLOKO has already made several statements that Kirsan
Ilyumzhinov’s regime in the Republic of Kalmykia
is one of the ugliest developments in Russia’s
political history of the past two decades representing
a disgusting mixture of authoritarian rule, corruption
and criminal.
Fight against this regime has in 1998
taken the life of Larissa Yudina, Chair of the Kalmyk
regional branch of YABLOKO, and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov’s
aid was found guilty of this murder. The political
responsibility for this crime lies, in our view, completely
on Kirsan Ilyumzhinov... |
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In
support of Mezhduryechinsk miners
Statement by the YABLOKO party.
May 29, 2010
The Russian United Democratic Party
YABLOKO once again conveys its condolences to the
relatives and next-of-kin of the miners killed during
the accident at the Raspadskaya mine. Regardless of
the specific reasons leading to the accident at the
mine, it is obvious that the problem is system-driven.
This is confirmed by another accident at the Alexeyevskaya
mine which followed the accident at Raspadskaya.
The owners of the mines set such rules
and regulations which make the miners to neglect the
safety requirement and risk their lives so that to
get more or less adequate wages. A civilised dialogue
with the employer turns out to be impossible: the
owners of the mines being aware that the miners will
not be able to find another job talk with them from
a position of force. The possibilities of a labour
dispute or a strike are restricted by law... |
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The
General Plan of Moscow Development signed by the city
authorities to be disputed in court
Press Release. May 28, 2010
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin
will dispute in court the General Plan of Moscow.
“Procedural violations in development and adoption
of the Plan were considerable. We shall apply to court
as soon as the General Plan is published,” Mitrokhin
said...
Mitrokhin also offered to the Moscow
residents whose interests will be affected by the
Plan to apply to YABLOKO for help... |
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Absurd
and discriminatory norms of the law “On the
Basic Guarantees of Franchise…” should
be abolished
Statement by the YABLOKO party,
May 25, 2010
The Russian United Democratic Party
YABLOKO expresses support to Andrei Malitsky in his
litigation of the norm of the Federal Law “On
the Basic Guarantees of Franchise and the Right to
Participate in a Referendum”.
According to the present norm of the
law, a citizen of the Russian Federation having residence
permits in other states is not allowed to be member
of electoral commission... |
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The
first suit against the State Plan of Moscow Development
motioned
Press Release. May 18, 2010
The YABLOKO party has motioned a suit
in the first instance court demanding to oblige the
Moscow authorities to provide a state expertise the
State Plan of Moscow Development. “According
to our information, the State Plan of Moscow Development
has not received a positive conclusion from the state
expertise in spite of the fact that Mosgosekspertiza
(Moscow State Expertise Agency) under the Moscow Government
was mandated to conduct it. As far as we know, most
experts were dissatisfied with the solution of transport
problems in the new plan,” runs the statement
signed by YABLOKO’s Chair Sergei Mitrokhin... |
|
Miners’
demands should be satisfied
Statement by the YABLOKO party.
May 17, 2010
...This problem can be solved only
via a dialogue with the workers. Russian large business
treating independent trade unions like enemies will
no go for such a dialogue, therefore, creation of
conditions for such a dialogue should become a direct
responsibility of the authorities of all levels.
Miners have the right to fight for
safe working conditions and decent living. The state
must make a radical revision of the labour law and
change its attitude to the regulators that have to
control implementation of the law.
We are calling President of Russia
to create a special commission for examination of
the justified claims of the miners and development
of social support measures for their families from
the federal budget... |
|
The
March of Changes took place in Moscow
Press Release, May 1, 2010
About 1,200 people participated in
the March of Changes organised by YABLOKO on May 1.
The columns of demonstrators with
YABLOKO’s flags and white balloons marched from
the Maly Theatre towards the Lubyanka square. The
leaders of the party, human rights activists and ecologists
held a slogan “For the Changes!”
“For the Changes! For Russia!
For YABLOKO! We are tired of stagnation! No to oligarchia,
yes to democracy!” chanted the demonstrators.
When the columns of demonstrators approached the Federal
Security Service building a slogan “Away with
the power of the KGB!” was heard...
|
|
Renowned
human rights activists, ecologists and residents of
the Rechnik village to participate in the March of
Changes
Press Release, April 30, 2010
The May 1 March of Changes organised
by YABLOKO will end by a rally. The head of the Moscow
Helsinki Group Ludmila Alexeyeva, the leader of the
movement For the Protection of the Khimki Forest Eugeniya
Chirkova and leaders of the initiative group of the
Rechnik village will speak at the rally.
The participants of the march will
gather by the Maly Theatre at 10:30 a.m. The march
towards the Lubyanka Square will begin at 11:00 a.m.
A rally by the Solobetsky Stone at the Lubyanka Square
will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The participants
of the action will get a budge “I what changes!”
The rally will end by a concern of the Moscow rock
group Sobaki Kachalova. |
|
On
the need to maintain and develop labour protection
system in Russia
Statement by the YABLOKO party,
April 28, 2010
...Most of violations of the labour
rights are connected with non-observance of the labour
protection law. Direct loss from occupational traumatism
in the Russian Federation is 250 times higher than
in the US and the EU countries. Also the Russian labour
law has many gaps leading to mass-scale lawlessness
of the workers.
For example, the Russian Labour Code
does not contain a notion of labour contract. The
Code does not envisage the responsibility of the employer
to provide work to the employee. The owner of the
company is not liable by his income or property for
the company’s performance and damage to the
health and life of the workers. Thus, the employers
are, on one hand, often interested in bankruptcy of
their companies and even prepare such bankruptcies,
on the other hand, they neglect labour protection
norms considering them unprofitable... |
|
Amendments
to the law on the Federal Security Service constitute
a political provocation against President of Russia
Statement by the YABLOKO party,
April 27, 2010
The YABLOKO party demands from the
State Duma to decline the draft law envisaging broadening
of competence of the Federal Security Service (FSB)
connected with the so-called “special preventive
measures” against extremism.
The draft law stipulating that the
FSB has the right to announce to the Russian citizens
official warnings for the actions that can allegedly
cause extremism and arrest them for 15 days for non-obeying
to the lawful demand by the FSB officer creates grounds
for violation of the law by the FSB staff and is targeted
against the dissenting.
Taking into account the lack of transparency
and control of the Russian secret services and an
extremely wide interpretation of the notion “extremist
activity”, as well as systematic bans on rallies
and pickets the draft law initiated by the Russian
government provides unlimited prospects for security
services’ arbitrary rule.
The sanction for non-obeying the warning
distorts the legal liability principle, as the liability
takes place in case of a definite wrongdoing. The
proposed norm envisages in some cases (e.g., for participation
in the actions that are not agreed upon with the authorities)
even tougher liability for the same violations than
envisaged in the present law... |
|
The
residents of the Rechnik village handed a letter of
appreciation to Sergei Mitrokhin
Press Release, April 23, 2010
Yesterday, on April 22, the meeting
of the Regional Council of the Moscow YABLOKO discussed
the situation in the Rechnik village.
Ludmila Gaiduk, the leader of the
initiative group of the residents of the village which
had had suffered reprisals from the Moscow authorities,
made a speech at the meeting. She expressed gratitude
to YABLOKO for protection of the village and its residents.
Gaiduk handed to Sergei Mitrokhin
a letter of appreciation. “Thanks to your speech
at the State Council meeting and in the mass media,
organisation of picketing in protection of property
rights and multiple statements by YABLOKO’s
activists we managed to get attention from the country
leader to our problem and pulling down of houses was
stopped,” runs the letter... |
|
The
residents of the Rechnik village to award Sergei Mitrokhin
a certificate of honour
Press Release, April 21, 2010
The upcoming meeting of the Regional
Council of the Moscow YABLOKO will discuss the situation
in the Rechnik village. The residents of the village
are going to express their gratitude to Sergei Mitrokhin
for protection of their rights and are going to award
him a certificate of honour.
Also the Regional Council of the Moscow
YABLOKO will introduce amendments into the provisions
on the Public Consultative Council of Political Parties
with the Moscow City Duma. These amendments have to
considerably broaden the proxies of the Council...
|
|
The
Russian authorities should take up responsibility
for prevention of violence in Kyrgyzstan
Statement by YABLOKO's Chairman, April 19, 2010
The Russian United Democratic Party
YABLOKO expresses its extreme concern by the growth
of havoc and violence in Kyrgyzstan, which also led
to the acts of violence and robbery against Russian
citizens and ethnic Russians living in Kyrgyzstan.
In the situation of abrupt weakening
of the power and virtual negligence by the law enforcement,
nationalistic bashing can end in multiple victims.
The duty of the Russian authorities is to prevent
murders of our compatriots, as well as the citizens
of Kyrgyzstan and all other nations that are left
without protection.
We are calling President of Russia
and Prime Minister of Russia to take under their personal
control the issue of preventing mass killings in Kyrgyzstan,
make corresponding public statements and use all the
leverages so that to influence the situation...
|
|
Arrest
of scientists in St.Petersburg discredits presidential
policy
Statement of the YABLOKO party, April 15, 2010
The Russian United Democratic Party
YABLOKO calls to release St.Petersburg scientists
Eugeni Afanasyev and Svyatoslav Bobyshev.
Considering the “practices” of work
of the Federal Security Bureau in the recent years
we have all the grounds to state that the accusations
set against the scientists in their alleged transfer
of state secrets to China are groundless.
Any investigation that the law enforcement
consider necessary can be performed without bringing
the scientists in custody. We consider such measure
of restraint as excessive and demonstratively repressive
by nature...
|
|
YABLOKO
joins the action of the Russian motorists
Statement of YABLOKO's Chairman, April 14, 2010
The YABLOKO party supports the action
of the Federation of Russia’s Motorists targeted at
introducing amendments into the traffic rules regulating
the use of special signals on officials’ cars.
The recent developments on the Russian
roads, in particular, a scandal with Presidential
Advisor (the post represents virtually a kind of honourable
discharge) abusing his right of preferential passage
shows the importance of this action and its public
importance...
|
|
The
leader of Sverdlovsk branch of YABLOKO win the libel
case initiated by Yekaterinburg Mayor
Press Release, April 2, 2010
Today, on April 2, Yekaterinburg district
court turned down the libel claim motioned by the
city Mayor Arkady Chernetsky against deputy of the
city Duma and leader of the local branch of YABLOKO
Maxim Petlin. The court charged the Mayor RUR 20,000
(about USD 700) for compensation of the legal costs
incurred by Maxim Petlin.
Chernetsky started a legal case against Petlin after
the latter said in the TV programme that Chernetsky
had “sold half of kindergartens buildings”.
The Mayor called this phrase a libel and motioned
a libel case against Petlin. The second defender in
the court was Rossiya television channel which had
broadcasted Petlin’s interview and showed an
item on alienation of large number of kindergartens
in favour of Chernetsky’s family members... |
|
Sergei
Mitrokhin: Murderers of Chechen farmers should be
punished
Press Release, April 1, 2010
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin
forwarded to the head of the Investigative Committee
at the Public Prosecutor’s Office Alexander
Bastirkin a second address demanding to start criminal
persecutions on the murder of Chechen farmers gathering
herbs by the Arshty village in Ingushetia on February
11-12...
Mitrokhin’s letter based on
the facts obtained during investigation of the Memorial
human rights centre. Memorial proved that the versions
voiced by the top officials that the militants had
allegedly used the civilians as a shield and that
people had been killed due to the air strikes were
incorrect...
“I realise that after yesterday’s
statement by Umarov [where he took the responsibility
for the acts of terror in the Moscow Metro] the Investigative
Committee may have psychological difficulties with
the adoption of such a decision, however, this body
has to be guided by lawful interests of the citizens
protected by law rather than by bandits’ provocative
statements,” runs Mitrokhin’s letter...
|
|
Russia’s
Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin sends a letter to Public
Prosecutor in defence of the Khimki forest
Press Release, March 25, 2010
Russia’s Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin
asked Public Prosecutor Yury Chaika to examine whether
the government’s decision to construct a highway Moscow
– St.Petersburg that has to go through the Khimki
forest was lawful.
In accordance with the order of the
Government the lands of the Khimki forest were transferred
to the category of “industrial lands”.
In his letter to Public Prosecutor
Vladimir Lukin noted that the Khimki forest is a protected
natural territory in accordance with the Forestry
Code, thus any cuttings should be prohibited there...
|
|
Criminal
persecution against three activists of the Youth YABLOKO
in Omsk
Press Release. March 19, 2010
Three activists of the Omsk Youth
YABLOKO organisation arrested at night of March 18
are have been still detained. The Main Interior Department
informs that they are accused of vandalism, however,
the local police department which is detaining the
activists denies this and promises to release the
activists soon.
An annual action in support of freedom
of speech in Belarus has been held at night March
18 – 19. This is a part of international campaign
European Youth Against the Belarus Dictatorship. The
participants of the performance gag statues with banners
saying “Freedom to Belarus!”
Omsk YABLOKO activists Anton Zhebrun,
Mikhail Maglov and Andrei Yermilov were arrested by
police when they were gaging a Dostoyevsky statue.
They were escorted to the local police department
Centralnoye, where they were kept the whole night
without water and food. Anton Zhebrun had a heart
attack, the police called an ambulance. However, the
policemen did not allow the young people to make calls
via their mobile phones... |
|
Officials
offer apology to YABLOKO’s ecologist
Press Release. March 10, 2010
Officials from Administration of the
Lomonosovsky District of the Leningrad region offered
their apology to Alexander Senotrusov, deputy head
of YABLOKO’s Green faction, for their intention
to dismiss him from school where he had been working
as a teacher and their suspension of functioning of
a children’s club where he also worked. Persecutions
against YABLOKO’s activist began after his interview
to the NTV television channel.
On March 7, NTV released a piece devoted
to the practices of unlawful construction of cottages
in the natural reserves. Alexander Senotrusov told
the journalists about unlawful construction at the
Lebyazhiye village situated on Gulf of Finland shore.
After this the district administration
began persecutions against the teacher. Local bureaucrats
were going to dismiss Alexander Senotrusov as redundant
and also cut off electricity in the children’s
club where he worked.
|
|
YABLOKO
protests against sending schoolchildren to the barracks
Statement of the YABLOKO party.
February 26, 2010
The YABLOKO party expresses its resolute
protest against the plans of the Moscow government
to restore the [Soviet] system of preservice military
training with regular encampments of schoolchildren
and introduction of the fundamentals of the military
service as a subject in the school curriculum.
We think that the Concept of Preservice
Training of the Young People in Moscow Until 2020
endangers life and health of the young Muscovites
and is targeted at conservation of the present problems
rather than reconstruction of the army, which inevitably
leads to further degradation of the armed forces.
The present system of conscription
to the Armed Forces of Russia serves only for justification
of the existence of the Russian military bureaucracy
and their deriving profits from gratuitous soldiers’
labour. Mass-scale violations of the rights of the
young people of the conscription age and harassment
– derision, beatings and blackmail – have
become a daily reality in the army.
|
|
Liberals
Give Police Tips on Reforming
The Moscow Times, February
26, 2010
By Alexander Bratersky
President Dmitry Medvedev's police
reforms will turn into a sham if the public is excluded
from the process and other law enforcement agencies
are left untouched, opposition politicians and human
rights activists said Thursday.
“It is impossible to reform
the Interior Ministry without reforming the prosecutor's
office and the justice system,” Yabloko party
leader Sergei Mitrokhin said at a round table organized
by the Moscow police to discuss the reforms with the
public... |
|
YABLOKO
to organise round table “The Reform of the Interior
Must Meet the Expectations of the Civil Society”
Press Release. February 24,
2010
Round table “The Reform of the
Interior Must Meet the Expectations of the Civil Society”
will be conducted on the initiative of Andrei Babushkin,
Deputy Chair of the Moscow YABLOKO and Co-Chair of
the Human Rights faction of the party in the press
centre of the Moscow Interior Department, on Thursday,
February 25.
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin
will participate in the round table. Other guest speakers
are:
Ludmila Alexeyeva, the Moscow Helsinki Group,
Valery Gribakin, head of the Information and Public
Relations Department of the Interior Ministry of the
RF,
Alexander Zharov, Ombudsman for the Moscow Region,
Alexander Zimin, leading expert of the Moscow University
of the Interior Ministry,
Svetlana Gannushkina, Grazhdanskoye Sodeistviye (Civil
Support)
Vladimir Lukin, Russia’s ombudsman,
Alexander Muzikantsky, Moscow ombudsman,
Ella Pamfilova, Civil Society and Human Rights Council
under the President of the RF,
Lev Ponomaryov, For the Human Rights movement,
Genry Reznik, Moscow Bar Association...
|
|
Picketing
in Ufa: “Decent Pensions to the Military Pensioners!”
Press Release. March 1, 2010
Picketing for the right of the military
pensioners to decent pensions took place in the centre
of Ufa (Bashkiria) on February 27.
The picket was organised by the Bashkirian
regional branch of the YABLOKO party. The picket was
conducted under the slogan “Decent Pensions to the
Military Pensioners!”
In spite of the fact that 30 activists
had to participate in the action, the actual number
of participants grew to 50. Citizens dissatisfied
with the actions of Bashkirian government, administration
of Ufa and the law enforcement also joined the picket...
|
|
Picket
against discrimination of military pensioners in Blagoveschensk
Press Release. February 26,
2010
Picket against discrimination of military
pensioners took place in Blagoveschensk (the Amur
Region) on February 23 (Defender of the Fatherland
Day).
The action was organised by the Amur
Region branch of YABLOKO. The city government gave
a permission to conduct the action in the center of
the city...
Despite preliminary announcements
of the action none of the local journalists risked
to go against Governor’s order and report on
the action in the media...
|
|
YABLOKO
continues “Decent Pensions to the Military”
campaign
Press Release. February 24,
2010
Rallies and pickets took place in
different Russia’s cities within the framework
of YABLOKO’s campaign “Decent Pensions
to the Military” on February 23, the Defender
of the Fatherland Day.
About thousand people came to the
rally in Lipetsk demanding to raise scanty military
pensions. Military pensioners, YABLOKO’s activists
and CPRF activists held slogans “Putin to Dismissal!”,
“Military Pension – a Disgrace of the
Government!”...
Four pickets were organised in Novgorod:
YABLOKO’s activists distributed leaflets and
collected signatures under the address to the Russian
President. The residents of the city even queued at
one of the pickets located in the centre of the city
so that to put their signatures under an address to
Dmitry Medvedev demanding to change the system of
calculation of military pensions... |
|
YABLOKO’s
activists leave the court protesting against collusion
of the judge with OMON
Press Release. February 23,
2010
The arrested activists – YABLOKO’s
leader Sergei Mitrokhin, General Major Anton Goretsky
and Artur Grokhovsky, aid of YABLOKO’s leader,
spent over an hour in the district court waiting for
hearings on their case. After an hour expired they
went to the courtroom to find out when the hearings
were to take place. However, they saw a judge discussing
something with the OMON policemen who were witnesses
on the case. According to Grokhovsky, several policemen
were standing by the judge’s table and one of
them was even sitting on the table. However, the judge
demanded to close the door and not to interfere into
the discussion.
YABLOKO’s activists left the court in protest
against collusion of the judge and the police, despite
resistance of the policemen who brought them to the
court. “I think that what has happened is a
manifestation of an arbitrary rule and also a humiliation
to General Goretsky who on the Day of the Defender
of the Fatherland was kept in the police station for
three hours and then kept in court,” Mitrokhin
said. “The judge not only behaved incorrectly
towards us, but even tried to make a collusion with
the witnesses who were actually a party in the case,”
he noted.
|
|
YABLOKO’s
leader and General Major arrested for picketing in
protection of military pensioners’ rights
Press
Release. February 23, 2010
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin
and leader of the Moscow Region YABLOKO General Major
Anton Goretsky were arrested for conducting a picket
in protection of the military pensioners’ rights
that had not been coordinated with the authorities.
The local authorities declined YABLOKO’s application
to conduct picketing by the Ministry of Defence on
February 23 (the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland).
However, the same action had been allowed on January
20.
The participants of the picket held slogans “Scanty
Military Pensions – a Disgrace to the State!”
when about 15 OMON policemen arrested YABLOKO’s
activists and drove them to the local police station. |
|
YABLOKO
insists that the Chair of the Investigative Committee
at the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation
should take under control investigation of a killing
of civilians in Ingushetia
Press Release. February 17,
2010
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin
asked Alexander Bastyrkin, Chair of the Investigative
Committee at the Public Prosecutor's Office of the
Russian Federation, to take under his personal control
investigation of a killing of civilians on the Chechen-Ingush
border during special operation on February 11 –
12, 2010.
“The investigation conducted
on February 13 – 14 by the Memorial human rights
centre showed that the versions worded by the officials
– that civilians had been used by the militants
as a human shield and died because of the air-to-ground
attack – were incorrect,” ran the letter...
At least 70 local civilians engaged
in agricultural works turned out to be in the area
of a special operation. The authorities had the information
about their work in the area, as they had given a
special permit for agricultural works to the local
residents there, however, the officials did not take
measures so that to evacuate people to a safe place.
At least four persons were killed. According to the
Memorial’s data they were gunned at a short
range and possibly fired “insurance” shots
afterwards. |
|
One
more provocation against Maxim Reznik, leader of St.Petersburg
branch of YABLOKO
Press Release. February 17,
2010
On February 17 (about 7 a.m.) Olga
Galkina, deputy of the municipal council of the Morskoi
district from the YABLOKO party found out leaflets
on the block of flats where she lived running that
police was allegedly looking for a “dangerous
criminal Maxim Lvovich Reznik accused of grave crimes”...
The leaflets also called the citizens to call the
telephone numbers indicated in the text so that to
help the police to arrest a “dangerous criminal”.
The given telephone numbers turned out to be the numbers
of the local police department, St.Petersburg’s
YABLOKO office and the school where Maxim works as
a teacher of history...
“It is obvious that this mean
action has been paid for and is aiming at exerting
psychological pressure on myself and my relatives.
It is especially mean that these people indicated
telephone number of the school where I work,”
Reznik said. “After today’s provocation
I can not say that the December and January incidents
[when Reznik was arrested by police when he was going
home from a supermarket for alleged “drinking
alcohol in a public place” and attack on their
family car] were a mere coincidence.” |
|
The
leader of Gelendzhik YABLOKO is forced to quit his
job because of a rally
Press Release, February 12,
2010
On January 31, 2010, Gelendzhik YABLOKO
conducted a meeting of protest against destruction
of the Utrish relict lagoons, where the Presidential
Property Management Department planned to build a
“sports and recreation complex” and Administration
of the Krasnodar Area – commercial buildings.
Public protest action took place by the city Administration
building.
And already on February 5, Sergei
Buldakov, leader of the local YABLOKO branch was informed
that he was transferred to another work place located
in 57 km from his current place. Alexander Umitbayaev,
Director General of the Vodokanal municipal state
company, where Buldakov worked informed Buldakov of
this transfer. |
|
Memorial’s
lectures in YABLOKO. The History of the Soviet Terror
Annoucement, February 4, 2010
We are proud to announce that we are
launching lectures of Memorial heads and experts within
the programme of our Evening University.
Please find below the schedule of the first lectures...
Please also note that you can see
Memorial’s exhibition A History of an Execution
at YABLOKO’s office... |
|
Governor
Gromov motions a libel suit against Sergei Mitrokhin
Press Release, February 1,
2010
Governor of the Moscow Region Boris
Gromov motioned a libel suit against YABLOKO’s
leader Sergei Mitrokhin who had laid blame for a physical
attack on Editor-in-Chief of Khimskinskaya Pravda
oppositional paper Mikhail Beketov. The official claims
compensation of RUR 500,000 (about USD 16,600) for
the moral damage.
Sergei Mitrokhin stated that the party
had grounds to think that “Administration of
the Khimki city district and personally Head of Administration
Strelchenko supported by Governor Gromov are behind
this crime” during an action held on November
16, 2009 one year after the attack. A
video record of Sergei Mitrokhin’s speech published
at YABLOKO’s web-site was used by the Governor
as an evidence of libel.
On November 13, 2008, Editor-in-Chief
of Khimskinskaya Pravda oppositional paper Mikhail
Beketov who had been opposing the construction of
a paid highway Moscow – St.Petersburg, was found
unconscious in the yard of his house. Doctors stated
a severe head injury, multiple factions and injuries.
Despite treatment Beketov remains a handicapped –
he can not take care of himself and his speech functions
have not restored. The action in support of Beketov
was held under the slogans “Attack on Beketov
Is an Attack on the Freedom of Speech” and “Attack
on Beketov Is Political Terror”.
|
Social
orphanage Zhizn (Life) in St.Petersburg needs your
support!
February 2, 2010
Social orphanage Zhizn (Life) gives
shelter and normal living conditions to orphans and
social orphans. The orphanage was founded over 15
years ago and helped to about 600 children. The orphanage
does not get any state aid and has been financed by
private donations only.
At present the orphanage has to move
to a new place and its expenditures have abruptly
grown. Zhizn would be grateful for any aid, as it
is moving to empty flats. For bank transfers pls use
the following
banking details (it is important to indicate that
it is charity).
Even if you do not have a possibility
to help us financially, you can help to the orphanage
by spreading information about it.
See also:
Youth
YABLOKO organisation of St.Petersburg for the protection
of an orphanage. Press Release. September 8, 2009
|
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Picketing
in favour of Rechnik took place by the building of
the Russian Government
Press Release, January 29,
2010
Today on January 29, 2010, the residents
of the bulldozed Rechnik village together with YABLOKO
activists organised a mobile picket in the form of
automobile race. Since 2-30 p.m. picketing took place
by the RF Government’s building. YABLOKO’s leader
Sergei Mitorkhin took place in the action.The participants
of the picket hold a placard running “Yes to the amnesty
of dachas!” and picturing President Medvedev and Prime
Minister Putin.
“We consider all the developments
in Rechnik complete lawlessness, as not only a law
on the “amnesty” of dachas but also a number of other
laws make bureaucrats to file property title on land
and houses in such cooperatives as Rechnik,” Mitrokhin
told to journalists. “We think that this lawlessness
is performed in the interests of bureaucracy and large
business which would like to use this territory. The
state demonstrates its cynical attitude to the people
who with their own labour made money for construction
of their private houses on legally purchased plots
of land,” he added.
more
See also:
'Selective
justice' in Moscow as houses razed overnight. Reuters.
Jan.28, 2010 |
|
Brief
Outline of Sergei Mitrokhin’s Report at the
State Council meeting
January 22, 2010
The key problem of Russia’s
political system is monopolism which manifests itself
in three major ways:
1) bodies of power and parliaments
of all levels demonstrate monopoly of one party representing
the interests of bureaucracy and large-scale business
merged with it;
2) complete dominance of the executive over the judicial
authority;
3) dictate of one social class – the bureaucracy
– over all other social groups.
Thus, the present political system generally reproduces
the Soviet system, with its key flaw – the monopoly
of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union on power.
Such monopoly led to the insensibility of the political
system of the USSR to the challenges of the time.
Attempts to reform the system were considerably belated
and that, consequently, led to a collapse of the USSR. |
|
Assessment
of Russia’s Present Political System and the
Principles of Its Development. Brief note for
the State Council meeting (January 22, 2010) by Dr.Grigory
Yavlinsky, member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee.
January 22,
2010
...In the absence of serious attention
to the raise of political culture and freedom of speech,
elections in our country will become a fest of demagogues
and populists killing the system.
The main problems and goals of the
society and the state in the field of creation of
modern political system and political reform do not
represent a mere correction, they mean bringing of
life and sense into Russian politics.
Only in this case it will be of interest
for the people and will be worthy of their attention.
To achieve this we should first of all raise the level
of public consciousness and open opportunities for
public participation in the power and politics.
We think that to prevent dissolution
of the Russian political system in 2010 – 2012
we need to undertake the following gradual but nonetheless
decisive steps...
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|
The
staff of the Government of the Moscow Region interferes
with YABLOKO’s picketing
Press Release, January 28,
2010
The staff of the Government of the
Moscow Region interfered with YABLOKO’s one-man
picketing in front of their building. YABLOKO protests
against virtual introduction of a ban on one-man pickets
which has been initiated by the Moscow Region Duma.
The parliament of the Moscow Region
submitted to the State Duma a draft law stipulating
that one-man pickets (in addition to demonstrations,
rallies and group pickets) should be not only coordinated
with the authorities but organisers of such pickets
should also submit the plan and schedule of such picketing.
Activists of the Moscow Region branch of YABLOKO call
one-man picketing the only form of street protest
which has been available, as normally the authorities
ban rallies and pickets with a large number of participants
under faked pretexts.
|
|
Ekaterinburg’s
Mayor suits the leader of the regional YABLOKO branch
Press Release, January 27,
2010
Ekaterinburg’s Mayor Arkady Chernetsky
set in motion a lawsuit against deputy of the city
Duma and leader of the regional YABLOKO branch Maxim
Petlin.
The Mayor began a defamation case
stating that Maxim Petlin had libeled against him
at TV programme Vesti. The Mayor assessed his moral
damage at RUR 600,000 (approximately USD 20,000) which
makes 30 per cent of his official annual income amounting
to RUR 1,700,000.
“Once Chernetsky sold out half of
all the kindergartens buildings in Ekaterinburg,”
Petlin said at the Vesti programme. The Mayor considered
this statement be a libel.
However, explaining this situation
Chernetsky told to the anchor of the Studio 41 TV
programme that he had sold “only three kindergartens”.
Other had been transferred to different companies
and entities “free of charge”. |
|
The
Charter Court of St.Petersburg refused to examine
the Okhta-Centre case
Press Release, January 27,
2010
Yesterday the Charter Court of St.Petersburg
refused to examine the complaint of Maxim Reznik,
the leader of St.Petersburg YABLOKO branch. Reznik
claimed the resolution of the St.Petersburg’s
government on construction of 403 meter high Okhta-Centre
and a number of legislative acts should be cancelled.
The Charter Court as well as Public Prosecutor preferred
not to interfere into the scandal around Gazprom’s
skyscraper Okhta-Centre and wait until “a general
jurisdiction court makes its judgment”.
Reznik applied to the St.Petersburg’s
Charter Court claiming that the resolution of the
city government headed by Governor Valentina Matviyenko
was unlawful as allowed Gazprom to construct at 403
meter high skyscraper prohibited in the historical
part of the city. Also Reznik asked to cancel several
normative acts (on regulation of city construction
and public hearings) that served as a basis for the
scandalous resolution.
|
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Mitrokhin:
“It is barbarity to evict people in such frosts”
Press Release, January 26,
2010
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin
called Vladimir Resin, head of the Moscow Construction
Complex, to apply to the Bailiffs Service with a demand
to suspend housebreaking in the Rechnik settlement
at least by the end of frosts. Such
a proposal was made by Sergei Mitorkhin during yesterday’s
meeting with Vladimir Resin devoted to the problems
Moscow’s construction complex.
“Whatever ideas of the Moscow
authorities could be here, but housebreaking and evicting
people to the street in such frosts is barbarity.
I proposed to Vladimir Resin to conduct conciliatory
procedures with the residents of Rechnik, however,
I did not get any support here,” Mitrokhin said.
Nevertheless YABLOKO’s
leader has been insisting on his proposals.
“I also expect some reaction
to these developments from President Medvedev and
Prime Minister Putin whom I reported about this situation
at the State Council meeting,” Mitorkhin said. |
|
YABLOKO’s
leader blocked by police in the Rechnik cottage village,
Moscow
Press Release, January 21,
2010
This morning YABLOKO’s leader
Sergei Mitrokhin arrived at the site of the Rechnik
village where bulldozers began pulling down the houses
early in the morning.
Mitrokhin noted that YABLOKO had been
deterring pulling down of the village for two years.
According to Mitrokhin, the Court Bailiffs Service,
the police and the local authorities resumed their
efforts as soon as the term of YABLOKO’s deputies
in the Moscow City Duma expired and YABLOKO was not
able to get the mandates after fraudulent elections
of October 11.
On arriving at the site Mitorkhin
called Ferdauis Yusupov, head of the Moscow Court
Bailiffs Service. Yusupov asked Mitrokhin to find
out whether there were any court decisions or documents
for pulling down the houses. However, when Mitrokhin
tried to find out the legal basis for demolishing
of the village he was quickly blocked by police. Policemen
made a cordon around him and did not let him freely
move in the territory of the village. |
|
Activists
and leaders of the YABLOKO party participate in the
action in memory of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasiya
Baburova in Moscow
Press Release, January 20,
2010
Activists and leaders of the YABLOKO
party participated in the action in memory of Stanislav
Markelov and Anastasiya Baburova murdered a year ago.
Party leader Sergei Mitrokhin and
member of the Political Committee Sergei Kovalyov
participated in the march along Petrovsky Boulevard.
Grigory Yavlinsky laid flowers to the place where
Markelov and Baburova were killed and came to the
picket by the Griboyedov monument where the march
ended.
YABLOKO’s activists noted that
they managed to escape mass-scale police reprisals
only due to interference of Russia’s Ombudsman
Vladimir Lukin who came to Petrovsky Boulevard.
At present YABLOKO’s activists
are trying to prevent the second wave of arrests,
provoked by the police who tore the megaphone from
the speakers at the picket. |
|
Picket
against scanty pensions accrued to the military pensioners
held by the Ministry of Defence
Press Service, January 20,
2010
Picket against scanty pensions accrued
by the state to the military pensioners was held by
the Ministry of Defence today. The activists of the
YABLOKO party and the Elder Generation movement (the
former Pensioners’ Party) protested against the present
system of calculation of pensions basing on the fixed
wage only and neglecting all the wage increments and
bonuses the military normally get. This system leaves
military pensioners with tiny pensions despite their
real aggregate earnings during their service.
The activists of the Youth YABLOKO
held a banner “Military Pensions Are a Shame on the
State!”
|
YABLOKO
and the Elder Generation movement to conduct picketing
protesting against discrimination of pensioners
Press Service, January 19,
2010
Tomorrow on January 20, the YABLOKO
party jointly with the Elder Generation movement (the
former Pensioners’ Party) will conduct picketing
by the Ministry of Defence building protesting against
discrimination of pensioners.
Military pensioners protest against
the present system of calculation of pensions basing
on the fixed wage only and neglecting all the wage
increments and bonuses the military normally get.
This system leaves military pensioners with tiny pensions
despite their aggregate earnings during their service.
YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin,
General Major in reserve and leader of the Moscow
Region YABLOKO branch Anton Gorodetsky and head of
the Elder Generation movement Alexei Borschenko will
participate in the action.
The picket will begin at 12:00.
Address: Gogolevsky Boulevard (by
the Gogol monument). |
|
Attitude
to human rights activists as a criterion of a law
governed state
Statement of the YABLOKO party,
January 19, 2010
The Russian United Democratic Party
YABLOKO states that the work of human rights activists
and independent journalists in Russia have not become
less dangerous for the year since the murder of Stanislav
Markelov and Anastasiya Baburova.
It’s not only because the past
year saw new attacks against human rights.
Nothing changed in the policies of
the authorities and the situation with resentment
of dissenting opinions promoted by the state mass
media. State officials have been treating human rights
activists as the enemies of the state, and their opinion
coincides here with that of nationalists and fascists.
Such an attitude of the state to human
rights activists demonstrates that at present Russia
is not a law-governed state and, moreover, it does
not try to become such. |
|
YABLOKO
demands dismissal of a top official
Press Release, January 15,
2010
Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the YABLOKO
party, applied to the Ministry of Economic Development,
the State Register and Public Prosecutor General demanding
dismissal of O.Chapkovskaya, head of the Tikhoretsky
Department of the Federal Registering Agency in the
Krasnodar area. The said official completely blocked
registration of citizens’ joint shared ownership
to agricultural lands.
The official had been violating constitutional
rights of the citizens for two years, and the latter
had to seek justice in court. The court examined 107
complaints on unlawful actions of an official, making
judgments on each of the cases recognizing the actions
of the state registrator Chapkovskaya unlawful. |
|
The
residents of the city of Klin and YABLOKO picket by
the office of the Public prosecutor of the Moscow
Region
Press Release, January 14,
2010
“Klin Should Get an Honest Public
Prosecutor,” – such is the slogan of pickets
conducted by the residents of the Klin district, Moscow
Region, and YABLOKO by the office of the Public prosecutor
of the Moscow Region.
Oleg Stalnov, Public Prosecutor of
Klin, was dismissed from his post and downgraded to
the post of deputy Public Prosecutor of the city of
Domodedovo. It has been unclear who may take the post
in Klin.The residents of the
city and representatives of public organisations conducted
several actions and rallies demanding to dismiss Oleg
Stalnov due to the growth of corruption and general
negligence of his office. Thus in September 2009,
YABLOKO initiated a rally of about 500 people demanding
to dismiss Stalnov.
After his dismissal YABLOKO, the Society
for Preservation of Nature of the Moscow Region and
the Farmers’ Front sent a letter to the Public
Prosecutor General demanding to “control the
appointment of a new Public Prosecutor for Klin and
ensure that Klin would get an honest Public Prosecutor”. |
|
Initiators
of the referendum on Okhta-Centre to appeal St.Petersburg
parliament’s ban on the referendum in court
Press release, December 24,
2009
Initiators of a referendum on Okhta-Centre
to appeal St.Petersburg parliament’s ban on
the referendum in court. This announcement was made
by Chair of St.Petersburg YABLOKO and one of organisers
of the referendum Maxim Reznik at the Ekho Moskvi
radio station.
“This time the Legislative Assembly
of St.Petersburg demonstrated absolute absence of
any respect to the city dwellers saying that the legislators
can not give a definition what a historical outlook
of St.Petersburg is. But I am certain that shall find
counter-measures against another slap on the face
as regards the citizens,” Reznik said. |
|
On
the situation in the Northern Caucasus
Resolution of the 15th congress
of the YABLOKO party No 252, December 24, 2009
The Russian United Democratic Party
YABLOKO once again expresses its deep concern on the
political and economic situation in the Northern Caucasus.
Despite victorious reports on stabilisation
of the situation in the Northern Caucasus the policies
of the Russian authorities completely failed. Escalation
of armed conflicts has been going on, clan-authoritarian
developments and corruption has continued to grow
in this region.
Mass-scale violations of human rights
by the interior and law-enforcement agencies do not
cease, Russian laws are not observed and high level
of unemployment and economic retardness has been still
preserved. Kidnapping and murders, first of all of
human rights activists, in the Northern Caucasus have
already become a norm. Farid Babayev, Natalya Estemirova,
the spouses Sadulayev, Magomed Yevloyev and other
renown human rights activists and descendants were
murdered in the recent years.
We are greatly concerned that the killers and those
who ordered these loud political murders have not
been found yet, or, like in the case with Magomed
Yevloyev, they manage to avoid just punishment.
Despite a moratorium on capital punishment,
extrajudicial executions have been implemented in
Russia, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria
and Karachayevo-Cherkessia. |
|
Deputy
head of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO Eugeni Bunimovich
becomes Ombudsman for Children in Moscow
Press release, December 21,
2009
Deputy head of the Moscow branch of
YABLOKO Eugeni Bunimovich was appointed Ombudsman
for Children in Moscow. The corresponding order was
signed by Moscow Ombudsman Alexander Muzikansky.
“I find this post very important,
as I as well as any other person realise what should
be done here,” Bunimovich told to the Interfax
news agency.
Bunimovich also noted that the post
of Moscow Ombudsman for Children’s Rights is
quite independent in the administration of the Moscow
Ombudsman. Speaking about his plans Bunimovich told
that “he is not the Plenary Meeting of the Communist
Party of the USSR to make definite plans”, he
“will first examine what problems and complaints
people have and only after that will make plans.”
However, Bunimovich noted that he
would pay special attention to children’s risk
groups – orphans, neglected children and other,
as well as legal education in the field of human rights
for children and grown-ups. “Grown-ups often
do not understand what is a violation of child’s
rights or, for example, humiliation”, he noted. |
|
Public
Prosecutor to investigate the case of young YABLOKO’s
activist expelled from the university
Press release, December 17,
2009
Chairman of the YABLOKO party Sergei
Mitrokhin demanded that Anton Zhebrun, young YABLOKO
activist expelled from the Omsk University, should
be allowed to resume his studies in the university.
Such a claim was sent by Sergei Mitrokhin to Public
Prosecutor of the Omsk Region and the head of the
Education Control Agency.
YABLOKO connects expelling of the
student with his public activities, as he is one of
the leaders of the Omsk Youth YABLOKO. |
|
The
Youth YABLOKO organisation in St.Petersburg conducted
an action on the Constitution Day
zaks.ru, December 14, 2009
According to the zaks.ru correspondent,
the Youth YABLOKO organisation in St.Petersburg conducted
an action devoted to the Constitution Day. Today the
activists decided to conduct a theatrical action.
One of the YABLOKO’s activists wearing
a mask of RF President Dmitry Medvedev publicly introduced
amendments into the articles of the Constitution written
on placards. |
|
YABLOKO
participated in a rally under the slogan “United
Russia Must Leave!”
Press Release, December 13,
2009
A coalition of parties and movements
in the Kaliningrad region expressed their dissatisfaction
with the work of the Governor of the Kaliningrad Region.
The Constitution Day of December 12
was marked by a rally which gathered 5,000 people.
The participants of the rally expressed their negative
attitude to the policies of the ruling party and the
leaders of the region and of the Russian Federation.
The trigger for public dissatisfaction
was raising of the transport tax adopted by the regional
parliament. It was an unprecented mass-scale action
in the centre of Kaliningrad. All the parties and
movements in of the region – the CPRF, Just
Russia, the LDPR, YABLOKO, Solidarity, Patriots of
Russia, Spravedlivost (Justice) and other –
joined in the rally against the progovernmental United
Russia party. |
|
YABLOKO
to conduct a manifestation on the Constitution Day
Press Release, December 9,
2009
Manifestation under the slogan “Let
Us Together Protect Our Rights” will take place in
Ekaterinburg on the Constitution Day, December 12.
The action will be organised by the YABLOKO party
with support of public and human rights organisations.
Public figures, deputies of the legislative
assemblies, human rights activists, writers, artists
and musicians will participate in the manifestation.
They will hold placards with quotation out of the
Constitution.
“We participate all preserving their
civil dignity and would like their civil rights to
be respected to join us on December 12! Everyone can
join us with his or her slogan. This will be a manifestation
of those who really love their city and their Motherland,”
said Maxim Petlin, the leader of the Sverdlovsk YABLOKO
branch. |
|
In
support of YABLOKO’s activist Anton Zhebrun
Press Release, December 9,
2009
On December 9, 2009, the Kirov regional
branch of YABLOKO, released a statement (signed by
Tatyana Naumovich, Chair of YABLOKO’s Kirov branch)
in support of YABLOKO’s activist Anton Zhebrun.
The Kirov party branch expresses its
indignation on the fact of expelling Anton Zhebrun,
activist of the Youth YABLOKO, from the Omsk State
University under a faked pretext and considers such
actions of Vladimir Strunin, the University rector,
against YABLOKO’s member a political persecution.
This is a sad fact. It took place in the university;
whereas the very word “university” is associated with
academic freedom and the freedom of speech – freedom
to ask, freedom to find truth on any phenomena and
views, regardless of the fact whether such points
of view hurt any officials or not. The notion of academic
freedom is incompatible with the making political
views a pretext for expelling from the university.
|
|
Three
members of the YABLOKO party are elected co-chairmen
of the human rights organisation
Press Release, November 25,
2009
Alexander Goncharenko, Valery Borschyov
and Andrei Babushkin became co-chairs of the new human
rights organisation – the Association of Independent
Observers. The foundation conference of the human
right organisation which elected five chairpersons
took place in Kirov.
Thus, the heads of the Association
will be Ludmila Alexeyeva, Chair of the Moscow Helsinki
Group, Lev Ponomaryov, head of the For the Human Rights
movement and three YABLOKO’s activists –
Vlary Borschyov, member of the party Bureau, Andrei
Babushkin, Deputy Chair of he Moscow YABLOKO and Alexander
Gontcharenko, Chairman of the Altai YABLOKO branch.
|
|
Youth
YABLOKO pickets Public Prosecutor General's office
demanding to release YABLOKO’s activist
Press release, November 18,
2009
Youth YABLOKO is now picketing Public
Prosecutor General's office in Moscow (at the address
Bolshaya Dmitrovka, 15a) demanding to release 26 year-old
Vladimir Volkov, activist of the Penza branch of the
party, detained for 48 hours on suspicion of an arson
of United Russia’s office in Penza.
Youth YABLOKO activists hold a placard
“Free activist of the Penza branch of YABLOKO
Vladimir Volkov”. The police have been checking
the activists’ documents, however, have not
obstructed the picket yet. |
|
YABLOKO’s
activist detained for 48 hours on suspicion of arson
of the United Russia office in Penza
Press release, November 17,
2009
Activist of the Youth YABLOKO Vladimir
Volkov was detained for 48 hours of arson of the United
Russia office in Penza. Earlier his flat had been
searched.
Today on November 17, 2009, at 9.00
a.m. several persons who told that they were interior
officers came to Volkov’s flat where he lives
with his parents. They asked Volkov to come with them,
explaining that his lawyer could come to the interior
department where they all would “talk”.
However, until 2 p.m. neither his
parents, nor the lawyer, nor even investigator Ye.Pluzhnikova
had no information where Volkov was. |
| International
Federation of Liberal Youth condemned elections fraud
in Russia
Special for YABLOKO’s web-site
by Ksenia Vakhrusheva, November 17, 2009
Alexander Gudimov, President of the
St.Petersburg branch of the Youth YABLOKO and Ksenia
Vakhrusheva, International Officer of the St.Petersburg
branch of the Youth YABLOKO, took part in the annual
General Assembly of the International Federation of
Liberal Youth, held on 12-15 November in the Hague,
the Netherlands. The GA joined together over130 young
liberals from 35 countries, who are ready to stand
for liberal values in there home countries and in
the world, who shared their experience
The key points of the agenda were elections of the
new executive board, voting for amendments to the
Manifesto and resolutions... On the initiative of
Youth Yabloko the General Assembly developed and adopted
a resolution on condemning elections fraud in Russia.
The resolution was approved by a majority. |
|
On
political persecution of human rights organisations
in Moscow
Statement of the YABLOKO party,
November 13, 2009
The Russian United Democratic Party
YABLOKO expresses its concern in view of refusal of
the Moscow authorities to prolong contracts on the
office premises rent with the Moscow Helsinki Group
and For the Human Rights Movement.
A strange coincidence of adopting
such decisions on the two most renowned human rights
organisations that rent offices in different places
of the city is indicative of political motivation
of the city heads.
Thus, a new technology has been used
against civil society. Human rights organisations
are simply ousted out of the offices in the streets
under invented pretexts. |
|
On
provocation of the United Russia against YABLOKO’s
activists
Statement of the YABLOKO party,
November 10, 2009
The YABLOKO party expresses its categorical
protest in connection with provocations and acts of
pressure and mobbing of the party branches in a number
of regions.
On November 8, 2009, there was a fire
in the regional branch of the United Russia party.
According to preliminary information of the interior,
unknown persons threw flame fluid in the window.
There events became a motive to political
mobbing of activists from oppositional parties and
movements by the United Russia at participation of
the interior.
At night on the 8th of October unlawful
searches in the homes of YABLOKO members and allies
took place. Seven activists were victims of lawlessness.
Notebooks, party and publicistic materials, other
things having no relation to the arson were confiscated.
The YABLOKO party considers statements
of the United Russia leaders and actions of the interior,
as well as their accusations in the address of opposition
parties in extremism as persecution of the dissenting
and intimidation of politically active citizens. |
|
Aggressive
nationalism endangers Russia
Statement by the Russian United
Democratic Party YABLOKO, November 4, 2009
The 4th of November is officially
announced the Day of National Unity in Russia. However,
it is this day when the streets of Russian cities
turn into arena for skin-heads, Nazis and racists
provoking ethnic hatred. “Russian Marches”
conducted on permission of local authorities and multiple
unsanctioned nationalists’ actions will take
place in 16 Russian cities.
According to the analytical centre
SOVA, 50 people died and 280 people were wounded due
to xenophobia since January 2009.
The YABLOKO party states that provoking
of ethnic hatred, as well as assistance in the organisation
of nationalists’ actions, is prone of very serious
consequences, including shedding of blood and disintegration
of the country.
|
|
The
Sixth Anti-Hatred March took place in St.Petersburg
Press release, November 2,
2009
The Sixth Anti-Hatred March in memory
of Nikolai Giryenko took place in St.Petersburg
on October 31, 2009.
Representatives from the YABLOKO and
the Right Cause party, Solidarity and Oborona (Defence)
movements, Soldiers’ Mothers (St.Petersburg branch),
Memorial, the Social-Democratic Youth Union, St.Petersburg
Council for Protection of Human Rights, activists
of the Vikhod (the Way Out) organisation, anarchists
and ordinary citizens concerned by the growth of xenophobia
in the society participated in the march. The march
joined together over 500 people. |
|
Liberal
International accused the Russian authorities in election
fraud on October 11, 2009
Press release, November 1,
2009
The 56th congress of the Liberal International,
international organisation of liberals and liberal
parties, finished its work yesterday night.
The congress adopted basic resolution
World Today reflecting liberal assessment of situation
in different countries and regions of the world.
Assessing the situation in Russia the congress noted
that “the legislation which has extended the
term of the Russian Presidency from four to six years,
going against the basic democratic rule of governmental
change and leading to the growth of bureaucratic supremacy
and corruption in Russia”.
On the initiative of Sergei Mitrokhin,
YABLOKO’s delegate at the congress, the resolution
also expressed concern about the ongoing trend towards
abolishing of honest and fair elections, as well as
curbing of human rights in Russia”. |
|
Moscow
pays tribute to the victims of political reprisals
Press release, October 29,
2009
Today on October 29, 2009, on the
eve of the Victims of Political Reprisals Memory Day
the action Returning of the Names has started in Moscow.
Moscovites pay tribute to the victims of the Great
Terror by the Solovetsky Stone at Lubyanka Square.
The participants of the rally read out loud the lists
of the killed with the names, professions and the
execution date.
YABLOKO’s leaders deputy head
of the Moscow YABLOKO Eugeni Bunimovich, members of
Political Council Grigory Yavlinsky, Viktor Sheinis,
Sergei Ivanenko and Boris Misnik, leader of the Green
Russia faction and member of the Political Committee
Alexei Yablokov, members of YABLOKO’s Bureau
Valery Borschyov and Valery Goryachev, head of the
gender faction Galina Mikhalyova, leaders of the Youth
YABLOKO and party activists also participated in the
action. |
|
On
urgent ratification of Protocol 6 to the European
Convention on Human Rights
Statement by the Russian United
Democratic Party YABLOKO, October 28, 2009
Possible return of the death penalty
to Russia’s law enforcement practices is the
urgent issue of Russia’s political agenda today.
On April 16, 1997, Russia, within
the framework of its obligations under the European
Convention on Human Rights signed and ratified in
1996, signed Protocol 6 envisaging abolishment of
the death penalty in time of peace. Up to now the
Protocol has not been ratified by the State Duma (Ed.
Russian parliament). Also on February 2, 1999, the
Constitutional Court ruled out that the death penalty
can not be imposed by [Russia’s] courts until
jury courts in which competence lays the imposing
of capital punishment are introduced in all the regions
of the Russian Federation...
The Bureau of the YABLOKO party considers
it necessary that the State Duma should urgently ratify
Protocol 6 to the European Convention for the Protection
of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning
the abolition of the death penalty.
|
|
The
YABLOKO party calls to stop criminal persecutions
against human rights activist Oleg Orlov
Statement by the Russian United
Democratic Party YABLOKO, October 27, 2009
The YABLOKO party calls to stop criminal
persecutions against Oleg Orlov, head of the Memorial
human rights centre, that was launched on the complaint
of President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov. We presume
that there are no grounds for opening of a criminal
case against Oleg Orlov.
On the opposite, we assess some of
the statements made by Ramzan Kadyrov as open pressure
on the human rights organisation and a threat against
its representatives: President of Chechnya called
Memorial an organisation “created for disruption
of Russia”, as well as stated that he did not
consider Memorial’s staff being patriots of
Russia and he even loathed talking to them.
The Russian United Democratic Party
YABLOKO expresses its moral support to Oleg Orlov. |
|
Congratulations
to Russian human rights activists on winning the Sakharov
Prize
From Chairman of the YABLOKO
party
October 26, 2009
The Russian United Democratic Party
YABLOKO congratulates Ludmila Alexeyeva, Sergei Kovalyov
and Oleg Orlov on receiving the Sakharov prize.
It is hard to find more deserving
people for this prize. Your names, as well as the
names Memorial and the Moscow Helsinki Group have
already become symbols associated with fight for human
rights, protection of human dignity, for the country
respecting its citizens and respected by the citizens.
|
|
EU
prize highlights Russia murders of rights workers
euobserver.com, October 22,
2009
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Moscow-based
NGO Memorial has walked away with the EU's 2009 Sakharov
prize for freedom of thought after a bloody year for
human rights activists in Russia.
"We hope to contribute to ending
the circle of fear and violence surrounding human
rights defenders in the Russian Federation,"
European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said while
announcing the decision on Thursday (22 October).
The Pole and former anti-Communist
campaigner added that he felt "personal satisfaction"
over the award as "a man who comes from Solidarity
and who saw Poland fighting for truth and freedom,
which it finally won in the 1980s."
Three Memorial staff, Oleg Orlov,
Sergei Kovalev and Lyudmila Alexeyeva, will be invited
to collect the prize, which comes with a ˆ50,000 cheque,
at the EU parliament on 16 December.
READ
MORE |
|
The
Sixth Anti-Hatred March to take place in St.Petersburg
Press release, October 22,
2009
The Sixth Anti-Hatred March will take
place in St.Petersburg on October 31. Its route lies
from Sportivnaya metro station to the Sakharov Square.
Initially the March was planned as
tribute to academic and human rights activist Nikolai
Giryenko shot by right-wing nationalists on June 19,
2004. Gradually the Anti-Hatred March has been turning
into the solidarity day for all people resisting social
order based on fear and hatred. Inequality of the
rights and discrimination as of social, cultural,
national, ethnic, race, religious, gender factors
or sexual orientation should be eliminated as contradicting
the interests of building a welfare state in the multicultural,
multinational and multiconfessional Russia. |
|
March
in protection of St.Petersburg gathered 3,000 people
Press Release, October 10,
2009
A march in protection of St.Petersburg
has taken place today. Over 3,000 people gathered
at the square by the Yubileniy sports complex. The
square could not even contain all the participants
of the rally.
Well-known St.Petersburg citizens
spoke at the rally: Mikhail Amosov, one of the leaders
fo the YABLOKO party, Alexei Devotshenko, actor, Lev
Luryie, historian, Olga Kurnosova, head of the United
Civil Front, Yury Mamin, film director, Alexander
Kushner, poet, deputies of the Legislative Assemebly
Vladimir Dmitriyev and Sergei Malkov (the CPRF), Oleg
Nilov and Alexei Kovalyov (Just Russia), Alexander
Margolis, co-chair of St.Petersburg VOOOPIK. Musicians
Mikhail Borzikin and Mikhail Novitsky.
Collection of signatures under an
appeal to the President of Russia was conducted during
the rally. Earlier the appeal had been signed by renowned
political and public figures. Several thousand signatures
were collected in total. However, the collection of
signatures will continue.
The key slogans of the march were
“Let us preserve the heart of Petersburg”,
“Stop Gazprom-City” and “We defended
Leningrad during war and shall defend St.Petersburg”.
|
|
Rally in memory of Anna Politkovskaya took place in
Moscow
Press Release, October 7,
2009
A rally in memory of Anna Politkovskaya,
journalist of the oppositional Novaya Gazeta newspaper,
gathered about 300 people in Moscow on October 7.
Dmitry Muratov, Editor-in Chief of
Novaya Gazeta, told that Muscovites brought many flowers,
books, messages to Anna’s tomb. He also paid
tribute to the memory of journalists and human rights
activists murdered in the past years, as well as those
suffering persecutions from the authorities. “I
am absolutely sure, that there will come time, when
a monument to Natasha Estemirova will be erected in
the centre of Grozny, and a monument to Anna Politkovskaya
in Moscow,” he said.
Ludmila Alexeyeva, head of the Moscow
Helsinki Group, thanked all who came to the rally
to express their tribute to Anna. “As the killers
were not found and were not even condemned by those
people who are in power now, it is we who condemn
them,” she said. |
|
Sverdlovsk Youth YABLOKO conducted an action in protection
of the freedom of speech
Press Release, October 7,
2009
On October 7 Sverdlovsk Youth YABLOKO
organisation conducted an action in protection of
the freedom of speech. A picket under slogan “Silence!
Or you’ll be killed?” was conducted by the regional
Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Young YABLOKO’s activists informed
the citizens of the situation with the freedom of
speech in Russia illustrating it with a leaflet “Their
words cost their lives” - a sad list of journalists
murdered since 1993.
On the anniversary of the tragic death
of Anna Politkvskaya the Youth YABLOKO and Ekaterinburg
Memorial branch conducted a memory action paying tribute
to Anna. |
|
Action in memory of Anna Politkovskaya took place
in Murmansk
Press Release, October 8,
2009
On October 7, activists from the Murmansk
branch of YABLOKO conducted a picket in protection
of independent media and paying tribute to Anna Politkovskaya
murdered three years ago. Representatives of Murmansk
youth organisations joined YABLOKO in the picket.
However, it was very difficult to
obtain a permission on the picket from the local authorities.
Several times the police sent notifications that the
action can not be allowed referring to the orders
of the Mayor of the city and the local interior head.
Finally the authorities had to yield to YABLOKO’s
demands and gave the permission for the action. |
|
Youth organisation of YABLOKO to conduct actions in
memory of Anna Politkovskaya and for protection of
freedom of speech
Press Release, October 6,
2009
On October 7, 2009, it will be three
years since death of renowned journalist and human
rights activist Anna Politkovskaya. Nation-wide actions
in memory of Anna Politkovskaya and in protection
of freedom of speech will take place on the initiative
of the Youth YABLOKO.
YABLOKO’s activists will conduct actions by
Public Prosecutor offices in different Russian regions
under the slogan “Silence! Or you’ll be
killed?” They will distribute leaflets informing
on the situation with freedom of speech in Russia
and calling to stop and investigate murders of journalists.
Actions in memory of Anna Politkovskaya will take
place in different regions. People will light candles
and lay flowers to photographs of Anna. |
|
Authorities
finally give their permission on the March in Protection
of St.Petersburg
Press Release, October 6,
2009
Negotiations on obtaining permission
on the March in Protection of St.Petersburg with the
St.Petersburg authorities took place on October 6...
The authorities finally gave their permission on the
action in the form of a rally (not a demonstration
requested by the initiative group) by the Yubileiny
Sports Complex (Sportivnaya metro station).
“Obviously, in my opinion, the refusal [of the
authorities} to give us a permission on a demonstration
is unlawful, however, I think that it is more important
to give people a possibility to express their position
without fear and police batons,” Maxim Reznik
said.
The March in Protection of St.Petersburg will take
place as initially planned on October 10 at noon. |
|
YABLOKO’s
leader Sergei Mitrokhin sharply criticises the campaign
launched by the Nashi movement against journalist
Alexander Podrabinek
Interfax, October 1, 2009
Leader of the YABLOKO party Sergei
Mitrokhin sharply criticized the actions of the Nashi
movement against journalist and human rights activist
Alexander Podrabinek.
“Mobbing of Alexander Podrabinek organized by
the Nashi movement and accompanied by bullying calls
that he should leave Russia is disgusting, and considering
the present Russian situation is even dangerous,”
Sergei Mitrokhin told Interfax on Thursday.
According to Mitrokhin, “a broad-scale hatred
campaign was organised against a citizen of Russia.” |
|
“Agents
Smith” conducted a flashmob against censorship
in the Internet
Press-Release, September 30,
2009
On the Internet Day, September 30,
a non-party flashmob against the attempts of the Russian
authorities to introduce censorship in the Internet,
restrict the use of Skype and organise criminal persecutions
against bloggers took place in the centre of Moscow
at the Manezh square. Portraying Agent Smith (wearing
black coats and black glasses), the protagonist of
the Matrix who thought that all the people were viruses
and denied freedom, the participants of the flashmob
walked in circles around the Manezh Trade Centre always
turning backwards (showing that the present regime
has been trying to return Russia to the totalitarian
past)...
Chair of the Moscow City Duma Commission
for Education and Science and member of YABLOKO Eugeni
Bunimovich agreed with Gnezdilov, “Internet
is a space of freedom and real democracy, which irritates
the authorities so much.” He also stressed that
this also implies that we should fight against terrorist
ideas and pornography in the Internet, as well as
in the reality. According to Bunimovich, “the
[Russian] society receives the most objective political,
social and even everyday information in the Internet”.
“Internet communities of teachers, journalists,
doctors, cyclists, young people, etc. turn into real
nucleuses of civil society,” Bunimovich said.
|
|
YABLOKO
to continue development of law on education of the
handicapped
Press-Release, September 25,
2009
On September 24, Commission on Education
and Science of the Moscow City Duma discussed draft
law “On Education of the Handicapped in Moscow”.
Chair of the Moscow Duma Commission
and member of the YABLOKO faction Eugeni Bunimovich
stressed that neither Moscow nor Russia had seen a
clear system for social rehabilitation of handicapped
children, despite some emerging practices in this
sphere, especially in Moscow. Bunimovich stressed
that one of the key tasks of the law would be to legalise
the experience accumulated in Moscow.
Deputies of the Moscow Duma agreed
with Eugeni Bunimovich that the draft should be adopted
in the first reading. YABLOKO plans in its work over
the draft law to introduce amendments with regard
to the proposals of public organisations working with
the disabled.
|
|
No
infill development at Tverskoi Boulevard
Press-Release, September 25,
2009
The YABLOKO party succeeded in prohibiting
infill construction of a residential and cultural
complex at Tverskoi Boulevard 17/7-8. The Moscow Government
issued a resolution prohibiting construction works
in the historic area.
YABLOKO together with the residents
of the house No 8 at Bolshaya Bronnaya has been fighting
against infill construction at the historic Moscow
boulevard since 2007.
|
|
Round
table on the Ossetian-Ingush conflict took place on
the Initiative of YABLOKO in Nazran
Press Release, September 10,
2009
On September 8 round table devoted
to the elimination of the Ossetian-Ingush conflict
took place in Nazran. The discussion was initiated
by renown human rights activist Valery Borschyov,
Chair of the Board of the Social Partnership Foundation
and member of YABLOKO’s Bureau, Anatoli Sidakov,
Chairman of the North-Ossetian YABLOKO branch and
Magomed Mutzolgov, head of the MAShR human rights
organisation.
The round table turned out to be an
event of great importance in the Republic. Yunus-Bek
Yevkurov, President of Ingushetia, Vladimir Lukin,
Russia’s Ombudsman, Thomas Hammarberg, Human
Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, Daud
Garakoyev, leader of the Ingush YABLOKO, heads of
human rights organisations and Public Prosecutor of
the Republic of Ingushetia participated in the discussion.
|
| Youth
YABLOKO organisation of St.Petersburg for the protection
of an orphanage
Press Release, September 8,
2009
Today on September 8, Youth YABLOKO
organisation of St.Petersburg made a statement where
it expressed concern about the situation developing
around social orphanage Zhizn (Life) in St.Petersburg.
The orphanage can be ousted out of its building, as
obviously some wealthy investors came to liking these
premises.
The Youth YABLOKO sent the statement
to Valentina Matviyenko, Governor of St.Petersburg,
and Alexei Golovan, Ombudsman for Children’s
Rights.
|
| Youth
YABLOKO organisation in Omsk: “A human rights
activist today and a corpse tomorrow?”
Press Release, August 24,
2009
On August 24 activists from the Omsk
Youth YABLOKO organisation conducted two pickets at
the centre of the city. The activists held placards
“A human rights activist today and a corpse tomorrow?”
and “’No’ to “unacceptable” versions and ‘yes’ to
proper investigation!” The action
was targeted at drawing public attention to the frequent
murders of human rights activists in Russia. Young
activists decided to “visualize” such a situation
for the city residents: people covered with white
sheets were lying by their feet symbolising murdered
human rights activists.
|
| Murders
of human rights activists represent the results of
the federal policies at the Northern Caucasus
Statement of the YABLOKO party,
August 13, 2009
The Russian United Democratic Party
YABLOKO calls to a cardinal change of the federal
policies at the Northern Caucasus. Kidnapping and
murder of Zarema Sadulayeva and Alik Dzabrailov shows
inability of the regional governments to perform their
functions, marks a failure of the federal policies
in Chechnya, where unlimited power was vested to Ramazan
Kadyrov and none of the human rights envisaged by
the Constitution of the Russian Federation are guaranteed,
including the right to life.
|
Action
in memory of human rights activists murdered in Chechnya
to take place in St.Petersburg
Press Release, August 12,
2009
An action in memory of Zarema Sadulaeva
and Ali Dzabrailov who worked in the Let’s Save
the Generation nonprofit organisation will take place
on August 12 (at 7 p.m.) by Solovetsky Stone in St.Petersburg.
On August 11 Zarema Sadulaeva,
head of the Let’s Save the Generation nonprofit
organisation and her husband Ali Dzabrailov were kidnapped
in midday when armed people came to their office saying
that they represented law-enforcement bodies and took
the activists with them. The next night the bodies
of gunshot activists were found in the trunk of their
car.
|
Activists
of the Youth Organisation of St.Petersburg YABLOKO
to conduct Ten Years of Putinism Action
Press Release, August 6, 2009
On Sunday, August 9, activists of
the Youth Organisation of the St.Petersburg branch
of YABLOKO will conduct Ten Years of Putinism action.
That is how young democrats are going to mark the
ten year anniversary of Vladimir Putin coming into
power. On August 9, 1999, President of Russia Boris
Yeltsin appointed Vladimir Putin acting Prime Minister.
A week later the State Duma officially approved the
appointment. |
People
against “people’s garages”
Press Release, July 28, 2009
About 300 people participated in the protest
action against construction of the so-called «people’s
garages” in the Sokolinaya Gora district, Moscow.
The residents of the area whose garages are to be
pulled down so that to construct “people’s
garages” instead participated in the action.
|
Hands
off from the Planet of Hope human rights organisation
Statement of the YABLOKO party,
July 21, 2009
The YABLOKO party expresses its strong
protest against boosting the atmosphere of spy scare
and provocations around the Planet of Hope (Planeta
Nadezhd) public organisation in the Chelyabinsk region
by security agencies. |
|
The
Federal Security Service and OMON did not manage to
clear President Medvedev’s route from all YABLOKO’s
banners
Press Release, July 19, 2009
Yesterday morning before the passage
of the presidential cortege in the Third Circular
Road, Moscow, the Federal Security and OMON (special
police forces) rushed into the garage complex at Podvoiskogo
street and torn off almost all YABLOKO’s banners and
broadsides "Return Our Property!" and "YABLOKO
Protects Our Rights" hanging on the facade. The
banners and broadsides were fixed by the owners of
the garages who together with YABLOKO continue fighting
for their property rights. |
|
Rally
in memory of Natalya Estemirova
Press Release, July 17, 2009
A rally in memory of slain human rights
activist Natalya Estemirova took place in Novopuskinskii
Skver in Moscow. The participants held Natalya Estemirova
portraits and placards demanding to find and punish
those guilty of her murder. |
|
The
Russian authorities are fully responsible for another
political murder
Statement by the Party Chairman,
July 16, 2009
The Russian United Democratic Party
YABLOKO regards the murder of Natalya Estemirova as
a direct consequence of governmental policies in the
Northern Caucasus and in Russia in general. |
|
Garages
owners demand that the authorities should return their
property
Press Release, July 9, 2009
A meeting of deputy of the Moscow
City Duma Sergei Mitrokhin with owners of garages
pulled down at Podvsoiskogo street took place by the
municipal council building of the Presnya District,
Moscow. Sergei Mitrokhin informed the meeting that
he had received an answer on his deputy’s inquiry
addressed to the head of the property Department of
Moscow Vladimir Silkin. The answer, however, did not
clear up the point why some owners had been granted
property title while other had not. |
YABLOKO
Presents Its Anti-Crisis Plan
Press Release June 30, 2009
Boosting of domestic demand, fight against corruption
and protection of human rights should become top priorities
for Russia’s domestic policies. Such goals are envisaged
by YABLOKO’s Anti-Crisis Plan for Russia. |
Public
Hearings: the Institute of Ombudsman for Children’s
Rights Should Be Preserved
Press Release, June 2, 2009
Public hearings “Preservation of the Post of Ombudsman
for Children’s Rights as a Guarantee for Observation
of Minors’ Rights” took place in the Independent Press
Centre in Moscow on the International Children's Day,
June 1. The hearings were motioned by an unexpected
and surprising amendment submitted by the United Russia
to the Moscow City Duma envisaging elimination of
the institute of Ombudsman for Children’s Rights in
Moscow. |
Moscow
ombudsman will protect children’s rights
Press Release May 20, 2009
Today on May 20, the Moscow City Duma
has discussed a veto set by the Mayor of Moscow on
the law “On the Ombudsperson in Moscow” and adopted
the Mayor’s amendments. |
YABLOKO’s
leader meets with Russia’s Ombudsman
Press Release May 14, 2009
A meeting between YABLOKO’s leader
Sergei Mitrokhin and Russia’s Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin
took place on May 13. An initiative group of the citizens
from Nekrasovka district, Moscow, told Lukin about
their problems: despite their property title their
640 garage boxes were destroyed in the above-mentioned
district. The court ruled out that compensations in
favour of garage-owners should be paid, however, they
were 2 – 2.5 times lower than the market value of
the destroyed garages. |
|
The
Committee for the Protection of Muscovites and residents
of the "Metrogorodok" district (the so-called
phenol-contaminated apartment buildings) oppose the
lies of the Chief Sanitary Inspector of Moscow Nikolai
Filatov
Press Service, September 21, 2004
The action will take place at Grafskiy pereulok 4
(by the main entrance to the State Sanitary Inspection
building in Moscow) on September 21, 2004, at 12-00.
Protest
action by the Interior Ministry building, Moscow
Press Service, September 14, 2004
In his speech at the meeting Sergei
Mitrokhin said, “Why, have all the authorities,
the President can not suspend from office an open
criminal? Putin must demonstrate the force he enjoys
and restore justice in Bashkiria!”
The
Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO will conduct a protest
action demanding resignation of the head of the interior
of Bashkiria Rafail Divayev by the building of the
Interior Ministry of the RF on September 14, 2004
at 12-00.
Press release, September 13, 2004
Bashkirian human rights activists and victims of the
militia arbitrary rule in the republic who specially
arrived to Moscow for the action will make public
the new flagrant facts of violation of constitutional
human rights and corruption in the structures of the
interior ministry in Bashkiria.
The
Committee for the Protection of Muscovites demands
the resettlement of residents from apartment buildings
contaminated by phenol
Press release, July 22, 2004
Over 50 people gathered today at the protest meeting
organised by the Committee for the Protection of Muscovites
by the Mayor's office in Moscow. Activists from the
Committee as well as residents from the Metrogorodok
district of Moscow participated in the meeting demanding
the adoption of measures to resettle residents from
phenol-contaminated apartment blocks, i.e. residential
premises with covering made from materials emitting
dangerous levels of phenol gas.
On
June 15 the general assembly of the representatives
of the initiative groups fighting against unlawful
building in Moscow adopted a decision to create a
Committee for the Protection of Muscovites.
Press release, June 16, 2004
The goal of the Committee is to unite over 200 different
groups currently standing for their rights in Moscow
into a single powerful organisation protecting the
rights of Muscovites in city construction and facilitating
the creation of favourable living conditions for the
residents of Moscow.
The
meeting of the Russian Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin with
representatives of the initiative groups of the Muscovites
protesting against unlawful construction in the capital.
Press release, June 9, 2004
The meeting of the Russian Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin
with representatives of the initiative groups of the
Muscovites protesting against unlawful construction
in the capital took place on June 9, 2004
Protest
action against the new version of the federal constitutional
law "On Referenda in the RF"
Press release, June 1, 2004
On Wednesday, June 2, 2004, at 9-45 a.m. the Russian
Democratic Party YABLOKO, the CPRF and human rights
and ecological organisations of Moscow will conduct
a protest action against the new version of the federal
constitutional law "On Referenda in the RF"
by the building of the State Duma. |
| Publications |
| Bring
justice to Russian human rights defenders
Liberal International Human
Rights Newsletter, July 27, 2010.
One year after the murder of Russian
human rights activist Natalia Estemirova, her killers
have yet to be brought to justice due to an investigation
frought impartiality. “This negligent attitude on
behalf of the authorities enhances political terror
in the country. Such reprisals are targeted at intimidation
of all the dissenting with the present political course
at the Northern Caucasus, violation of human rights,
curbing of civil liberties and suppression of the
freedom of speech,” said Dr Grigory A. Yavlinsky,
founder of the YABLOKO party (LI full member), prize-winner
of the Prize for Freedom in 2004.
More
news
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of all Cuban dissident remains essential
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killed
¦Lack of medical attention for Iranian prisoners
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for gay asylum seekers
¦End of inhumane treatment and ethnic violence in
Kyrgyzstan
¦Racial violence on the rise in Europe
¦Burma junta continues to violate basic human rights
¦Singapore continues to restrict freedom of speech
|
| Action
in memory of Natalya Estemirova took place in Ekaterinburg
hro.org, July 21, 2010.
A picket organized by the regional
Memorial branch in memory of human rights activist
Memorial’s Natalya Estemirova kidnapped in Grozny,
Chechnya, and killed in Ingushetia on July 15, 2009,
took place in Ekaterinburg.
Maxim Petlin, leader of Sverdlovsk
YABLOKO, Alexander Kalkh, Chair of the Perm Memorial
branch, Tatyana Merzlyakova, Ombudsman in the Sverdlovsk
region, activists of the Movement Against Violence
(Glec Edelyev) and Interregional Centre for Human
Rights (Vladimir Shaklein) participated in the picketing.
The picket ended by a demonstration along the main
street of the city and demonstration of a documentary
“Aldy: Without Limitations Period” (a
joint production by Memorial and YABLOKO) devoted
to killings of civilians on February 5, 2000, the
Noviye Aldy village in Chechnya. The film basis on
the materials obtained by Natasha Estemirova with
a risk to her life...
|
|
Ombudsman
against the interior and security forces
By Andrei Kolesnikov, Forbes
Russia, June 18, 2010.
Mr. Lukin as Ombudsman is an experiment:
a democrat of 1960s (Ed. The famous period of liberalisation
in the Soviet Union) in the state structure of the
Putin’s period. Will he survive or not? Will
he bend or not? Will he merge with the surroundings
or not? He survived, did not bend and did not merge...
But he unexpectedly presented an example
of an honest politician in dishonest circumstances.
There even emerged such an unconventional concept
in politics as a conscience. And this is an awesome
power. They all are afraid of that old honest man. |
|
Russian
and European Integration
Speech by Sergei Mitrokhin
Liberal International Executive Committee
Berlin, June 11, 2010
Announcing a policy towards modernisation
in Russia President of Russia put himself in line
with a number of Russian rulers-reformers who aspired
to perform radical transformations in the country.
Some specific traits of this policy resemble those
of his predecessors. The President understands modernisation
primarily as acceleration of scientific and technological
development. With some reservations about the need
for political reform, the latter look like a number
of quite shallow and very systematic activities...
|
|
Ombudsman
Lukin: Rallies can not be “unsanctioned”
Human Rights in Russia, hro.org.
June 2, 2010
Russia’s Ombudsman and one of
the founders of the YABLOKO party Vladimir Lukin says
that the heads of the interior should apologise before
the participants of the rally they arrested at the
Triunfalnaya Square, Moscow. He
also refuses to sign an agreement on cooperation with
the Interior Ministry until this is done, runs the
BBC service.
Lukin has also prepared or is going
to prepare and submit to the heads of the state proposals
on “normalisation of the situation with conducting
rallies,” Grani.ru informs with a reference
to the Echo Moskvi radio station. Lukin announced
this while commenting on police breaking of the action
held in protection of Article 31 of the Constitution
of Russia which guarantees freedom of assembly. “The
Russian law does not contain such words as “sanctioned”
or “unsanctioned”, and all the talk about
sanctions are purely subjective,” Lukin stated.
He also added that the heads of the Interior Ministry
should conduct a thorough investigation of the events
at the Triumfalnaya Square in Moscow on May 31.
Lukin also reiterated that he himself
had been present at the rally and “can state
that the law enforcement acted in an extremely tough
and rude manner”. He also noted that on the
same day the authorities gave a permission to conduct
“a ‘gala-medical’ action”;
whereas all the participants of this action were allowed
to conduct a rally in the centre of Moscow from early
in the morning till late at night... |
|
A
long silence by the head of the state
Nezavisimaya Gazeta. June
3, 2010
Yesterday the European Union publicly
expressed its concern over the situation with human
rights in Russia. Such a statement was made by deputy
head of the EU delegation in Russia Michael Webb.
On the threashold of the Rostov-Don summit Moscow
police brutally supressed an opposition rally. The
head of state in the meantime did not respond to both
of the developments. NG experts comment that Dmitry
Medvedev is deliberately disassociating himself from
the urgent problems. They note that Premier Vladimir
Putin does not avoid the human rights topic.
Michael Webb of the EU mission said
at the news conference in Rostov-on-Don that the European
Union was particularly upset by the “situation
with human rights activists and murders of journalists
in Russia”. “We have also expressed our
concern with the fact that the crimes committed by
the law enforcement go unpunished,” Webb added... |
|
City
Duma Approves Disputed Genplan
The Moscow Times, May 6, 2010
...Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the
Yabloko opposition party and a former Duma deputy,
voiced doubts that the Public Chamber had a chance
of defeating City Hall in court. “All court cases
will be lost,” Mitrokhin said, adding that the critics
faced a tough fight with “hungry investors” coming
to “snatch up the city.”
He said the opponents managed to score
a minor victory when they forced City Hall to remove
new waste-burning plants within the Moscow city lim
its from the Genplan... |
|
The
Courchevel Serfs
By Alexei Melnikov for Gazeta.ru,
April 19, 2010
The oligarchs' formula for modernization:
the citizens should work more, get less payment, and
not complain when they are dismissed without compensation.
People usually name the confrontation
between the civil society and a corrupt state be the
key political conflict in modern Russia. The latest
statement by [tycoon] Mikhail Prokhorov, who voiced
the position of the Russian Union of Industrialists
and Entrepreneurs (RUIE) on labour legislation, showed
the people that there is one more serious conflict.
It is called ‘open social confrontation’.
Between business and hired labour. The statement by
RIUE sis very important.
Maybe for the first time for the past
years the society has been openly shown that large
business has its own interests; separate from both
the "state" and the "public" interests.
During the heady "noughties", the large
business dressed up in the clothes of bureaucratic
patriotism and its face demonstrated a grin of "social
responsibility" when in public...
|
|
Valery
Borschyov: Any shrinking of the field for trials by
a jury court is unfavourable
Svoboda Radio, April 21, 2010
Valery Borschyov is ex deputy of the
State Duma, member of the Moscow Helsinki Group and
Secretary of the YABLOKO Bureau.
Valery Borschyov: Any shrinking of
the field for trials by a jury court is unfavourable.
It is very bad that cases connected with terrorism
and extremism and many other issues connected with
this notion have been removed from the jurisdiction
of the jury court. Obviously, there is a problem,
that, for example, it is impossible to have a trial
on terrorists in Chechnya, Ingushetia or Dagestan
by a jury court. However, Russia is a large country,
and certainly [such cases] can be examined by a jury
court in a different federation subject, or by a higher
court and not necessarily in the Northern Caucasus,
if the terrorist comes from this region. There were
concerns voiced that the jury court may acquit terrorists.
However, what is the essence of a trial by jury? The
jury acquits the accused when investigation has failed.
|
|
Top
Russian judge killed in Moscow
LI News Issue 179, April 15,
2010
A senior Russian judge who presided
over the high-profile trial of a gang of racist killers
was assassinated in Moscow on April 12 2010. Eduard
Chuvashov, who was shot on the way to work on Monday
morning is suspected to have been killed by ultranationalists
as revenge, after he jailed three skinheads last week
for racially-motivated murders. The Moscow City Court
judge has previously sentenced a gang of skinhead
youths for similar crimes and also worked on cases
involving Russian officials accused of corruption
and embezzlement. Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of LI Full
Member YABLOKO, commented on the murder that took
place in broad daylight in Moscow: “We think
that this blatant murder of a federal judge who has
been conducting the most resonant cases against nationalists
and chauvinists represents a challenge both to the
judiciary and the civil society… [it is an attempt]
on behalf of nationalistic and fascist forces to frighten
and split our multiethnic society over nationalistic
issues.” |
|
European
liberals protest over arrests of liberal activists
in Russia
LYMEC news, March 22, 2010
On Friday, March 19, three young members
of Russia's Yabloko Party were arrested by the police
in Omsk, Russia, for gagging a statute in a city park
as part of a Europe-wide day of protests against the
Belarus dictatorship. The activists were released
today but their situation remains precarious in Russia's
legal system.
Aloys Rigaut, President of European Liberal Youth,
reacted today to this news: 'We are pleased that the
three activists were released, but this situation
simply should have never happened. The Russian police
grossly overreacted in a manner that is incompatible
with a country that claims to be a democracy. This
example goes to show that the right to a peaceful
and non-violent protest is still not something that
the Russian people can freely enjoy'. He continued:
'We are particularly worried that one of the activists
suffered from a serious medical situation while in
prison and was not offered any help. Such actions
are unforgivable and should make those responsible
for arrest themselves a subject of a criminal investigation.'
Annemie Neyts, ELDR President, also
raised her voice immediately last Friday: 'We all
must recognize that Russian people are increasingly
subjected to a harsh political pressure and denied
their freedom of speech. A painful example is the
constant exodus of journalists to the near Baltic
or Scandinavian countries as political refugees.The
three young liberal activists arrested in Russia during
a peaceful demonstration against censorship in Belarus
represent the noblest example of courageous people
unwilling to succumb to a system of controlled information.
ELDR strongly asks for the release of the prisoners,
for a fair investigation over the detention and calls
for the accountability of the government'. |
|
The
Battle for Khimki Forest. By Yevgenia Chirikova.
www.opendemocracy.net
17 March 2010
The plan to construct a section of
the new Moscow-St.Petersburg motorway through the
legally-protected Khimki Forest Park will destroy
a rare eco-system. Dogged local resistance has turned
this into a national, even international issue. But
it has not derailed the plan...
|
|
Sergei
Kovalev addresses the European Parliament after accepting
the Sakharov Prize. Strasbourg, 16 December 2009
hro.org, December 18, 2009
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Memorial organisation,
I would like to thank the European Parliament for
its high accolade – the Sakharov Prize.
We at Memorial see this award as relating
not only to our organisation. We take the view that,
through us, the prize is being bestowed on the whole
human rights community in Russia, and indeed more
widely – on the entire section of Russian civil
society sympathetic towards defenders of human rights.
For forty years now – first in the Soviet Union
and then in Russia – human rights defenders
have been standing up for ‘European’,
that is to say, universal values. This struggle has
never been easy; in recent years it has become tragic,
as it increasingly claims the lives of the best, the
most active and the most fearless.
I am sure that, in awarding the Sakharov
Prize to the Memorial organisation, the European Parliament
had them in mind, first and foremost – our dead
friends, comrades-in-arms, kindred spirits. This prize
belongs by right to them. And the first name I should
cite is that of Natalya Estemirova, human rights defender
and fellow member of Memorial, murdered this summer
in Chechnya.
I cannot go on without mentioning
other names too: the lawyer Stanislav Markelov and
journalists Anna Politkovskaya and Anastasia Baburova,
murdered in Moscow, ethnologist Nikolai Girenko shot
in St Petersburg, Farid Babayev, murdered in Dagestan,
and many others – sadly, it is a list that could
go on for a long time. I ask you to honour the memory
of these people by standing. |
|
Russian
human rights activists get Andrei Sakharov Prize
Kommersant-Online, December
16, 2009
A solemn ceremony of awarding the
Sakharov Prize took place at the session of the European
Parliament in Strasburg on December 16. The laureates
of the prize were Russian human rights activists Ludmila
Alexeyeva, Sergei Kovalyov and Oleg Orlov. Human rights
activists called the European legislators “not
to turn a deaf ear” to Russian lawlessness,
and President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek
expressed his hope that the murderers of Anna Politkovskaya
and Natalya Estemirova will be hold for court.
European legislators welcomed the
laureates with a storm of applause. Sergei Kovalyov
in his speech expressed his gratitude to the European
Parliament for a warm welcome, and asked the audience
to hold a minute of silence in memory of Natalya Estemirova,
human rights activist from the Memorial human rights
centre, killed in Chechnya in July 2009. “Europe
should not keep silence when human rights are violated
in Russia,” Kovalyov said. President of the
European Parliament Jerzy Buzek in his turn expressed
his hope that the prize will encourage human rights
activists to continue their fight against lawlessness
and protect the values that “we have been promoting
– freedom and democracy”. |
|
Human
rights activists Natalya Estemirova and Maksharip
Aushev awarded medals post mortem
ombudsman.gov.ru, December
9, 2009
On December 8, 2009, the award ceremony
of the Russian Ombudsman Medal “Hurry Up to Make Good
Deeds” took place in Moscow. Human rights activists
Natalya Estemirova and Maksharip Aushev awarded medals
post mortem.
Both were members of the Expert Council
with the Ombudsman of the Russian Federation. Natalya
Estemirova had been investigating abdications of civilians,
executions and tortures since the First Chechen War.
She worked in the Memorial human rights centre. Maksharip
Aushev actively engaged in the protection of human
rights after his son and nephew abdicated in Grozny
in 2007 had been released. |
|
Liberal
International Newsletter - Special Edition - Human
Rights Day 2009
LI News, Issue 159, November
11, 2009
World
Liberal Leaders Commemorate Human Rights Day
Human Rights News from around the world...
LI President: Belarus is the black hole of Europe
Anti-homosexuality bill in Uganda sparks concerns
and condemnation
Land grabbing continues to be a serious problem in
Cambodia
International community concerns the detention of
Chinese democracy activists
YABLOKO continues to fight election results
World Liberal Leaders Commemorate
Human Rights Day
On the occasion of Human Rights Day 2009, liberal
leaders worldwide share their comments on this auspicious
and important day. They include, LI President Hans
van Baalen, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Finland),
Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden Maud Oloffsson, Deputy
Prime Minister of Beligum Didier Reynders, ALDE leader
Guy Verhofstadt, Mark Rutte (VVD-Netherlands), Ahmed
Dogan (MRF-Bulgaria), Tsai Ing-Wen (DPP-Taiwan), Sam
Rainsy (Cambodia), Chee Soon Juan (SDP-Singapore),
Martin Lee (Hong Kong), U Bo Thaung (NLDLA-Burma),
Kamal Nissanka (LP-Sri Lanka), Nick Clegg (LibDems
- UK), Alexander Pechtold (D66-Netherlands), Lamija
Tanovic (LDP-Bosnia-Herzegovina), Koh Tsu Koon (Gerakan-Malaysia),
Sergei Mitrokhin (Yabloko-Russia)
- Sergei Mitrokhin,
leader of the YABLOKO party, Russia
The situation with human rights have
rapidly aggravated in Russia throughout 2009. This
year have seen more murders of human rights activists
and lawyers: Natalya Estemirova was murdered in the
Caucasus and in Stanislav Markelov and Anastasiya
Baburova in Moscow. Violence and threats from unknown
persons against activists of non-profit organizations
and trade unions turned into a routine method of silencing
people. Governments do not give their permission to
conduct public protest actions; while unsanctioned
protest actions are scattered. Universities in some
of Russia’s regions make lists of “politically unreliable
students” where they include all politically active
students. This affected YABLOKO: our young activists
from Penza were accused of extremism and searches
were conducted in their homes, while another activist
- a student – was expelled from the Omsk University.
Two people from YABLOKO’s governing bodies (Vasily
Popov from Karelia and Ivan Bolshakov from Moscow)
were sentenced and put on probation on fabricated
cases, and one person (Anatoly Nechayev, Ulyanovsk)
has been still imprisoned also on a fabricated case.
READ
MORE |
| Liberals
discussed the world
Sergei Mitrokhin’s blog
at the Echo Moskvi web-site, November 3, 2009
The 56th Congress of the Liberal International
(LI) where I took part, finished its work on Saturday
night in Cairo.
The congress adopted basic resolution
World Today, which, in my view is a very interesting
document. It provides liberal assessment of the situation
in different countries and regions of the world.
In terms of examples:
The congress approved election of
Barack Obama noting that he had won under the slogans
of “active civil position, tolerance, dialogue,
rights of individuals, freedom and democracy”.
[The congress also noted that] Honduras
had been “going through a period of serious
disturbances provoked by the violation of its Constitution
by the President of the Republic”.
|
| Grigory
Yavlinsky: Vote for the people you know, people you
can turn for help
Grigory Yavlinsky’s
interview to the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper,
October 8, 2009
Grigory Yavlinsky has been keeping
silent for 18 months. He neither gave interviews,
nor made prognoses and assessments, however, he did
not leave politics. Political scientists and journalists
forecasted top posts for him and speculated about
his contacts with President Medvedev, discussed prospects
of his return to the post of YABLOKO’s leader.
But he kept silent.Today MK
publishes his first after a long period interview
with Grigory Yavlinsky.
MK: A month and a half ago you met
with President Medvedev. What were you talking about?
Yavlinsky: We discussed political
problems, the economic crisis and the danger of social
protests.
MK: And the President invited you
so that to discuss their probability?
Yavlinsky: I began the discussion
of the protests, as I think this very important. However,
I think that the protest will not take shape of mass-scale
actions. Now we may face disturbances at the VAZ [automobile]
plant, but this is a special story. In fact people
in Russia do not protest when they are in dire straits.
This takes a different form in our country. Our protest
is criminalization of behavioral patterns of the population
on a mass-scale level. People do not hope to influence
the authorities, and therefore they try to solve their
problems as they can – in criminal ways.
MK: And what was President’s
reaction in face of such prospects? |
| Ex-head
of a Moscow district to compete with human rights
activist for the post
gzt.ru,
September 15, 2009
Deputies
of the Moscow City Duma asked a candidate to the post
of Ombudsman to show his passport.
Yesterday’s meeting of the Moscow
City Duma Commission on Staff Issues adopted a decision
to develop and submit to the Moscow Duma in accordance
with the Moscow law “On the Ombudsman in Moscow” two
candidacies for the post of Moscow Ombudsman: city
Mayor Yuri Luzhkov proposed ex-Prefect of the Central
District of Moscow and ex-minister of the Moscow government
for information and public affairs Alexander Muzikantsky,
and the YABLOKO faction of the Moscow City Duma proposed
member of the Bureau of the YABLOKO party, Chairman
of the Board of the Social Partnership Foundation
and renown human rights activist Valery Borschyov. |
| The
YABLOKO party: organisers of the murder of Galina
Starovoitova may be found in resumed investigation
Interfax, September 7, 2009
The YABLOKO party states that the
resumed investigation of the murder of Galina Starovoitova
gives hopes that those who ordered this crime will
be identified.
“We would like to hope for the
better, and that there is political will in this case
so that not to close the case when those who implemented
the crime are found, but to find those who ordered
the murder, maybe not the very top persons, but still
those who ordered and organised the crime,”
Mikhail Amosov, member of YABLOKO’s Political
Committee told Interfax
|
| Action
in memory of Natalya Estemirova in St.Petersburg
zaks.ru, August 24, 2009
About two dozens of people gathered
in Chernishevsky Garden in St.Petersburg on August
22 so that to pay tribute to the memory of Natasha
Estemirova. It was the 39th day since Natasha’s
death, which, according to the Muslim tradition, is
a commemoration day. |
Estemirova
must become a symbol of the European fight for freedom
of expression
ELDR, July 20, 2009
The ELDR Party, deeply shocked by
the murder of Natalya Estemirova, Russian journalist,
award winning human rights activist, and moral successor
of Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaia, urgently demands
a comprehensive investigation into this criminal act
which has its roots in censorship of information and
lack of freedom in Russia. |
|
Putin
Creates Civil Society Council
By Francesca Mereu, The Moscow Times, November 11,
2004
In an apparent attempt to boost Kremlin control over
civil society, President Vladimir Putin has dissolved
the Human Rights Commission and replaced it with the
Council for Developing Civil Society Institutions
and Human Rights.
500
Protesters Denounce Racism in St. Petersburg
By Vladimir Kovalyev, The Moscow Times, November
2, 2004
"We don't pay enough attention to the education
of our people," Lukin
told the rally Sunday on Sakharov Square. "The
authorities don't pay enough attention to this issue.
But it looks like a small avalanche is being formed
that could snowball and destroy the government itself
if it doesn't deal with the problem."
Ustinov:
Detain Terrorists' Relatives
By Oksana Yablokova, The Moscow Times, November
1, 2004
Yabloko leader and former Deputy Grigory
Yavlinsky warned in a statement that the proposal
is an attempt to restore the Soviet prosecution system
of the 1930s that effectively became the legal machine
for Stalin's purges.
Two
Regional Legislatures Call For Restoration of Death
Penalty
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, October 1, 2004
Human rights ombudsman Vladimir
Lukin told ITAR-TASS on 30 September that he continues
to oppose the death penalty, saying that ending the
moratorium "would put us on the same level as
those who have no respect for human life."
Russian
Governor Backs Colonel's Pardon
By Mara D. Bellaby, The Guardian, September 21, 2004
Russia's human rights ombudsman, Vladimir
Lukin, said he would advise the president against
pardoning Budanov.
Illegal
Immigrants May Receive Amnesty
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, September 21, 2004
According to Lukin,
an amnesty would reduce opportunities for corruption
among bureaucrats and would increase tax revenues
from longtime residents.
Russian
Who Killed Chechen May Get a Pardon
By Sophia Kishkovsky, The New York Times, September
18, 2004
Vladimir
Lukin, Russia's human rights ombudsman, told Interfax
by telephone from Athens that he would recommend that
Mr. Putin be cautious about approving the pardon.
Human
rights commissioner against the pardoning of Budanov
Interfax, September 17, 2004
"I can say only one thing here. Naturally, as
human rights commissioner, I am inclined to support
humane solutions on any issues. And if an individual
repents for his crime and truly changes, he has to
be pardoned..."
Deputy
Head of the YABLOKO party Sergei Mitrokhin perceives
political motives behind the criminal case against
the former heads of the Noviye Izvestia newspaper
Ekho Moskvi, August 17, 2004
"We live de facto in a state governed by the
secret services. In the given situation, in view of
recent developments, in particular, the extremely
harsh sentence given to Igor Sutyagin, we cannot trust
any criminal trial against any politician or editor
of an independent media, or individual who expresses
views which differ from those of the authorities,"
noted Mitrokhin.
Russian
Ombudsman Blasts Pretrial Detention Centers
MosNews, August 13, 2004
Russia's ombudsman Vladimir Lukin has denounced the
nation’s pretrial detention system whereby a
suspect can spend months — even years —
in a pre-trial detention center before being convicted,
like the former Yukos head, Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Yabloko
No-Show
The Moscow Times, July 29, 2004
Young activists from the Yabloko party, who were detained
Tuesday for staging an unsanctioned protest at FSB
headquarters, refused to show up for a court hearing
Wednesday, Ekho Moskvy radio reported.
FSB
Breaks Up Lubyanka Rally
By Caroline McGregor, The Moscow Times, July 28, 2004
Yabloko intends to report the cases to prosecutors,
deputy party leader Alexei Navalny said in a statement.
"We believe the actions of police and FSB officers
were completely inappropriate. Yes, the rally was
not sanctioned, but there was absolutely no reason
to beat the protesters during detention," the
statement said.
A
piquet of YABLOKO's youth organisation broken at Lubyanka
square
Gazeta.ru, July 27, 2004; 12:07
Within 30 seconds the militia detained 10 participants
of the action pushing them onto the ground and twisting
their hands. According to the leader of the movement
Ilya Yashin, the detained
activists were taken to the FSB office.
The militia also detained ten journalists and confiscated
films from their cameras.
The
Action of YABLOKO's youth organisation at Lubyanka
square, Moscow, broken up by the FSB
Press Service of St.Petersburg YABLOKO, special for
the web-site of YABLOKO, July 27, 2004
At this moment (July 27, 2004. 12:01 Moscow time)
a group of young activists from the YABLKO party is
throwing balls with red paint into a plague with the
portrait of Yuri Andropov on the FSB building.
Liberal
Party Activists Detained as FSB Protest Turns Violent
MosNews, July 27, 2004
Two Yabloko activists, a man and a woman, have been
hospitalized - one in severe condition - after being
beaten by FSB agents who detained them at an unauthorized
rally in front of the FSB building, Yabloko spokesman
Sergei Kozakov told MosNews.
The
Conference "Development of the Ombudsman Institute
in Siberia and the Far East" began its work in Irkutsk
Interfax, July 20, 2004
The Russian Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin and the Human
Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe Alvaro
Hil-Robles came to Irkutsk to participate in this
conference.
50
Protest Phenol Gas
The Moscow Times, July 22, 2004
"We technically only had permission to demonstrate
at Pushkin Square," said one of the protest organizers,
Ilya Yashin, a Yabloko party official. "But we
felt we had a right ... to make our voices heard."
Rate
of Unsolved Crimes in Russia Rises - HR Ombudsman
MosNews, June 16, 2004 (Archive)
Russian Human Rights Commissioner Vladimir Lukin has
expressed concern over the rising rate of unsolved
crimes in Russia and complaints against the law enforcement
agencies' actions in relation to detained suspects,
Interfax news agency reported.
It
is time for Putin to make up his mind
A complete version of Grigory Yavlinsky's article
published in an abbreviated version in "Forbes", No.
4, July 2004
If you open the newspapers, what are the economic
topics in the headings? Tax problems, social privileges,
GNP rates. However, everybody knows that you can improve
the tax system indefinitely, develop new forms of
mortgages and "mop up" banks, but all other
measures are pointless until you resolve once and
for all, clearly and unequivocally property issues.
A political and legal estimate of privatisation in
the mid-1990s is the main economic issue today. President
Putin should finally make up his mind. Otherwise nothing
will be achieved.
Vladimir
Lukin: "Paragraphs of the Russian laws are completely
unequivocal. The problem is that these paragraphs
are poorly enforced"
By Boris
Vishnevsky, Novaya Gazeta, July 15, 2004
Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin celebrated his
birthday on Tuesday in St. Petersburg. The main goal
of his visit, Lukin said, was to meet the colleagues
of the late Nikolai Girenko. He also found time to
meet Valentina Matvienko and talk to journalists.
Top
Regional Police Officer Summoned to Moscow After Torture
Protest
MosNews, July 15, 2004
Russian Interior Ministry head Rashid Nurgaliyev was
behind the decision to call in Bashkiria Interior
Minister Rafail Divayev. The news was announced by
Major-general Nikolai Mamontov at a press conference
he called in response to the demonstration.
Suspect:
Glushchenko Ordered Starovoitova's Killing
By Vladimir Kovalev, The Moscow Times, July 9, 2004
The whereabouts of Glushchenko, a reputed St. Petersburg
crime boss who served in parliament as a member of
the ultranationalist Liberal Democrat Party, or LDPR,
are unknown. He is thought to be living abroad.
Closed
Trials Open to Lukin
The Moscow Times, July 1, 2004
In a series of rulings concerning the Criminal Procedures
Code, the Constitutional Court has ordered Russian
courts to allow the human rights ombudsman to attend
closed trials.
The court also clarified other areas of legal ambiguity.
The Criminal Procedures Code does not require prosecutors
and investigators to gather any proof that could point
to the innocence of the person accused, which the
court said was in violation of citizens' constitutional
rights. The ruling will require investigators to collect
evidence not only for prosecution, but also for defense.
Nationalists
Claim Murder
Moscow Times, June 25, 2004
The web site of the group, Russian Republic, posted
Wednesday a "verdict" issued by its self-styled
government to "execute" Nikolai Girenko,
64. The statement described Girenko as "an enemy
of the Russian people" and said he was guilty
of helping to jail "patriots."
Kremlin
Looking for Loyal NGOs
By Francesca Mereu, Moscow Times, June 25, 2004
When the Kremlin has its loyal NGOs in place, Ponomaryov
said, "the president is likely to say that there
are good organizations that get Russian financing
and they back its policy, but he is likely also to
say that there are bad organizations getting Western
funds and they need to be closed."
Skinhead
Expert Shot Dead in St. Pete
By Oksana Yablokova, Moscow Times, June 22, 2004
"They (nationalistic-minded extremists) were
able to carry out this vendetta largely because city
authorities have long ignored the existence of skinheads
and extremists in the city by portraying their activities
as hooliganism," Yury Vdovin, representative
of the St. Petersburg office of the Citizens Watch
human rights group said.
Activists
Fret Over Police Plan
By Maria Danilova, The Associated Press, June 21,
2004
Lukin had publicly lambasted law enforcement bodies
Wednesday for alleged human rights abuses when detaining,
interrogating and holding people in custody, calling
their behavior "fierce, cruel and cynical tortures."
The
Interior Ministry Is the Major Infringer
By Alexander Kolesnichenko, Noviye Izvestia, June
17, 2004
Lukin attributes police brutality to the low level
of crime-solving. Around 43% of registered crimes
(including 20% of first-degree murders) remained unsolved
across Russia last year. And 42% of murders in Moscow
were not solved. In addition 130,000 cases were closed
last year because of the statute of limitations, but
the criminals were never found.
YABLOKO
created a Committee for the Protection of Muscovites
to defend the interests of the residents of the city
in city construction
Finmarket News, June 16, 2004
The goal of the Committee is to unite over 200 different
groups currently standing for their rights in Moscow
into a single powerful organisation protecting the
rights of Muscovites in city construction and facilitating
the creation of favourable living conditions for the
residents of Moscow. Deputy Chairman of the Russian
Democratic Party YABLOKO Sergei Mitrokhin was elected
Chairman of the Committee.
Vladimir
Lukin: "Violations of human rights remain an
acute problem for Russia"
RIA Novosti, June 16, 2004
Five criminal cases have been opened over the past
few months on human rights violations committed by
policemen and prosecutor's office officials, Vladimir
Lukin, Human Rights Commissioner in Russia told a
press conference at the RIA Novosti news agency on
Wednesday.
Protest
meeting against the law on the virtual ban on referenda
Press release, June 2, 2004
The action began at 9-45 a.m. Before the meeting the
police barred all the passages to the building of
the Duma, therefore the activists gathered at the
corner of Tverskaya and Mokhovaya streets. They held
banners reading "No to the Authority's Disgrace!",
"Protect Democracy!", "No to a Police
State!" and "Respect the Constitution!".
The
Spectrum of a One-Party System
Argumenti i Fakti, June 2, 2004
Shortly before the president delivered his annual
address, two innovations were announced which could
fundamentally change the political climate in Russia.
Although these ideas are controversial, both have
been approved by the Kremlin - so they have every
chance of being implemented: No more independent Duma
members, The luxury of referenda...
Why
Russia Is Not the USA
Based on BBC Monitoring, NTV channel, "Freedom of
Speech" programme, May 28, 2004
Grigory Yavlinsky's comment was applauded by the audience:
"I feel a free man in a society that isn't free."
In his comments on an opinion poll which suggests
that more than three-quarters of all Russians approve
of Putin's performance to date, Yavlinsky thought
that little if anything had been achieved in reality.
Enough
Democracy
By Kseniya Veretennikova, Vremya Novostei, June 3,
2004
A draft law submitted by the President, amending the
law "On Referenda", was adopted at its first
reading by the Duma yesterday. This draft law has
been one of the major events in Russian politics over
the past two weeks.
Opposition
meeting to be dispersed in Moscow
RIA "OREANDA", June 3, 2004
Moscow. On Wednesday, at the building of the State
Duma of Russia, a protest meeting against adoption
of new edition of the federal constitutional law "On
Referenda of Russian Federation" was carried
out. The meeting ended in a quarrel between participants
of the action and policemen.
Duma
Gives Nod to Referendum Bill
Associated Press, June 3, 2004
The State Duma on Wednesday tentatively approved a
government-proposed bill on referenda, which critics
have described as backtracking on democracy.
The Duma, controlled by the pro-Kremlin United Russia
party, voted 343-96 to pass the bill in the first
of three required readings.
Duma
gives first nod to tougher referendum rules
Reuters, June 3, 2004
Opponents say the change to a multi-step procedure
for demanding referendums, complicated by tight deadlines,
would mean no political or public force would be able
to call one - except the Kremlin itself, with its
vast administrative reach. Earlier on Wednesday police
broke up a protest outside the Duma building in central
Moscow, which was called by Communists and the liberal
Yabloko party, and detained some of the 100-odd people
demonstrating against the new rules.
Liberal
rally outside Duma turns violent
MosNews, June 2, 2004
The organizers had obtained permission for the demonstration,
which totaled about 50 people, a Yabloko source told
MosNews. However, police detained four people, including
the head of Yabloko's youth organization, Ilya Yashin.
One of the detainees was beaten up in a bus on the
way to the police precinct, the source told MosNews.
"An
increase is the number of spy trials, involving human
rights activists, is quite possible now."
By Sergei Mitrokhin, IA MiK, May 26, 2004
The first thing I find depressing is the dismal monotony
of the President’s state of the nation addresses
and the use of a vast number of right words, which
are not backed up by deeds.
On
the virtual ban on referenda
The Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO, Statement, Moscow,
May 20, 2004
By making the notification procedures more complex
and necessitating the registration of initiative groups
45 times instead of once, associations of citizens
that are independent from the authorities are deprived
of any chances to appeal for a national vote.
Russian
HR Ombudsman Voices Concern Over Protests in Prisons
MosNews.com, April 28, 2004
Russian Human Rights Commissioner, Vladimir Lukin,
sent telegrams to the Prosecutor General, Minister
of Justice and Prosecutor of Chelyabinsk region in
Urals, calling on them to investigate the situation
in local prisons.
Russia's
New Ombudsman Reports More Abuses in Chechnya
MosNews.com, April 26, 2004
"But there is a worry that there are new types
of rights abuses on both sides, and on a third side,
by which I mean units under Chechen President (Akhmad)
Kadyrov," Lukin said. "These abuses are
more specific in nature and difficult to verify from
Moscow."
The
Victim Is Right Now
By Vladimir Lukin, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, April 13, 2004
The rights of the victims, including the right to
obtain legal aid, are guaranteed by the Constitution
of the Russian Federation and are recognised under
universal principles and norms of the international
law.
Lukin
Does Not Want to Begin with "Horrors"
By Kira Latukhina, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, April 9, 2004
I agree that workers of the interior should be paid
a dignified wage. But this is only one of many factors.
They should also have self-respect and a legal culture.
Then the citizens would look at them differently and
follow their example.
Ombudsman
Will Help the Novoye Vremya Magazine
Korpunkt.ru, March 25, 2004
"I aim to do all I can to ensure that this magazine
which is the face of Moscow is published again."
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