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The Finnish-Russian Civic Forum strives to promote cooperation between the peoples of Finland and Russia by supporting civic initiatives for democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech.
Navalny Supporters Under Siege
BREAKING: Police in Moscow are storming an apartment where supporters of the Russian opposition’s mayoral candidate in Moscow, Alexey Navalny, are holed up. Apparently, the authorities suspect that the apartment is an “illegal campaign headquarter.” The police has no search warrant.
A few moments ago, police were hacking away at the door with a sledgehammer and a chainsaw. Oleg Kozlovsky, Board Member of the Finnish-Russian Civic Forum, is one of the people inside the apartment. Oleg is tweeting live (in Russian), and there is live video feed from the scene.
Winter Olympics in the Subtropics
Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov and Solidarity activist Leonid Martynyuk have published a report detailing allegations of rampant corruption in the preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Kerkko Paananen, Chairman of the Finnish-Russian Civic Forum (FINROSFORUM), translated the report into English, with help from Catherine Fitzpatrick at the excellent Interpreter Magazine. The original report is available in Russian and the full translation in English on the Putin.Itogi website.
Political Defiance in Today’s Russia
In December 2011, tens of thousands of Russians went to the streets of Moscow and other cities to protest fraud at recent parliamentary elections. This was a shock to the regime as well as the opposition even though both had long been preparing for mass demonstrations.
Putins sju skruvar
Manifesto of Free Russia
Russia’s united opposition movement has signed a “Manifesto of Free Russia,” which was first published in the blog of Boris Nemtsov, one of the leaders of the People’s Freedom Party (PARNAS). The manifesto outlines steps to free Russia of Vladimir Putin and his regime, and what to do after he is gone. The manifesto was read at the Russia Day demonstration in Moscow on 12 June 2012. Below, Jenya Belyaeva’s English translation of the manifesto:
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“Putin’s Voodoo Is Gone”
Russian music critic and journalist Artemy Troitsky gave an interview to the Finnish publishing house, Into Kustannus, which publishes the Finnish edition of Novaya Gazeta. Speaking on the eve of renewed pro-democracy demonstrations planned for 24 December 2011, Mr Troitsky spoke about the change in the Russian people’s protest mentality, the dismal state of the country’s political party system, and the impending collapse of Vladimir Putin’s regime. Below, an edited transcript of Mr Troitsky’s comments.
Opposition Leader Held for Protest Attempt
Russian opposition leader Sergey Udaltsov has been in detention in Moscow since 4 December 2011, solely for attempting to lead peaceful protests against alleged election fraud. Amnesty International considers Mr Udaltsov, leader of the political movement, Left Front, a prisoner of conscience, who should not be detained at all. He is in need of medical treatment and should be released without delay, the organisation demands.
Ingushetia’s Opposition Leader Abducted
Reports are coming in that Magomed Khazbiev, the leader of the popular opposition movement in the Republic of Ingushetia in Russia’s volatile North Caucasus, has been abducted, according to Ingushetiya.Ru. Several opposition and human rights activists, including Ingushetiya.Ru’s founder, Magomed Yevloyev, and opposition leader Maksharip Aushev, have been killed in recent years in Ingushetia.
Russian Opposition Plans March on Kremlin
Russia’s anti-government opposition has announced that it plans to march on the Kremlin. Opposition leaders Eduard Limonov, Vladimir Bukovsky, and Konstantin Kosyakin left notice to the Moscow mayor’s office about a planned rally in defence of the freedom of assembly on Moscow’s Triumfalnaya Square on 31 January 2011. The rally would be followed by a march to the Kremlin.
Heidi Hautala: EU should support Russian opposition
Heidi Hautala, Chairwoman of the European Parliament's Sub-committee on Human Rights, has condemned the sentencing of Russian opposition activists arrested for taking part in a peaceful rally to defend the Russian Constitution on 31 December 2010. Ms Hautala called for the immediate release of all peaceful protesters. Hundreds of people were arrested in Moscow, St Petersburg, and other cities in Russia in connection with the campaign to defend Article 31 of the Russian Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of assembly.
"With the new mayor of Moscow, the authorities seemed to have been finally prepared to show respect for the constitutional right of citizens to peacefully gather and manifest their views. The arrest of hundreds of people on 31 December 2010 shows that this was an unfounded hope. This is a real backlash and we in the European Parliament must keep the pressure on our so-called strategic partner so that it respect the internationally guaranteed rights which every citizen, including Russians, shall enjoy," Ms Hautala said. "The EU was very quick to react against police violence towards demonstrators in Belarus. I want to remind the EU representatives and colleagues of the need to avoid a potential double standard in the attitude towards the events in Belarus and Russia. The EU must keep condemning police practices in Russia as vigorously as it does in the case of Belarus. It is time that the EU opens contacts with and shows solidarity towards Russia's democratic opposition, just as it does towards the opposition of Belarus," Ms Hautala insisted. http://www.heidihautala.fi/2011/01/chairwoman-condemns-the-sentencing-of-mr-nemtsov/
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