Our Statute

§ 1 The Movement
1. The “Vesna” Youth Democratic Movement (hereinafter referred to as “the Movement”) is a membership-based organization established through the free expression of will by citizens who share common goals, views, and values. Abbreviated name: “Vesna.”

2. The Movement carries out its activities in accordance with its Charter, based on the principles of voluntarism, self-governance, and transparency.

3. The Movement is financially independent and possesses its own property and symbols. The budgets of the Movement and its branches are funded by membership dues, voluntary donations, and other sources of income.

§ 2 Goals and Objectives
1. The primary goal of the Movement’s establishment and activities is to establish democracy, the rule of law, and the primacy of human rights in Russia through nonviolent means.

2. The Movement’s objectives are:
a) Participation in the political and public life of Russia,
b) Promoting the ideas of democracy, liberalism, and human rights,
c) To increase political engagement among young people,
d) To address social problems through democratic and liberal means, including participation in elections,
e) To develop and strengthen civil society institutions,
f) To educate and train the Movement’s activists.

§ 3 General Provisions on Membership
1. Membership in the Movement is voluntary and individual. Russian citizens between the ages of 14 and 35, inclusive, may become members of the Movement.

2. A member of the Movement has the right to withdraw from the Movement upon submission of a written request.

§ 4 Rights and Obligations
1. A member of the Movement has the right to:
a) Participate in the activities of the Movement,
b) Participate in meetings of the Movement’s governing bodies and in all meetings of the governing bodies of the branch in which they are registered,
c) Receive information about the Movement’s activities and submit questions, statements, and proposals to any governing body of the Movement,
d) To elect and be elected to the governing bodies of the Movement and its branches,
e) To vote.

2. A member of the Movement is obligated to:
a) Comply with the Bylaws,
b) Carry out lawful decisions of the Movement’s governing and supervisory bodies.

3. A member of the Movement is prohibited from:
a) Participate in the activities of other public associations whose goals, objectives, and principles conflict with the Bylaws,
b) Make statements or take actions on behalf of the Movement without authorization,
c) Engage in actions that contradict the Movement’s goals and values,
d) Simultaneously serve as a member of both a governing body and a supervisory and audit body.

4. Information regarding the balance sheet, assets, budgets, revenues, and expenses of the Movement and its branches must be freely available to members of the Movement.

5. An associate member has the same rights and obligations as a member of the Movement, except for the rights to vote, elect, and be elected. An associate member may be:
a) A member of the Movement who has reached the age of 36 and wishes to remain an associate member,
b) A member of the Movement who wishes to become an associate member.

6. The Movement may operate a system of supporters for those who share the Movement’s Values and wish to support its activities without becoming members. The Movement’s governing bodies determine how to work with them.

§ 5 Admission
1. To join the Movement, an applicant must submit an application to the governing body of the branch at their place of permanent or primary residence, or, in the absence of such a branch, to the Movement’s governing body.

2. Before the application is reviewed, the applicant must undergo a screening by the Federal Admissions Commission (hereinafter “FAC”). Based on the results, the Commission sends a recommendation to the responsible body to accept or reject the application.

3. When reviewing the application, the responsible body either grants the applicant a probationary period and the status of a candidate for membership in the Movement or rejects the application.

4. Upon completion of the probationary period, the competent authority decides whether to admit the candidate to the Movement.

5. If the application for membership was rejected or no decision was made regarding the probationary period, the applicant or candidate, respectively, has the right to resubmit the application.

§ 6 Registration and Re-registration
1. The procedure for registering members is established by the Movement’s governing bodies.

2. The Movement’s governing and supervisory bodies have the right to decide on the mandatory re-registration of members of a branch or of the entire Movement. The governing and supervisory bodies of a branch have the right to decide on the mandatory re-registration of the branch’s members.

3. Upon re-registration, membership is automatically retained by those who have expressed their intention to remain in the Movement. Those who have expressed a desire to leave the Movement automatically forfeit their membership.

4. Candidates admitted to the Movement during re-registration are automatically included in the re-registration process.

§ 7 Disciplinary Measures
1. The following measures may be applied as sanctions for violations of the Charter:
a) A warning,
b) Removal from office,
c) A ban on holding office for a specified period,
d) A temporary restriction on access to chat rooms, meetings of governing bodies, and Movement events,
e) A motion for expulsion.

2. The Movement’s supervisory and audit bodies establish the procedure for imposing sanctions and impose them.

§ 8 Expulsion
1. A member of the Movement may be expelled only in the following cases:
a) Providing support to an authoritarian or totalitarian regime in carrying out political repression,
b) Obstructing the implementation of decisions made by the governing and supervisory bodies of the Movement and its branches,
c) Committing acts that contradict the Charter and Values or cause any political harm to the Movement,
d) Being found to be present in or having traveled to Russia.

2. The decision to expel a member is made by the Movement’s governing body upon the recommendation of a supervisory, auditing, or governing body. Members of supervisory and auditing bodies may be expelled only by a decision of the Congress.

3. An expelled member may be readmitted to the Movement after one year.

§ 11 Congress
1. The Congress is the highest governing body of the Movement.

2. The exclusive authority of the Congress includes:
a) Adopting the Charter and amending it,
b) Adopting programmatic documents and approving the Movement’s symbols,
c) Deciding on the reorganization of the Movement or on joining an existing organization as a youth branch,
d) Deciding on the establishment of a political party or other political organization.

3. The decision to convene the Congress is made by the FCC and the FCAC, based on a vote by one-third of the Movement’s members or branches. If the FCAC is no longer able to exercise its powers, the FCC is obligated to make a decision to convene the Congress within 30 days.

4. The decision to convene the Congress must specify: the date, location, format, and representation quota.

5. Congress delegates are elected at General Assembly meetings of the branches in a number determined by the representation quota, but no fewer than one delegate from each branch. All members of the Movement who are not registered with a branch shall elect delegates as a single branch.

6. The proportion of delegates from each branch relative to the total number of delegates is determined in proportion to the share of that branch’s members relative to the total number of members of the Movement.

7. The Congress may be held in person or remotely. An in-person format requires the physical presence of delegates. A remote format involves conducting the Congress via video and/or audio conferencing.

§ 12 Federal Coordination Council
1. The collegial governing body of the Movement is the Federal Coordination Council (hereinafter referred to as the FCC).

2. The FCC’s powers include:
a) Approving the Movement’s budget,
b) Appointing and dismissing the executive secretary,
c) Appointing and dismissing candidates to and from positions in the Movement’s working bodies upon the recommendation of the Executive Secretary,
d) Overseeing the activities of the branches,
e) Issuing statements on behalf of the Movement regarding social and political issues of national and international significance,
f) Adopting decisions on the Movement’s participation in federal-level coalitions and organizing committees, as well as decisions on the Movement’s accession to international political and public organizations,
g) Providing strategic leadership for the Movement.

§ 13 Procedure for Electing the FCC
1. The date of the FCC elections shall be set by the FCAC.

2. The FCC is elected for a term of one year. The number of FCC members is determined by the Congress. If the Congress has not been held within one year prior to the election date, the previous number of members remains in effect.

3. If elections for the FCC have not been scheduled[e] within one year of the start of its term, its authority remains in effect[f] for 45 days after the expiration of its term.

4. Members of the Movement who notify the Election Commission of their intention to vote before or during the voting are eligible to vote in the FCC elections.

5. In FCC elections, the number of votes each member of the Movement has and the number of candidates to be elected are equal to the number of FCC members established by the Congress. If the number of FCC members established by the Congress exceeds the number of elected candidates, a second round of elections shall be held. In the second round, the number of votes each voter has and the number of candidates to be elected shall equal the number of seats remaining vacant on the FCC. If, following the results of the second round, there are still vacant seats on the FCC, the number of elected candidates shall be taken as the established number of FCC members.

6. The candidates who receive the highest number of votes are elected. Only a candidate who receives more than half of the votes cast may be elected.

7. If more than one-third of the FCC members are unable to perform their duties, the FCAC shall schedule by-elections, the results of which shall remain valid until the end of the current term of office. By-elections shall be held in accordance with § 13, paragraphs 4, 5, and 6.

§ 14 Election Commission
1. The Election Commission (hereinafter “EC”) registers members of the Movement to participate in FCC elections and general votes of the Movement. It maintains a registry of registered voters, counts the votes, and publishes the results.

2. The EC is elected by the Congress. If the Congress fails to do so, the FCAC elects the Commission.

3. Candidates in elections or members of the FCAC may not be elected to the EC.

4. The EC ceases its powers after the publication of the results of the FCC elections or general votes of the Movement.

§ 15 Working Bodies
1. The Executive Secretary implements the decisions of the Movement’s governing bodies and organizes the activities of the working bodies.

2. The permanent working bodies are: the FAC, the position of Executive Secretary, and the position of Treasurer of the Movement. The governing bodies of the Movement establish the procedures for their operation and create and dissolve other working bodies of the Movement.

§ 16 Federal Control and Audit Commission
1. The Movement’s control and audit body is the Federal Control and Audit Commission (hereinafter referred to as the FCAC).

2. The FCAC’s responsibilities include:
a) Monitoring compliance with the Charter and resolving disputes regarding the interpretation of its provisions,
b) Monitoring the implementation of decisions made by the Movement’s governing bodies,
c) Monitoring the financial and operational activities of the Movement and its branches,
d) Coordinating the oversight and audit bodies of the branches.

3. All bodies of the Movement and its branches are required to immediately provide any information related to their activities upon request by the FCAC.

4. Decisions of the FCAC are binding on the governing bodies of the Movement and its branches.

5. Immediately after rendering its decisions, the FCAC shall submit the minutes thereof to the FCC.

6. The FCAC is elected by the Congress for a term lasting until the next Congress. The number of members of the FCAC is determined by the Congress.

§ 17 Priority of Decisions by Higher-Level Bodies
1. Decisions made by higher-level governing bodies are binding on lower-level bodies.

§ 20 Procedure for Appealing Decisions
1. Actions, omissions, and decisions of the Movement’s federal bodies may be appealed to the FCAC.

2. A decision of the FCC may be appealed separately following a vote by one-third of the Movement’s members or branches. Such a decision may be appealed again at the Congress.

3. Actions, omissions, and decisions of a branch’s bodies may be appealed to its control and audit body.

4. Actions, omissions, and decisions of a branch’s control and audit body may be appealed to the FCAC.

5. Actions, omissions, and decisions of the FCAC may be appealed to the Congress.

6. A decision to expel a member from the Movement may be appealed to the Congress.

7. The approval of candidates for positions in the Movement’s working bodies may not be appealed.

8. The procedures for appealing actions, omissions, and decisions on other matters shall be established by the FCC.

§ 21 Responsibilities of the FCAC Regarding Complaints
1. The control and audit bodies are required to accept for consideration any complaint filed by a member of the Movement, including an expelled member, and to render a decision without delay.

2. If the governing body of a branch is elected or makes decisions in violation of the Charter, the body’s authority may be terminated and its decisions may be revoked by a decision of the FCAC.

3. If a body appeals a decision regarding its violation of the Charter to the FCAC, the commission may suspend the body’s operations until a higher-level body issues a new decision on the matter, without terminating its activities. If the higher-level body decides to concur with the FCAC’s position, the commission may suspend the body’s operations until it complies with the FCAC’s decision or terminate its authority.

§ 22 Rights of Applicants and Candidates for Membership in the Movement
1. If, within six months from the date of submission of an application for membership in the Movement, or in the absence of a decision regarding the successful completion of the probationary period within six months from the date of its expiration, the applicant and the candidate for membership in the Movement, respectively, have the right to file a complaint. If the application was submitted to the Movement’s governing body, the complaint may be sent to the FCAC; if submitted to a branch, it may be sent to the branch’s control and audit body. The complaint is accepted by the executive secretary of the body that received the application for membership and forwarded to the responsible control and audit body.

General Provisions

Membership in the Movement

Structure of the Movement

Movement Organs

Decision-Making Process

Appeals of Decisions

Final Provisions