11 October 2007, 15:49

Human rights activists tell President of France about situation in Northern Caucasus

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed about the meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy by Svetlana Gannushkina, member of the Board of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" and member of the Board on Human Rights under President of Russia, and Oleg Orlov, Chairman of the Board of the HRC "Memorial."

Oleg Orlov has told President of France about the current much narrower opportunities for the historians, who study violations of human rights during the Soviet time, to work in Russian archives. He said that revision of history is now undertaken in the country towards heroization of its Soviet era including Stalin's period.

"I told Sarkozy about the freedom of speech in Russia. About the ban on certain topics, in particular, violations of human rights in Northern Caucasus, and on certain names on television. That the TV is practically inaccessible for human rights activists and oppositional politicians, in any case - for 'Memorial' activists it is closed for sure. That the HRC 'Memorial' once had its broadcast at the federal radio channel, but in 1999 - the year of Putin's advent to power - it was stopped," Svetlana Gannushkina said.

"At that time (when meeting Russian President in 2005, - note of the "Caucasian Knot"), we told Putin about what was beginning in Ingushetia and what could be the result of the state policy of violence against citizens (extrajudicial executions, 'disappearances' and tortures), which was then practised there. The outcome was the continued course in the Republic, and the things against which we had warned began. The response actions started. While earlier the Republic had been absolutely loyal to the federal power, now the situation is quite different and some local residents have even taken the way of armed struggle against the authorities," Ms Gannushkina said.

Having listened to his guests, President of France expressed his support to Russian NGOs and thanked the members of the "Memorial" for coming to meet him.

See earlier reports:

"President of France meets members of the Human Rights Centre "Memorial"."

Author: Vyacheslav Feraposhkin, CK correspondent

All news
НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН И РАСПРОСТРАНЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ ООО “МЕМО”, ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА ООО “МЕМО”.

May 23, 2024 17:05

May 22, 2024 22:02

  • In Nalchik, Circassian activists recall consequence of Caucasian War

    At a rally held in Nalchik on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of the end of the Caucasian War, participants of the rally noted that Adygs were brought to the brink of destruction as a result of the Caucasian War. The activists have emphasized that it is important, while preserving the memory of ancestors, to learn lessons from the history and think about future generations.

May 22, 2024 20:26

  • Liya Zaurbekova, who escaped from her family, claims that her relatives beat her friend

    Liya Zaurbekova, a native of Chechnya, said that policemen in Moscow did not try to help her before her lawyer arrived and even sent her outside to talk to her relatives who were waiting outside the building. According to the girl’s version, her relatives used force against her and her friend, and only after that the police took the girl and the young man back to the department.

May 22, 2024 19:09

  • Levashi villagers explain background of conflict over abducted girl

    The parents of the abducted young woman wanted to marry her to a rich bridegroom against her will, but she left with her beloved young man, pretending to be abducted, residents of the village of Levashi have explained. A wedding in Dagestan means a lot of expense; so, young people have to fake abduction, villagers have added.

May 21, 2024 23:58

  • On May 13-19, one person perished in armed conflict in Northern Caucasus

    During the week of May 13-19, 2024, in the armed conflict in Northern Caucasus, one alleged militant was killed, and there were no reports about any wounded persons. These are the results of the calculations run by the "Caucasian Knot" based on its own materials and information from other open sources.

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Events

News archive