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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)
 

The May 12th jubilee conference dedicated to the thirtieth anniversary of the Moscow-Helsinki Group took place in Moscow. The Conference summed up MHG’s activities; current state of human rights in the Russian Federation was also discussed. The conference was held under the slogan “United we can’t be defeated!” (19-MAY-06)

The 8 May, on the Day of Europe, Europeans celebrate victory over fascism. This day was declared the International Day of Antifascists Solidarity under the slogan “NO PASARAN!”  Members of the Youth Human Rights Movement, struggling against fascism, organized symbolic actions of solidarity with antifascists of all countries. According to the latest report of Amnesty International racially-motivated killings, beatings and discrimination are on the increase in the Russian Federation. (14-MAY-06)
 

The 1 May many May Day rallies and demonstrations were held across the Russian Federation. Overall, 1297 different mass actions took place in 83 regions of the Russian Federation and 1.5 million people participated in rallies and demonstrations. This year the holiday was characterized by sharp political tension. Not only communists and labour activists gathered in rallies but there were also representatives of right forces, nationalists, monarchists and the United the Russian Federation members. During May Day holidays a few protest actions against homosexuals were held by nationalists. (05-MAY-06)

From Apri, 14 to May, 11 an exhibition “Human rights in Russia” organized by the Russian Research Center for Human Rights under the aegis of the Ombudsman for Human Rights in the Russian Federation is being held in the Museum of Contemporary History of the Russian Federation in Moscow. The exhibition is a part of the big project “Getting the younger generation involved in protection of human rights, due to development the volunteer movement” carried out by the Center with the help of the European Union. (28-APR-06)

On Sunday, 16 April, in the center of Moscow on Pushkinskaya Square, about 4,000 citizens gathered in a rally against censorship in mass media and in support of freedom of speech. The protest was attended by well-known journalists, most of whom were dismissed from TV and major media outlets for their truthful reports and criticism against the authorities. (21-APR-06)