Grigory Yavlinsky, the founder of the Yabloko opposition party, started running for Presidency in 1996 and since then he missed only the 2012 elections. In 2002 he came in 3rd place.
Last week he announced his plans to try to become the leader of Russia again. What kind of future does he have in mind for his country and why did he start his campaign in Siberia?
Yavlinksky lays out his platform in an exclusive interview with Sergey Brilyov, the host of the Weekend Vesti current affairs program.
Host: Why did you begin campaigning in Siberia? And why did you choose Tomsk?
Yavlinsky: Because it’s our Russia. It’s the true Russia. Tomsk is a wonderful city. Besides, one of the important elements of my proposals on economic policy is a change in the structure of the budget allocation. Imagine, in Tomsk, 7.68% of tax revenues are transferred to the Federation while retaining approximately 27%, and 3% at the municipal level. And I think it should be 33% in all cases as a bare minimum at least. That's why I started in Tomsk. It's such a wonderful city. But life here isn't easy. Do you know how many residents of Tomsk have access to natural gas, this while living in a massive energy-producing country? 8%! 8%! That's not good. The pipeline runs just nearby. And where does it lead? It leads to China.
Host: When was the first time you ran for president?
Yavlinksky: 1996.
Host: Then your best result in 2000. 3rd place. Bronze. All medals are won, what else to strive for?
Yavlinsky: Our policy is heading towards a dead end, it must be changed.
Host: Even though liberalism in Russia has collapsed?
Yavlinksy: Forget the ideas, I want to save my country from a collapse. And it's heading towards a dead end. Our economy leads to poverty. That's our economy. That's our economic policy. The country is in isolation. We must stop participating in the civil war in Syria. We are going to be bogged down in this pointless conflict for decades. It won't do. We must change this policy.
Host: It's easy to point out what's wrong. But what should we do?
Yavlinsky: There should be peace between us and Ukraine. We need to stop the war. We need to stop the hateful propaganda. We need to increase the number of people engaged in entrepreneurship from 16% to a minimum of 60%. The government needs to reclaim the people's trust.
Host: It’s at 80% approval now, how can it go any higher?
Yavlinksy: Yeah, well, it's like the approval rating of sardines in a sardine shop, where nothing else is sold. We have what we have. By the way, it's not the approval rating of the government you’re talking about, it’s the personal approval rating of…
Host: Putin's.
Yavlinsly: Yes, he’s the only one out there.
Host: Mr. Yavlinsky, could it be that you support Ukraine only because you were born in Lvov?
Yavlinsky: I was born in the USSR. My whole country is very dear to me. That's why I support it. What's the difference... You should support it as well even though you were born, I don't know, say, in Moscow.
Host: What's your opinion on Crimea?
Yavlinsky: Crimea is in a bad position because no one in the world recognizes the events of 2014. That's why we need to hold an international conference on Crimea and agree on a roadmap that would lead us to a solution. We are now living in a country with unrecognized borders. And I wouldn't want to live in a country with unrecognized borders.
Host: Let's focus on the sovereign will of the people, rather than on borders on a map. You believe in democracy, after all. The majority of Crimeans voted for joining Russia. What should we do with their sovereign will?
Yavlinksy: Well, we should ask them, in this case, at least I think so, to vote under the conditions of a normal referendum that the world will recognize. And that's it. I think that Russia should stop being the target of sanctions imposed by virtually every country in the world. We've had enough! It will have grave long-term consequences.
Host: Mr. Yavlinsky, the eternal question: whether our liberals are united or not, the controversy and all that.
Yavlinksy: A great question. There is a united liberal front. Sitting here right now, in this room.
Host: Well it seems that Ksenia Sobchak is now your democratic rival.
Yavlinksy: She's the "none of the above" candidate. I'm the "all of the above” candidate.
Host: But on Bolotnaya Square you were there together.
Yavlinksy: Well, there were almost a million people there on Bolotnaya. Which was right. It was a major first sign that policies had to be changed. But instead, people were jailed. There are political prisoners now. Not a good thing.
Host: Nevertheless, who's your rival? Who are you going to fight against?
Yavlinsky: Against Vladimir Putin.
Host: Is that so?
Yavlinksy: Yep. I've got no other rivals.
Host: Against his 80%?
Yavlinsky: Against his 90% or 146%. He's got approximately 146%. I'm going to fight against them.
Host: Mr. Yavlinsky, the presidential elections are the closest, but what if we take a look at the recent Duma elections? The liberals didn't do that well, or rather not well at all.
Yavlinsky: I'd say the country didn't do too good. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our voters. More than a million people voted for us. A million Russian citizens that can tell truth from lies. This is a great achievement for us in Russia. Yabloko deeply cares about its voters and is happy to have them.
Host: What threshold are you planning to reach?
Yavlinsky: My main goal is to change Russian policy. The threshold plays no role in this case. Thresholds make no difference. However, if the policy starts to change, if our economic policy starts to change, our domestic policy, our foreign policy. If we cast off sanctions, escape the inevitable collapse of our foreign policy, if we normalize the relations with our closest neighbors, with the world, if we return laws upholding private property, that no one can take away or redistribute, if there is competition, if there are new sources of finance, if there are advances in technology again, then that would be our desired result!
Host: Thank you. Grigory Yavlinsky, a soon-to-be presidential candidate.
Yavlinsky: That's right. Thank you very much. Thank you!
