The Russian authorities claim to close the head office of the Russian Union of Journalist (RUJ) in Moscow due to violations of fire regulations. In its statement below, RUJ stresses that the claims are part of a united campaign which has been carried on almost one year against the Union, the biggest non-governmental organization in the Russian Federation. The Union has occupied the building since 1980. (20-FEB-08)

Published by HRH F 

STATEMENT        

In recent days, claims of the Ministry for Emergency Situation have been added to claims by the State Property Committee of the Russian Federation who have not given up the intention to take away from Russian Union of Journalists (RUJ) its office premises which the Union has occupied since 1980. The Ministry has allegedly found “crying” violations of fire regulations and demanded the closure  of the head office of  RUJ for 90 days. A corresponding suite has been already brought against RUJ. By doing this the fire authorities stress that there is no and could not be any political ground under their actions: they simply carried on inspection and simply found violations of fire regulations.

For example: in the reception room of RUJ President there are upholstered furniture which, is alleged, could prevent someone from leaving room during emergency evacuation. And necessary for this purposes emergency doors are locked. It is true those doors (between rooms of RUJ and RIA Agency) are locked but from the side of Agency however  this detail does not worry fire authorities. In the same way portraits of winners of annual prizes which hang on the walls could also prevent someone from something.

32 reproofs altogether.

We are sure that claims by the fire authorities are a part of united campaign which is being carried on almost one year against our Union, the biggest non-governmental organization on the Russian Federation. The aim of this campaign is an elementary riders seizure of its property. To achieve this goal all and any means are used without taking into account laws of this country, common sense  and elementary decency.

Lets remind that Union of Journalists participated in construction of building in which its head office is situated now and  floor spaces occupied by the Union were provided to it by the decision of the USSR government. We would like to stress that it was not a gift, more over the financial means invested by journalists in the constriction allowed to claim much bigger space than we received. At the beginning of 1990 a preliminary decision was adopted: to transfer occupied by RUJ premises to the Union with a right of permanent and free of charge use. At the same time the State Property Committee was given a clear directive to prepare  necessary documents for transfer of those premises into full property of the Union. Two Decrees concerning this matter were signed by the President of the country, and those Decrees until now have not been declared invalid.
From the legal point of view our positions are invulnerable. That is why examinations by fire authorities were used with their ridiculous climes which nevertheless are capable to destroy in fact our Union.

We demand that this disgracing our country campaign should be stopped. We appeal to the Prime Minister with request to interfere into this case. We hope that after the quickest look through the documents he will get indignant “as we are” and will find the possibility to put the officials who go to extremes  to their places.

We appeal to our colleagues for their support. Publish this statement. Express your opinion. If you need our Union defend it.