Center for Civil Society International ([email protected])
Fri, 31 Oct 1997 11:15:33 -0800 (PST)
CCSI presents excerpts from the Agency for Social Information (ASI) e-mail
information bulletin. Translated from Russian by CCSI volunteer Alyssa
Deutschler. For more information on how to receive ASI's bulletin
regularly, contact:
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AGENTSTVO SOTSIALNOI INFORMATSII
Kutuzovskyi pr. 22 pod. 14a,
Moscow, 121151
Tel./fax: (095) 249-3989
E-mail: [email protected]
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ASI Bulletin - No. 41
10 - 16 October, 1997
In this issue:
* Provincial Population is Receiving More Information About Civic
Organizations
* Glasnost Defense Fund & Belarus Association of Journalists
Worried by Attempts to Limit Press Freedoms
* New Religious Law Already Provoking Rights Violations, States
Civic Council of Christian Organizations
* Jobs to Be Set Aside for Youth in St. Petersburg
* * * * * * * * *
Provincial Population is Receiving More Information
About Civic Organizations
The independent research firm Vallidata recently conducted a
survey of citizens in Krasnodar, Stavropol and Omsk concerning the
activities of civic organizations. More than 3000 people took
part in the survey. This survey was the second of its kind; the
first was conducted in 1995, allowing surveyors to compare the
results.
The survey revealed that citizen in Russia's regions are currently
receiving more information regarding the activities of civic
organizations. While in 1995 only 27 percent of respondents could
name even one such organization without prompting, in 1997 33
percent were able to answer the question. In Stavropol, 80
percent of those able to name an organization cited Committee of
Soldiers' Mothers; in Krasnodar the majority of respondents had
heard of the Foundation for Veterans and Invalids; while in Omsk
respondents knew about the Group for the War Against AIDS. Local
and national newspapers and television were named as the primary
source of information about civic groups by more than 80 percent
of survey respondents (as compared with 60 percent in 1995). In
the opinion of researchers, this figure indicates that Russian
media is devoting more attention to the activities of NGOs and
non-profit organizations: in 1995, many survey respondents said
they knew of such organizations' existence only through
conversations with friends and acquaintances.
However, the survey also revealed that the opinion of the public
towards civic organizations has worsened a bit. The general
director of Vallidata, Maria Volkenstein, believes that the reason
for this can be found in the paternalistic relationship between
the Russian government and its people � a relationship which has
been automatically transferred onto civic organizations as well.
Survey respondents indicated that the activities of civic
organizations on the whole were ineffective and that they didn't
help enough people, particularly children, teenagers, or the
disabled. However, a majority of those surveyed (80 percent)
responded positively about the activities of specific
organizations, such as the Committee of Soldiers' Mothers.
Surveyors noted that an interest in participating in civic groups
is growing among the provincial population. While in 1995 only 13
percent of respondents indicated an interest in such activities,
in 1997 the number had grown to 20 percent. Nearly 81 percent of
survey participants expressed their support for a regional union
of local civic organizations. 49 percent of those surveyed were
able to clearly state why civic organizations were necessary (as
opposed to 37 percent in 1995). But surveyors believe that the
change in the public's attitude over two years towards civic
organizations is insignificant. "In order to change the attitude
of the majority of the population, the country must implement
important reforms."
* * * * * * * * *
Glasnost Defense Fund & Belarus Association of Journalists
Worried by Attempts to Limit Press Freedoms
On October 15 the Glasnost Defense Fund and the Belarus
Association of Journalists issued a joint declaration in which
they expressed their deep concern about new attempts to limit
freedom of the press in Belarus. The declaration stated that the
results of the first draft of a bill to modify the Republic of
Belarus' law on press and media were perceived as negative by
journalists in Russia and Belarus, as well as by international
human rights organizations.
An excerpt from the statement reads: "The second draft of the bill
will only further our alarm. The proposed modifications to the
law will infringe on the constitutional rights of citizens to
receive and distribute information. The changes and additions to
sections 5, 6, 25, 31 and 50 [of the constitution of Belarus]
will, in essence, legalize censorship. Granting the government
extralegal rights to halt media activities represents an attempt
to control the media. Additionally, the proposed registration of
all publications with a circulation greater than 500 will
essentially establish total government control over the
distribution of printed materials."
The declaration also states that the proposed bill isn't in
accordance with international norms or with the current laws
governing the media in the Russian Federation. Furthermore, the
bill violates articles 3, 6 and 13 of the Belarus-Russia Union
Statutes, which provide for protection of press freedoms and media
organizations, as well as for greater rapprochement between the
legal systems of Belarus and the Russian Federation.
* * * * * * * * *
New Religious Law Already Provoking Rights Violations,
States Civic Council of Christian Organizations
Following the adoption of the federal law on "freedom of
conscience and religious associations" on October 1, 1997, human
rights organizations in Russia are receiving complaints of rights
violations from members of various religious confessions. Thus
states the Civic Council of Christian Organizations, which expects
a flood of complaints from Moscow and other regions of Russia. A
significant number of rights violations have already been
reported; for example, in Khakassia a Lutheran church was closed,
and in Moscow Hare Krishnas have been harassed. In connection
with these events Pyotr Abrashkin, chairman of the Civic Council
of Christian Organizations, gave the following statement to an ASI
correspondent:
"The crisis started more than a year ago, when different regions
began instituting their own laws regarding religious associations.
Following this, the federal government created the new law in
order to 'limit the influence of destructive sects.' The results
of this law are even worse than those from the Stalin era. Those
who believe that this law was implemented in the interests of the
Orthodox Church are incorrect. The law is anti-religious in its
very essence, and to the Church it grants only the functions of a
performer of ritual services.
Concrete results of the new law are illustrated by the experiences
of a group of Pentecostals in Moscow. After the new law came into
effect on October 1, the Pentecostals were turned out of the
Palace of Culture, where they had held services, and from the
piece of land they had intended to build a church on. When the
group of evangelical Christians then attempted to hold services in
a local park, they were thrown out by policemen. The Pentecostals
then appealed to the local administration for help, but were told
to hold their services "in the woods." On October 6, the pastor
of the church was approached by policemen, who rudely demanded
some sort of 'necessary' documents from him. The pastor extended
his hands in an attempt to halt the unlawful action with prayer,
but the gesture was interpreted as aggression by the policemen,
who then placed the pastor in handcuffs."
* * * * * * * * *
Jobs to Be Set Aside for Youth in St. Petersburg
On October 10, in conjunction with the international exhibition
"Employment 2000," a press conference was held by St. Petersburg
Governor Vladimir Yakovlev and the chairman of St. Petersburg's
Committee on Employment, Dmitrii Cherneiko. The governor stated
that job creation is one of the most pressing issues today, while
noting that St. Petersburg is one the few areas in Russia that has
reported a drop in unemployment. According to Yakovlev, at the
beginning of 1997 49,000 people were registered as unemployed; by
September, the number had dropped to 34,000. However, preliminary
analysis shows that "hidden unemployment" affects nearly 400,000
city residents. During 1996, the city's employment center
received over three million requests for work. Nearly 1000 people
each week found jobs through the center. Dmitrii Cherneiko stated
that the center is currently trying to focus on finding jobs for
the disabled, the elderly and single mothers.
At the press conference it was also revealed that the governor had
recently signed a law regarding job quotas for youth in St.
Petersburg. The law is one of the first in Russia to be created
specifically for the purpose of stimulating youth employment.
8,000 jobs in St. Petersburg will be set aside yearly for young
people.
* * * * * * * * *
Anti-AIDS Group and Teachers' College
Collaborate on AIDS Education Project in Kaluga Oblast
A series of of anti-AIDS educational materials prepared by the
Kaluga-based Center for the Fight Against AIDS was reviewed and
evaluated by senior students at the Meshchovsk Teachers College in
Kaluga oblast. Despite Meshchovsk's distance from Moscow, or even
from the oblast's capitol city, the problem of AIDS is a reality
here. 144 cases of AIDS/HIV have been registered in Kaluga
oblast; one of those cases lives in Meshchovsk. Students at the
Teachers College are already required to take an AIDS education
course, and it is quite popular.
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| CCSI presents excerpts from the ASI Bulletin. The |
| ASI Bulletin is a publication of the Agency for Social |
| Information (ASI) in Moscow. Originally published in |
| Russian, selected stories are translated and posted to |
| the CCSI listserv CivilSoc. Back issues are available |
| in both English and Russian language by following the |
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