November 1, 2006 Moscow STATEMENT ON HOLDING THE RUSSIAN MARCH ON NOVEMBER 4 Statement by the Moscow branch of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO The situation surrounding the Russian March on November 4 is becoming increasingly tense. The Moscow Government’s ban on this event is prompting its organizers toward actions that could destabilize the situation in Moscow and create a threat to the health and lives of Muscovites, particularly in the metro. The Moscow branch of YABLOKO, while categorically opposing any manifestations of Nazism, xenophobia, and the incitement of ethnic and racial hatred, but at the same time recognizing the inviolability of citizens’ constitutional rights to hold peaceful marches and assemblies, and also seeking to prevent destabilization in the city, calls on: A) The organizers of the Russian March: To do everything in their power to prevent the Nazi excesses that took place at a similar event a year ago. We consider the following absolutely unacceptable: the use of Nazi paraphernalia (symbols, slogans, greetings) in any form, calls for violence and insults directed at any ethnic, national, or racial groups, aggressive actions toward anyone during the march or after it has ended. We believe that if calls for violence and the promotion of ethnic hatred nevertheless occur during the Russian March, the organizers are obliged to stop such violations and assist law enforcement agencies in detaining the offenders. We welcome the march organizing committee’s official decision to ban Nazi symbols and to adopt as official slogans appeals in defense of political and civil freedoms, and we expect the organizers to comply strictly with these decisions. B) The Moscow Government: Authorize the Russian March and take measures to ensure its safety. C) Law enforcement agencies: Immediately hold accountable any march participants who use prohibited symbols or engage in the promotion of ethnic and racial hatred. We express our grave concern over the systematic practice of the executive authorities of the city of Moscow aimed at restricting Muscovites’ right to assemble peacefully and without weapons. We call on both sides to sit down at the negotiating table and reach a decision that would prevent possible violence on the streets of our city and rule out any mass events on the premises of the Moscow metro. Moscow YABLOKO will organize careful monitoring of the Russian March in order to counter violations of the law, both by the authorities and by participants in the event. We call on all human rights organizations and associations to likewise organize monitoring of compliance with the law during the Russian March. Chairman of the Moscow branch of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO S. S. Mitrokhin Deputy Chairmen of the Moscow branch of YABLOKO A. V. Babushkin A. A. Navalny