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Having abolished all independent TV channels and big media outlets, the authorities launched a campaign to liquidate all independent radio stations who openly criticized the government and the President.  This year alone two of Russia’s very few objective sources of information “Radio Svoboda’s” and “Voice of America’s” broadcasts were severely curtailed. (30-JUL-06)
 

On July 11th, ahead of the G8 summit the main leaders of Russian opposition and human rights activists gathered in Moscow for a two-day conference, called Other the Russian Federation. The conference focused on what the real the Russian Federation looks like and on ways to combat the Kremlin´s tightening grip on civil society. Trying to disturb the conference, the police detained many delegates. However, the gathering has also underscored the rifts dividing the opposition. (14-JUL-06)
 

On July 5th, the conference of non-governmental organizations “Human rights in the Russian Federation in the year of its presidency in G8 and in the Council of Europe” took place in Moscow. The conference established a systemic human rights crisis and problems with democratic institutions.  The delegates to the conference adopted a petition to the leaders of G8 nations. (10-JUL-06)
 

On June 23rd, former General Prosecutor Vladimir Ustinov’s who recently was fired from his post was involved in a bizarre shuffle, in which President Putin interchanged Ustinov and Yury Chaika, who had prior been the Minister of Justice. The Upper Chamber of the Russian Parliament took kindly to the appointment of Vladimir Ustinov to the new post, while human rights activists were naturally puzzled. (4-JUL-06)
 

In spite of mass protests and numerous statements of human rights activists, the Russian State Duma, on June 14, adopted a package of “revolutionary” laws for the Russian army in the last third reading. These laws abolish a few draft deferments and curtail the mandatory military service to 12 months from January 1, 2008. Protest actions against the abolition of draft deferments were held all over the country. (23-JUN-06)
 

In the Chechen Republic in the center of Grozny human rights activists discovered a secret prison of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). In a cellar of the building, where a MIA’s operational group was located, detained people were kept in prison, some of them were tortured and killed, – the “Memorial” human rights center reported, on the basis of its own investigation and a proof presented by victim  of that prison Alavdi Sadykov.  The day after the MIA’s group left the place, the secret prison was quickly demolished. Russian and international human rights activists believe that Chechen’s authorities twice curtail the number of kidnapped and disappeared people in the Republic.  (12-JUN-06)
 

The 1 June, on the International Children´s Day many actions for protection children’s rights, life and health were held in the Russian Federation. Children’s theme is utterly important today in the Russian Federation. The regional organization “Right of Child” reports about horrific situation in this sphere, about family crisis and an evident lack of government’s attention to its young citizens. (10-JUN-06)
 

Homophobia has been rapidly increasing in the Russian Federation. Homosexuals fall a prey to violent attacks from politicians, representatives of Orthodox church and members of extremist groups. On May 27th, the International Day for the Struggle against Homophobia, skinheads again disrupted a peaceful gay-action. Deputies have prepared a bill establishing criminal responsibility for ‘propaganda’ of homosexuality. (04-JUN-06)

On May 21st the Russian Federation remembered academic Andrey Sakharov. An illegal “May-day meeting” was organized near Sakharov’s home-museum and public center, declared by human rights activists a national non-governmental Day of Freedom. On this day the internationally known human rights activist would have turned 85 years old; at the same time the Museum and the center named in his honor, celebrated its 10th anniversary. About 500 people participated in the event, among them well-known human rights activists, journalists, lawyers and politicians. (27-MAY-06)