Center for Civil Society International ([email protected])
Wed, 17 Jun 1998 11:41:08 -0700 (PDT)
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
Kutuzovskii pr. 22 pod. 14a,
Moscow, 121151
Tel./fax: (095) 249-3989
E-mail: [email protected]
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ASI Bulletin Nos. 16 & 17
24-30 April & 1-7 May, 1998
In this issue:
I. Moscow Human Rights Activists Show Support for
Rights of Nizhnii Novgorod Voters
II. Pupils at Moscow Boarding School No. 15
Live a True Circus Life
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Moscow Human Rights Activists Show Support for
Rights of Nizhnii Novgorod Voters
A joint press conference was held by members of the Nizhnii Novgorod
Society for Human Rights and the Moscow Helsinki Group on April 27 at the
offices of the "Nizhnii Novgorod News." The conference was held in
connection with recent mayoral elections in Nizhnii Novgorod. The
election results were declared invalid and many claim that voters' rights
were violated. Among the participants at the press conference were Lev
Ponomarev, deputy chairman of the Moscow Helsinki Group; Mariam Nagornaia,
professor at Nizhnii Novgorod State University and specialist on
constitutional law; and Sergei Shimovolos, head of the Nizhnii Novgorod
Society for Human Rights.
"I believe that there is clear cause to speak of these events as a series
of violations of Russian Federation law and the constitution," said Mariam
Nagornaia. "It must be acknowledged that the invalidation of the Nizhnii
Novgorod citizens' votes is unlawful. No government in a democratic
country has the right to overturn the decision of its people. The
situation here graphically illustrates how the people and the government
relate to one another. My students are showing much interest in the
controversy; I can only hope that it will serve as a lesson to these
future government workers and lawmakers. I hope these elections will
serve as an example of what NOT to do."
Many questions were raised at the conference on the subject of the
twenty-four hour picket that had been going on in front of the oblast
courthouse. The picket was organized by the Nizhnii Novgorod Society for
Human Rights on April 17 to protest violations of voters' rights in the
mayoral elections. The picket ended April 27, after a hearing was
scheduled in the regional court for Andrei Kliment'ev [the disputed winner
of the mayoral election]. Sergei Shimovolos explained, "We believe that
our protest fulfilled its purpose. First, we brought information to the
people; secondly, the picket attracted the attention of many Nizhnii
Novgorod citizens. More than 2500 signatures were collected in support of
voters' rights."
The participants at the press conference, along with many Nizhnii Novgorod
voters, believe that a second round of elections are not necessary, but
that the results from the first election should be confirmed and accepted.
It is believed that much of the controversy in Nizhnii Novgorod has been
caused by a lack of agreement between federal, oblast and municipal laws.
Lev Ponomarev, from the Moscow Helsinki Group, stated that he believed the
situation in Nizhnii Novgorod revealed an unprecedented amount of pressure
being exerted by federal authorities on local government. Mr. Ponomarev
said, "After arriving in Nizhnii, I realized that in Moscow we were not
understanding the situation correctly. We believed that a lack of
information on the part of voters here had influenced the elections.
However, the citizens of Nizhnii Novgorod had adequate knowledge about
Andrei Klimentev and his character and made their decision based on that
information. The Russian public should know the truth about this
situation."
Pupils at Moscow Boarding School No. 15
Live a True Circus Life
On April 30 Yurii Nikulin's "Circus & Charity" Foundation put on a show
for retired circus workers in honor of the anniversary of the Foundation's
creation. The program for the evening was developed by students at Moscow
Boarding School No. 15, a special school that trains orphans and other
children in the circus arts. Boarding School No. 15 was created in 1995
with the assistance of Yurii Nikulin. The majority of the school's 90
students are orphans or wards of the state.
The director of the school, Igor Akopyants, explained how studying circus
arts benefits his students: "I believe that the circus provides the best
therapy for the type of children who attend our school. All of our
students can take part--one child might be a clown; another has a talent
for juggling or acrobatics. In the circus, every child can find their
forte. It's a very universal art. At School No. 15 children receive a
complete academic education, as well as being trained in a circus
speciality. All the pupils study acrobatics, choreography, juggling, and
gymnastics and they also may choose from different electives, such as
aerial gymnastics, tightrope walking, and clowning. Many former circus
stars teach at the school."
However, not all the pupils studying at the school will become
professional circus artists. "These children are complicated," said
Tatiana Nikulina, vice-president of the "Circus & Charity" Foundation,
"They have come to us from the worst situations and are crippled, both
physically and emotionally. We realize that many of them are prevented
from continuing to study circus arts because of their health. But what is
important to note is that the circus is like a family, and that they live
a true circus life here."
The pupils at School No. 15 keep up with all the circus activities in
Moscow and are frequently invited to attend or participate in premieres,
festivals and competitions. Each year on March 8 at the Old Circus on
Svetnoi Bul'var, a performance is held in honor of graduates from
educational institutions for orphans--and the students from School No. 15
open this performance.
"When a child is rejected by his parents at a young age, he is haunted by
feelings of being alone," explains Igor Akopyants. "He may feel that no
one needs him. But here, he finds a family. And his successes please not
only his teachers, but everyone for whom he performs."
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