Four Deputies To Leave Union Of Right Forces Faction

Four deputies of the State Duma - Sergey Yushenkov, Viktor Pokhmelkin, Vladimir Golovlyov and Yuliy Rybakov - are going to leave the Union of Right Forces faction. They have already submitted corresponding applications to the Duma regulations committee, Viktor Pokhmelkin reported in an interview with RBC. All four deputies are leaders of the Liberal Russia movement. The deputy also stated that none of them are going to enter any other factions in the Lower House of parliament. Pokhmelkin explained their decision by the impossibility to continue working within the Union of Right Forces faction that supports the policy of the Russian leadership. According to Pokhmelkin, the latter is aimed at the establishment of an authoritarian state and the recent events, such as the imprisonment of military journalist Grigory Pasko and the liquidation of TV-6 television, testify to this. Pokhmelkin stated that the leadership of the Union of Right Forces is not concerned about the fact that the current policies of Russian authorities are connected with the violation of the freedom of speech and ignoring human rights. In addition, he noted that separate economic achievements in Russia are not important as do not improve the standard of living. The present political situation in Russia arises concernes about the fate of democracy in this country, Pokhmelkin concluded. He promised that Liberal Russia would struggle against this authoritarian state and red tape penetrating in all sides of life in Russia.