Feb 15, 2006

Chechnya: Seminar on Human Rights Organizations Crack-down in Russia


The Rafto Foundation holds seminar on Russias restrictive new law on freedom of association. Speakers include 2005 Rafto Prize Laureate from Chechnya, Ms. Lidia Yusupova
Rafto Foundation Seminar

The Rafto Foundation, based in Norway, is to hold a seminar with 2005 Rafto Prize Laureate Lidia Yusupova on the subject: "Human Rights and Civic organizations under attack in Russia" on 22 February 2006. Please find below a seminar background note by Rafto.

Background:

“The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to an increase of democracy and independence in Russia. But the post-Soviet era has not been without problems; the conflict in Chechnya has caused grieve and pain both for the Chechnyans, the Russian soldiers and civilians.

As for democracy within Russia itself the path has been troubled and difficult; corruption, crime and a rapid change of prime ministers dominated the 1990s. In 1993, president Yeltsin ordered his troops to open fire on the Russian parliament. This was an important turning point: the Parliament wanted to use democracy to return to dictatorship, whereas Yeltsin used violence to secure a continuance towards democracy. When Yeltsin resigned to Vladimir Putin in late 1999, the situation in Russia seemed to be more quiet and stable.

Despite the collapse of the police state and steps toward an open society, 1991 Rafto Laureate Elena Bonner - former dissident, human rights activist and widow of Andrei Sakharov - suggested that Russia has not made significant progress in important areas of human rights, and that, in some matters, its new democratic government has caused or tolerated abuses rivalling those of the Communist era.

News of today is alarming: a new restrictive law on freedom of association will silence independent organizations and limit the presence of international NGOs on Russian territory. The Russian Security Service claims that ten or more Russian Human Rights NGOs have been funded by British intelligence. There is a cold wind from the past blowing over Russia.”

Program

· The 2005 Rafto Prize to Lidia Yusupova and the current situation in Chechnya
· Human Rights and Civic organizations under attack in Russia
· Historic background - The Rafto prizes to Elena Bonner (1991) and Committee of Soldiers'
Mothers of Russia (1995)
· Humanitarian appeal concerning conflict in Chechnya

Presentations

· Lidia Yusupova, 2005 Rafto Laureate
· Jan Ramstad, Chairman of the Board of the Rafto House Foundation

For more information about the event, please see: Rafto Foundation