Moscow starts International Sakharov Conference

Today, the International Conference "Andrei Sakharov: Concern and Hope of 2011" dated to the 90th birthday of Andrei Sakharov was opened in Moscow. Its participants have already stated the relevance of Sakharov's ideas for the modern Russia.

In his welcoming word, the Russian Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin said that Sakharov's ideas are still relevant. He was supported by the leader of the International "Memorial" Arseny Roginsky, who said that the "Sakharov's era" continues, as the country faces the same challenges and problems that Sakharov has faced, including human rights issues.

Mikhail Fedotov, Chairman of the Russian Presidential Council on Progress of Civil Society and Human Rights, said that today's reading of Andrei Sakharov's statements gives rise to the impression that he described the today's reality, including the heat of interethnic relations in the country.

Carroll Bogert from the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that foreign rights defenders are grateful to Academician Sakharov, who had laid the foundation of human rights ideas. "Foreign experts in the sphere of human rights may call themselves 'Sakharov's children' in some way." The HRW was founded as the 'Helsinki Watch' to support dissidents. Russia, the birthplace of Andrei Sakharov, may be called the birthplace of human rights ideas," said Ms Bogert.

The four-day conference will embrace the sitting of the section "Current Russian politics and Sakharov's legacy" and the discussion "Who would Sakharov defend today?" Among other topics, the discussion will cover "Northern Caucasus - a 'special point' of lawlessness". At the end of the first day of the conference, its participants will discuss the issues united by the topical section "Future of Russia: role of Constitution and rule of law".