The pressure against Human Rights House Voronezh (Russia) began in May this year, when two organizations of the house received information from the Department of Property and Estate Relations of the Voronezh City Administration saying that their leases had been ceased and that they were to leave the premises.

Large public campaign

From May to September, a large public campaign was held extensively in support of Human Rights House Voronezh. 40 partner organizations of the Human Rights House Network sent letter of concern to the governor of Voronezh region, where they urged the authorities to extend the rent agreement.

Human rights defenders of Human Rights House Voronezh. Anna Dobrovolskaya, human rights defender at the International Youth Human Rights Movement, second from the left.

Situation still not solved

– We thank all the organizations and individuals who give us their support and who are concerned on the situation. Unfortunately the situation is still not solved and the city administration stays reluctant to all the activities we perform. This is again followed by the smear publications in some media, who continue to call us “foreign agents of LGBT propaganda.” We do hope that with more attention and support from different countries and regions we will be able to win, says Anna Dobrovolskaya, human rights defender in the International Youth Human Rights Movement, which together with the Confederation of Free Labor had signed the rent contract for the Human Rights House Voronezh.

Appeals to the Mayor to assist in resolving the issue

In a letter, newly sent to the Mayor of the City of Voronezh, the Human Rights House Foundation ask him to assist in resolving the issues with the lease of municipal facilities, where the Human Rights House Voronezh is located.

Human Rights House Foundation is  happy to learn that a working group has been established, to adopt a consolidated long –term solution.  However, the situation is still not solved.

Fruitful meeting

In the beginning of October, Human Rights House Foundation had together with representatives of the Human Rights House Voronezh a fruitful meeting with the regional Ombudsperson Tatiana Dmitrievna Zrashevskaya, where she gave her support to the human rights defenders. Human Rights Voronez also organized a press conference with the representants of the Human Rights House Foundation. Read more from this in Chitaivrn and Vrntimes. 

Human Rights House Foundation has afterwards sent a letter of gratitude to the Ombudsperson as well as the Governor for their moral support to the Human Rights House Voronezh. 

Meeting in Voronezh. From the left, Vladimir Belonozhkin, head of Ombudsman office of Voronezh region, Ane Tusvik Bonde, Regional Manager, Eastern Europe and Caucaus at Human Rights House Foundation, Maria Dahle, Executive Director at Human Rights House Foundation, Tatyana Zrazhevskaya, the Ombudsperson of Voronezh Region and Alyona Objezdchikova from Human Rights House Voronezh.

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