Conference in Moscow: :Future of Russia under the Threat of Fascism ;

Настоящий материал (информация) произведен и (или) распространен иностранным агентом Исследовательский центр «Сова» либо касается деятельности иностранного агента Исследовательский центр «Сова».

On May 14 2006, more then 150 representatives of different NGOs, youth associations, democratic political parties, independent antifascist groups, ethnic associations, experts, journalists and cultural figures took part in an antifascist conference in Moscow.

The conference was organized by Moscow Helsinki Group, Memorial, the :Sova; Center, Anti-war club, the :Holocaust; Foundation, Moscow Bureau for Human Rights, Independent Union of Afghanistan Veterans, the :Civic Assistance; Committee for Refugees and Forced Migrants, Center for Development of Democracy and Human Rights, Moscow Antifascist Center, Forum for Migrant Organizations, the Public Verdict Foundation, the Committee for Human Rights, :Ezhenedelny zhurnal; (:Weekly magazine;) magazine, Youth Human Rights Movement, professors of Maxim Gorky Literary Institute, members of Republican party, :Yabloko; party, United Civic Front, :Sojuz Pravyh Sil; (Union of Right Forces) party, youth movement :Da!; (:Yes!;).

The problems discussed at the conference were racism, xenophobia and discrimination in Russia, counteraction practices and plans for cooperation.

The conference started with awarding the winners of the contest for local journalists who write about ethnic tolerance. The awards were given by the Ombudsman of Russian Federation Vladimir Lukin.

Lyudmila Alekseeva (Moscow Helsinki Group), Emil Pain (Center for Ethnopolitical and Regional Studies), Boris Dubin (Levada-Center), Alexander Verkhovsky (Sova-Center), Andrey Yurov (Youth Human Rights Movement), Yury Dzhibladze (Center for Development of Democracy and Human Rights) made their speeches, stating great level of nazi violence and nationalistic tendencies in society as well as violation of civic freedom by the state under the banner of fighting xenophobia and the danger of pseudo-antifascism translated by such groups as :Nashi;.

The conference adopted the declaration :Russia is under the threat of fascism again; suggested by Natalia Novozhilova, Vladimir (available in Russian), and urged the society to sign it. It's possible to sign the declaration on the site of the Russian Civic Congress. :We claim, that there is only one way to stop fascists - unite efforts of civil society and authorities. And it is mass civil activity which can make the authorities enter into the antifascist struggle. It's useless to wait for the authorities to awake by themselves; - says the declaration.

The conference has adopted the Program of Action (available in Russian), which will become a basis for forming the Antifascist Front.

There were several moot points during the debate on the Program, two of them are the most notable. First, there was a suggestion to include in the Program a statement about necessity to fight against radical nationalists together with moderate ones, which was declined, moreover there is a statement in the Program urging to boycott every public figure who ventures racist speeches. Second, all the suggestions to toughen the legislation against nationalists were declined, because of the inefficiency of such measures and because of the danger of provoking the state to misuse repressive mechanisms.

The further work will be coordinated by the organizational committee and working groups formed during the conference. To contact the organizational committee, send your e-mail to mshndcr@yandex.ru.

One of the first activities of the Antifascist Front will be an antifascist demonstration on the June 22, day of the Nazi invasion to USSR.