"Freedom must be defended"

Oleg Basilashvili became a trustee of the Yabloko party in the election of deputies of the State Duma

Actor Oleg Basilashvili became a confidant of the Yabloko party in the elections to the State Duma of Russia on September 18 and agreed to use his statements in the election campaign of the party and its candidates. He explained his decision in an interview with Radio Liberty:

​

-“Yabloko”, perhaps the only party that has preserved its democratic face since the 1990s. This is the first. It attracts me the most. Plus, there are things that are very pretty to me in the Party plans. Various projects, for example, a project for the construction of roads, for social obligations. A lot of good, pretty and necessary. And the continuation of those reforms that were terminated with the advent of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

- One of the creators and leader of the Yabloko party Grigory Yavlinsky is going to participate in the upcoming presidential election. Do you welcome this decision?

In Bolotnaya Square, we demanded only one - honest and free elections

- whole and completely. Whole and completely. It's not about whether he will win or will not win, the fact is that he should be provided with a tribune with which people can hear their own opinion that differs from purely official. This is excellent, so I support him in every possible way.

- There is an opinion that participation in such presidential elections, in which, most likely, Vladimir Putin will become the president, unacceptable for the Democrats. Many opponents of participation in such elections call them a farce. Do you disagree?

- Well, let them represent as you like. This is their personal business. For this, they will have to answer not before us, but to God. But participation in these elections, at least, will enable people committed by democratic values to declare their position openly and at ease. The fact is that in Bolotnaya Square we demanded only one - honest and free elections. No revolution, no coups, no blood. Only honest and free elections. If they are dishonest, not free, what, this is not our fault. But go - we will go to them.

Freedom should be conquered and stole

- These days there are 25 years of the council of the State Emergency Committee. How do you feel about the point of view, according to which it was after it that the nomenclature and the KGB came to power in the country, got the opportunity to enrich themselves, which determined the future future of the country?

- Yes, yes. Absolutely true point of view. After the start of the first democratic reforms on the transformation of the political and economic system of Russia, the Soviet Union, the next step, which was supposed to take Egor Timurovich Gaidar with his government and with Boris Yeltsin, this was a step on the reforms of court proceedings, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors. In order to put an insurmountable barrier to all offenses that are possible with a market economy. But, as you know, he was suffered by the fate of the person who was simply removed from the government, despite the fact that Boris Nikolaevich Yeltsin defended him in every possible way, tried to return him and so on. Of course, you are right, and in your words there is a great share of truth, but it seems to me that this is also a great fault in this. People who took an active part in the events of the 1990s, then assigned all the responsibility to the people who headed the country. "Well, guys, let's go! Now we will wait for you to do everything!" This is our habit that someone will solve everything for us. For us. We will not do something ourselves, but Chubais will decide for us, Gaidar will decide for us ... This is our Russian tradition: to lay all decisions on the top and only obey. My most great happiness in my life was twice. When I saw on May 9, 1945 on Red Square, on Victory Day, on the day of signing the surrender of fascist Germany, free people, free people, and exactly the same people, free, I saw around the White House when it was clear that the GKChP had failed. This freedom was supposed to be conquered by them in work, to stand up. No, many dropped their hands, went to business, and smart and cunning people captured everything. As Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy said, if bad people know how to unite and represent power, then, then, all good people should do the same. After all, how simple. This was said by Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy. But so far we can’t fit into this formula.