Russia’s Yabloko Cannot Accept Leftist Dominance In Protest Movement – Leader

(Interfax – Moscow, 18 September) The March of Millions that took place on 15 September in Moscow has highlighted a disturbing trend – namely, the strengthening of positions and the prevalence of leftist nationalist powers, the leader of the Yabloko party, Sergey Mitrokhin, has said.

“Unfortunately, our forecasts about the prevalence of red-brown colours at this march were proved right. Having foreseen this, the Yabloko party decided not to take part in the rally,” Mitrokhin told Interfax.

He noted that left-wing radicals and nationalists have clearly been clearly hogging the blanket of late, no longer convening rally organizing committee meetings with equal participation from all opposition powers.

“As a result, as we all saw, the march proceeded under red and brown flags,” Mitrokhin added.

He noted that such a state of affairs was absolutely unacceptable for Yabloko party members.

“We cannot march in a column where there are so many red flags, which are stained with the blood of our people. We are not heading in the same direction as the communists or the Left Front movement,” Mitrokhin added.

He said that mass rallies like these could only be any good if “the right balance of political powers in the organizing committee” was restored.

“Our forecast as regards mass rallies like these will be positive only if the organizing committee is restored to the format that existed in December 2011-February 2012, when rallies on Bolotnaya Ploshchad (square) and Prospekt Akademika Sakharova (avenue) were held,” Mitrokhin added.

At the same time, he expressed doubts that this would be possible in the near future. “This is why Yabloko will hold its own rallies and gatherings,” he added.

According to Mitrokhin, the next rally is expected to be held on Pushkinskaya Ploshchad (square) on 5 October.

“We will come out in defence of teachers, declaring 1,000 people in our (rally) application,” he explained.

The next rally has been planned for 15 October on Teatralnaya Ploshchad (square).

“Together with our supporters, we will speak out against proposed amendments to the Housing Code which completely excuses the state from needing to carry out capital repairs in residential blocks,” Mitrokhin added.

[image is generic file photo]