On Thursday 23 November, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) hosts a seminar at the Human Rights House in Oslo, asking such crucial questions as: How do Russian journalists experience their everyday working conditions? Was the murder of Anna Politkovskaya a unique incident? What can Norwegian journalists do to support their colleagues in Russia? (10-NOV-06)

Based on the invitation that was distributed electronically by NHC today, this article has been written by HRH-F / Niels Jacob Harbitz.

Over the last years, President Vladimir Putin has built an authoritarian state with a democratic surface. His political project has brought th people of the Russian Federation slightly improved financial living conditions, but at the expense of values like freedom of expression, human rights and the rule of law. These experiences are what Russian journalists and human rights activists will share and discuss at the seminar, which commences at 09.30 and lasts until 12.30.

The speakers are:
-Jelena Larionova, leader of Russian Barents Press, journalist in Murmansk and for more than a decade a freelancer for NRK, the Norwegian Public Service broadcaster.
-Yuri Vdovin, assistant president of the human rights organization Citizens´ Watch.
-Aage Borchgrevink, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee´s adviser on the Russian Federation.

In addition to these three, several Russian journalists, who will be attending the NHC´s Human Rights School for journalists in the Barents region from 21 to 25 November, will also be present. Even though the seminar is primarily aimed at journalists, NHC emphasises that everyone interested is welcome to attend.