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For nearly a decade, Russia's once-vibrant independent media has lost ground to an increasingly authoritarian state. Many of Russia's most promising journalists suffer routine harassment, or worse. The murders of Igor Domnikov, Anna Politkovskaya and Anastasia Baburina underscore what has become an environment of fear and intimidation. This muzzling of the press is a clear violation of Russia’s international commitments. The inability of the media to play its important role in Russia is a threat to democracy with negative implications for U.S.-Russia relations. This briefing will offer a rare chance to hear from top independent Russian journalists and a former senior Russian government official on Russia’s backsliding on press freedoms in recent years.
Dmitry Muratov, Editor of Novaya Gazeta, an independent newspaper, whose reporters have been killed while investigating government corruption and human rights violations
Maxim Trudolyubov, Op-Ed Editor of Vedomosti, a Russian business daily
Grigory Shvedov, Chief Editor of The Caucasian Knot
Vladimir Milov, Former senior Russian government official and co-founder of the Russian Solidarity democratic opposition movement with Boris Nemtsov and Garry Kasparov
Уважаемые коллеги!
Музей и общественный центр имени Андрея Сахарова и Правозащитный центр «Мемориал» приглашают вас принять участие в открытии фотовыставки и во встрече, посвящённой ста дням с момента убийства Натальи Эстемировой.
На протяжении двух чеченских войн мы видели результаты опасной работы журналистов в горячих точках. Мы знаем имена авторов текстов и снимков, но не всегда помним, что они работают не одни. Им помогают правозащитники, чьи имена зачастую неизвестны, а труд не менее опасен. Найти героев репортажей, собрать подлинные факты и документы, разыскать свидетелей важных событий и достоверный материал для расследований в условиях войны – задача, которую практически невозможно выполнить без помощи профессиональных независимых наблюдателей – правозащитников. Фотовыставка «Соавторы» – это попытка журналиста выразить благодарность своим коллегам-правозащитникам, которые, делая свою благородную работу, жертвуют покоем, а иногда и жизнью.
Пожалуйста, подтвердите участие по электронной почте sakharov.talks@gmail.com или по телефону (495) 623-4420. Спасибо, мы ждем вас!
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The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) in cooperation with the American Committee for Peace in the Caucasus organized a series of meetings aimed at raising awareness within the European community about the alarming deterioration of the security and human rights situations in the North Caucasus. Oleg Orlov, president of the human rights organization "Memorial," Magomed Mucolgov, director of Ingushetian human rights organization "MASHR," and Bakanay Guseynova, a human rights lawyer from Dagestan addressed the ALDE on June 22, 2009.
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Civil society in Russia continues to face growing challenges from many fronts amidst a rapidly deteriorating human rights situation. In additional to legal and bureaucratic restrictions, violence against journalists and human rights defenders is on the rise. The recent murders of Magomed Yevloyev, Stanislav Markelov, and Anastasia Baburova, as well as the attack on Lev Ponomarev, are just the latest examples of an ever growing atmosphere of violence and impunity. The justice sector, plagued by pressure from the Kremlin, corruption, and a lack of professionalism, has so far proven unwilling or unable to find or prosecute perpetrators of the violence. Which role can civil society play to propose a positive agenda for changes?
Join us for a discussion with some of Russia’s leading human rights defenders on the challenges they face and how they are adapting their strategies to continue the defense of human rights in today’s Russia.
Lyudmila Alekseyeva, a veteran of the Soviet dissident movement and chair of the Moscow Helsinki Group, the oldest human rights organization in Russia, will discuss the rise of violence against journalists and human rights defenders, attack on freedom of expression and current challenges for civil society in Russia.
Andrey Yurov and Dmitry Makarov of the Youth Human Rights Movement will share their views on youth activism in Russia’s political life.