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Nongovernmental organizations get state support
3 July President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin (right) signed an Order about 1.245 billion rubles appropriation for the state support of nongovernmental organizations. Human rights activists welcome the initiative, but state that the effect depends on the composition of the comission, which will decide which organizations will get support (06-JULY-07).
Human rights activists mark international day in support of torture victims
On 26 June, human rights activists for the International Day of solidarity with torture victims published a collection “Torture in Russian Federation: Authorities, Human Rights Activists and the UN Committee against Torture Position.” The collection is a result of joint efforts of the coalition of non-governmental organizations that includes the Russian Research Center for Human Rights. (28-JUN-07)
Discordant Marches season is closed
On 9-11 June, the end of the autumn-spring season of Discordant Marches was marked by public rallies in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Murmansk and Ekaterinburg. The marches proved to be the calmest in their short history although the authorities imposed certain restrictions in respect to the number of participants and the location. (12-JUN-07)
Psychiatric Association Congress
19-20 May the XII Congress of the “Independent Psychiatric Association of Russia” (IPA) was held in Moscow. Psychiatrists from 27 regions of the Russian Federation, assembled in Moscow to discuss stressing issues in psychiatry, to review the Association work for the last 3 years, to determine priorities for the near future and finally try to find the answer for sacramental question: “What shall we do?” (11-JUNE-07)
Death of Boris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin first President of the Russian Federation as an independent state from 1991 to 1999 died suddenly on April 23rd. Human rights activists call him the Founder and the Father of free the Russian Federation. A few thousand people came to the funeral ceremony. Violating the Russian Constitution the Moscow Patriarchate held the burial in a cathedral replacing the civil service. (30-APR-07)
Fallout of recent Marches
22th April a few well-known human rights activists were detained in the center of Moscow, while they tried to organize a peaceful walk in support of victims of the March of Discontent on 14th of April. Meanwhile, human rights activists created the Public Committee for investigation of the events, connected with severe violations of Constitutional rights of citizens, such as right to organize public meetings and demonstrations. They also sent an open statement to the President of RF. (26-APR-07)
New leaders in Moscow’s Human Rights House
10th April delegates of the United Conference of the Russian Research Center for Human Rights re-elected Valentina Melnikova, leader of the Soldiers Mothers, as the Chairperson of the Board. They also elected a new Director of the Center. (17-APR-07)
Arrests in Petersburg and Moscow
Police violently quashed an opposition march near Pushkin Square on Saturday 14th of March, beating and detaining more than 100 people.Oon Sunday the police violently clashed with protesters in St. Petersburg. The Dissenters’ Marches this weekend are the third and forth in recent months to be suppressed or violently dispersed by the police. (16-APR-07).
Memorials held for the slain journalists
7th April a rally in memory of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who perished exactly six months ago, was held in the center of Moscow. Participants of the rally recalled all journalists killed in post-Soviet the Russian Federation and they also demanded a stop to persecutions of political prisoners and to violence in the Chechen Republic. (14-APR-07)