Russian courts take up very few xenophobia cases in 2004
Less than 15% of criminal cases opened in 2003 on charges of inciting inter-ethnic feud were considered in court, Moscow Bureau for Human Rightsexpert Vladimir Novitsky said on Tuesday. “Seventy-two cases of instigating inter-ethnic feud were opened in 2003, and only 11 of them were transferred to court,” he said. “This is because many low and medium ranking police officers sympathize with xenophobia or do not realize it is a danger and because there is no official agency to provide for expert examinations,” Novitsky said. He called for setting up an expert bureau on xenophobia. The Moscow Bureau for Human Rights is carrying out a EIDHR funded campaign against racism and xenophobia (Interfax, Moscow Bureau for Human Rights).
Russian human rights ombudsman criticizes law on referendum
Russian human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin has criticized the law on referendums passed by the State Duma. “There is a boundary between the constitutional right to a referendum and grounds for holding it. Under this version of the law, referendums are fairly complicated and are conducted in many stages,” Lukin told during a news conference in Moscow on Wednesday. Lukin said he had submitted his remarks at the time the bill was going through its first hearing, but they were never heeded. In addition, Lukin said he personally “is not a big fan of referendums”. “There are elements of demagogy in referendums and I do not favour the idea of holding referendums every month,” he said (Interfax).
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO RUSSIA
European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)
Moscow, 11 June 2004
Newsletter No. 21/2004
Democracy & Human Rights in Russia 5 - 11 June 2004
Supreme Court overturns acquittal of physicist Danilov
The Russian Supreme Court on 9 June revoked the non-guilty verdict on charges of dpying for China against physicist Valentin Danivlov, who was fully acquitted in a trial by jury in December 2003. The Supreme Court ruled that Danilov's lawyers had violated procedure during the trial by pressuring the jurors. The case will be reconsider by the Krasnoyarsk territorial Court, where a new trial will be held without a jury. The Russian scientific community and human rights activists are deeply concerned with the Supreme Court’s ruling. (All media)
Russian human rights activists honored
The U.S. National Endowment for Democracy (NED) awarded four Russian non-governmental activists with an annual award to recognize their courageous and creative work that has advanced the cause of human rights and democracy in Russia. The NED’s 2004 Democracy Award winners are Ludmilla Alekseeva, a founder of the Moscow Helsinki Group; Arseny Roginsky, chairman of the International Memorial Society; Aleksei Simonov, the president of the Glasnost Defense Foundation; and Mara Polyakova, the director of the Independent Council for Legal Expertise. The winners took part in a public briefing “Russia: are rights in retreat?” held by the US Helsinki Commission (text of transcripts is available here).
Russian authorities have launched a probe of the British Council,
The Interior Ministry is investigating British Council, a U.K.-funded institution, for alleged violations of tax law. The British Council operates in Russia since 1994 promoting British culture and organising English-language courses. The Russian side claims that the Council does not have diplomatic status and therefore is subjected to Russian taxation rules. The Ministry stipulated a deadline for the Council to open its account books, otherwise the law-enforcement bodies would fine it. British Embassy spokesman Richard Turner said on 10 June that the Council does not have to
pay taxes because the 1994 agreement identifies it as Britain's principal agent in carrying out educational and cultural cooperation. At least six more cultural institutions operate in Russia under the auspices of foreign embassies. U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow said on 9 June that he was watching the situation with concern and added that he hopes that the developments weren't a sign of to a new wave of animosity toward foreign organizations. (All media)
Alternative civilian service
Only 256 conscripts have applied for an alternative civilian service during the spring draft according to the new legislation that entered into force on 1 January 2004. This number covers only those who have been defending their right for an alternative service in courts before the adoption of the law. Human rights activists advocate for more democratic amendments to the law and expect higher number (1000-2000 applications per year) in the future. More detailed information on the EIDHR sponsored project on monitoring of the alternative service in Russian regions is available here.
Samara Chechen community appeals to President Putin
Representatives of the Chechen community of Samara officially appealed to President Putin claiming that the investigation of an explosion in the Samara market resulted in a series of mass illegal detentions of Chechens in the city. On 10 June a municipal court sanctioned the arrest of five Chechens who were reported to possess explosives and firearms. According to a leader of a regional charitable Fund “Migration”, 300 Chechens are planning to organise a rally protesting against “legal arbitrariness” in Samara. (Kommersant)
Lukin criticises referendum legislation
RF Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin issued a statement criticizing the
bill on referenda for an unduly complicated procedure for calling a referendum, starting with the formation of an initiative group. The State Duma will consider the draft law on referenda in the second and final readings on 11 June. (RF Liberty)
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO RUSSIA
European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)
Moscow, 7 June 2004
Newsletter No. 20/2004
Democracy & Human Rights in Russia 28 May - 4 June 2004
Reactions to Putin’s declarations on NGOs
At a joint news conference Thursday, billed as “Pressure on Russian Human Rights Organizations Is Continuing,” representatives from the Moscow Helsinki Group and Public Verdict agreed that NGOs are facing increasing pressure from the authorities. According to the Moscow Times, the human rights activists were nevertheless reluctant to directly criticise Putin’s critical comments on NGOs, made during the state of the nation address. On her side, Ella Panfilova, chairwoman of the Presidential Commission forHuman Rights, said Putin had not intended to criticize NGOs’ work and that the President cared especially about NGOs working in Chechnya. In the last years many of the country’s NGOs have reported harassment from the
authorities, including tax raids involving the confiscation of documents and
computers, unwarranted fire inspections, and bureaucratic hurdles to getting registered (The Moscow Times).
NGOs say treason conviction of scientist appears to be politically motivated
On Wednesday, five human groups said that Igor Sutiagin, the Russian arms researcher convicted in April on what appear to be politically motivated treason charges, should be given a prompt retrial that meets international standards of fairness. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, the Moscow Helsinki Group, and the Public Committee for the Protection of Scientists called on the Russian government to release Sutiagin from prison pending retrial. In April the Moscow City Court handed Sutiagin a 15-year sentence, the longest prison term for high treason since Soviet times (see EIDHR Newsletter No.
12/2004). Human Rights Watch and the other signatories of the joint statement urged the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to appoint a Special Rapporteur for the case. The five human rights groups also urged the international community to raise his case at the highest level with the Russian government. To read the joint statement in full, click here (Human Rights Watch).
PACE rapporteurs to study situation in Chechnya
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe rapporteurs Rudolf Bindig and Andreas Gross arrived in Russia on 31 May to study the situation in Chechnya following the death of President Akhmat Kadyrov. The rapporteurs visited Grozny and Nazran during last week. The rapporteurs declared that they saw improvements in the Chechen situation and voiced satisfaction with the Chechen authorities’ readiness to provide them with necessary information on the situation in the Republic. However, representatives of the Memorial human rights NGO lamented that the Russian authorities disrupted previously arranged meetings between the Memorial Grozny office and the PACE rapporteurs (RIA Novosti, Interfax).
Libyan student killed
A medial student and son of a Libyan diplomat was stabbed to death by unidentified attackers in St Petersburg. The student was the latest victim of frequent attacks on foreigners in Russia, particularly Asians and Africans (Interfax, The Moscow Times).
Also NB
European Commission increases budget for democracy and human rights activities in 2004
The European Commission has revised the European Initiative for Democracyand Human Rights (EIDHR) programming and the annual work programme for 2004to reflect an increase in budget of €26,625 million and to amend some of thepriorities contained in the earlier programme, as well as adding new ones.The EIDHR budget has been increased to a total of €132,625 million. Thefollowing themes have received extra budget: support to development andconsolidation of democracy and the rule of law; respect for human rights andfundamental freedoms; and support for the activities of the internationalcriminal tribunals and the setting-up of the International Criminal Court.For further information on the activities of the EIDHR click here (EuropeanCommission).
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