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Opposition rally in Moscow adopts manifesto calling for resignation of president

The manifesto calls for the resignations of the Russian president and urges to draft a new law on parliamentary elections

MOSCOW, June 12 (Itar-Tass) —— The opposition rally in Moscow’s Sakharov street on Tuesday adopted a manifesto of Free Russia. It was read out by the rally host, environmentalist Yevgenia Chirikova.

The manifesto calls for the resignations of the Russian president and urges to draft a new law on parliamentary elections. “This law must be passed by the current parliament. Under the new law, a new parliament is to be elected, and the new parliament is to put a draft of the country’s new constitution limiting the authority and office term of the president for nationwide referendum.” She said.

Under the manifesto, a new parliament is to pass laws on the elections of the presidents and set a voting day. It will sanction direct gubernatorial elections, pass a law on reforming the system of courts, prosecution, investigation and police agencies. “Control over the implementation of the plan will be exercised within the framework of various procedures, including roundtable meetings,” Chirikova said.

The manifesto noted that a “gap between living standards in Moscow and the rest of Russia is growing, and such a policy is fraught with civil confrontation and a collapse of the state.”

“The source of power is the people. The people has a legal right to peaceful protest to influence or change the authorities. Our struggle for political rights is linked with the struggle for economic rights. We want changes in all areas of life,” according to the manifesto.

People should use all formats of peaceful protest, and mass protests will inevitably lead to the change of power, the opposition believes. At the same time, they say, “election procedures might play their role in dismantling the current political system.”

By that hour, the rally in Sakharov Avenue is over. Police said there were no incidents, no one was detained.