United Civil Front

United Civil Front (UCF; Russian: Объединённый гражданский фронт; ОГФ; Obyedinonnyy grazhdanskiy front, OGF) is a social movement in Russia founded and led by chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov. In 2006–2007 it was part of The Other Russia, an opposition coalition active in Moscow.[3]

United Civil Front
Объединённый гражданский фронт
AbbreviationUCF (English)
ОГФ (Russian)
LeaderGarry Kasparov
FoundedMay 18, 2005 (2005-05-18)[1][2]
Preceded byCommittee 2008
HeadquartersMoscow
IdeologyLiberal democracy
Federalism
National affiliationThe Other Russia (2006–2007)
Opposition Coordination Council (2012-2013)
Colours  White
  Blue
  Red
Slogan"We need Another Russia!"
(Russian: "Нам нужна другая Россия!")
"Down with the power of the Chekists!"
(Russian: "Долой власть чекистов!")
"No to the police state!"
(Russian: "Нет полицейскому государству!")
Website
www.rufront.ru
Garry Kasparov

Upon the organization's founding, in 2005, Kasparov stated that the UCF "will work to preserve electoral democracy in Russia."[4] Kasparov concluded the press conference by stating that, "The primary goal of the systemic opposition is to dismantle the currently existing system and create a free political floor on which free elections can be held in 2007–2008. The bottom line is to preserve the Russians’ right to elect a responsible government, both in presidential and parliamentary elections."[5]

Programme

The programme[6] was accepted at the 3rd conference on February 25, 2006. it is founded on the four principles.

Fair democratic elections

  1. Competition of electoral programmes, removability and responsibility of the power.
  2. Equal access of the parties to mass-media.
  3. Change electoral system from party-list proportional representation to majoritarian.

Restoration of federalism

  1. To restore federal mechanism of the government.
  2. To liquidate a dangerous disbalance in population incomes between Moscow and other regions.
  3. To return democratic local self-government.
  4. The democratic solution of problems in the national republics.

Elimination of Nomenklatura system

  1. Reduction of presidential powers.
  2. Liquidation of system of privileges and preferences for civil servants of all echelons.
  3. Liquidation of the Presidential Administration, reduction of staff and functions of the president office.
  4. Enact into law for secret services' intrusion in a social life and government.
  5. Act of disqualification for the present high-ranking officials and secret services chiefs.
  6. Enact into law the criminal liability for illegal enrichment of public persons and civil servants according to the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

Government for people, but not people for government

  1. To repay old government debts to the citizens.
  2. To establish social priority of the state budget.
  3. To implement the constitutional and human rights.
  4. To extirpate social discrimination.
  5. To cancel compulsory military service; to make army professional. Discontinue internal military forces.
  6. To ensure access of citizens to all information on activity and decisions of the state and local governments.

Events
Garry Kasparov at a "Russia without Putin" event in 2010

The UCF participated in the organisation of almost all the Dissenters Marches.

One member of the Murmansk branch of the United Civil Front, Larisa Arap, is believed to be victim of psychiatric abuse.[7][8][9][10][11][12]

In 2010 UCF activists held pickets in Moscow to support the Internet campaign Putin must go.

References
  1. https://lenta.ru/news/2005/05/18/kasparov/ Каспаров объявил о создании в России оппозиционного фронта
  2. https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/578861 Гарри Каспаров открыл первый фронт
  3. "Kasparov arrested at Moscow rally". BBC News. April 14, 2007.
  4. "Russian Chess Legend Kasparov to Establish United Civil Front". MOSNEWS.com. May 18, 2005. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007.
  5. "Russian Chess Legend Kasparov to Establish United Civil Front". MOSNEWS.com. May 18, 2005. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007.
  6. “Towards The New Modern Russia” (In Russian)
  7. Правозахисники заявляють про застосування в Росії репресивної психіатрії. Archived September 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Кореспондент.net, 2 августа 2005 (In Ukrainian)
  8. Правозахисники заявляють про застосування в Росії репресивної психіатрії. Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Новинар, (In Ukrainian)
  9. BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. Activist held in psychiatric hospital. The Washington Times, July 19, 2007.
  10. Elena Vassilieva. Larissa Arap, membre de l'opposition russe, serait internée en hôpital psychiatrique. LEMONDE.FR avec AFP et reuters, 31.07.07. http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3214,36-940560@51-890268,0.html (in French)
  11. Virginie Pironon. Vers un retour des goulags? 29/07/2007, http://www.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/091/article_54599.asp (in French)
  12. Case of Larisa Arap (in Russian), http://grani.ru/dossier/m.125365.html
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