Fair Russia party's modernization movement denied registration again

MOSCOW, April 30 (Itar-Tass) -- The movement for the country's
modernization Russia, Forward! that was created by supporters of the Fair
Russia party has been denied registration by the Justice Ministry again.
As the movement's leader, Gennady Gudkov, has said, this time the
registration was denied because earlier the United Russia party had
applied for and obtained registration of a same-name movement.
Gudkov said the Central Council of the movement had decided to carry
out "its own investigation into the situation and protest in courts this
second refusal from the registration authority." He recalled that on May
20 there would be a scheduled hearing on the first lawsuit, filed back on
February 10.
The movement for accelerated modernization Russia, Forward! was
established in September last year with support from the Fair Russia
party. The organizers of the movement made no secret that the idea was
prompted by a same-name policy article by President Dmitry Medvedev.
The first attempt to have the new structure registered was made in
autumn 2010, about the same time when the ruling party United Russia
announced creation of a social movement with the same title. The Justice
Ministry in early December refused to register the movement created by
Gudkov and his supporters.
United Russia said from the outset that its movement would not be a
public organization, but a sort of a discussion platform that does not
require formalization of relations with registering authorities.
Meanwhile, in mid-April it became known that the Justice Ministry had
registered the movement Russia, Forward! created by United Russia.
"We do not recognize these actions by the Ministry of Justice as
legal, and we believe that the stealthy registration of United Russia's
movement Russia, Forward! was held under administrative pressures from the
ruling party and respective engaged structures," said Gudkov. "In
accordance with Russian law we have decided to file several lawsuits in
early May and we will continue to fight for the registration of our
movement."
Gudkov expressed confidence that "the modernization movement, founded
by the ruling party, will be subordinated to the interests of bureaucracy,
which is unwilling and unable to make any modernization reforms." He
argues that "the future of Russia's modernization is in danger, because it
is monopolized by its opponents."
"We will continue our work in accordance with the leadership's plan.
We will actively create and develop regional offices and attract
supporters into our ranks," said Gudkov.