Russians Need To Respect Themselves
FINROSFORUM // The Finnish-Russian Civic Forum strives to promote cooperation between the peoples of Finland and Russia by supporting civic initiatives for democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech.
On 6 May 2011, Mary Robinson, president of the Mary Robinson Foundation, presented the annual Front Line Award to the Joint Mobile Group of the Russian Federation for their outstanding work investigating torture and disappearances in Chechnya despite the serious risks. The Award was presented to Igor Kalyapin, founder and President of the Joint Mobile Group, at the Award ceremony in Dublin's City Hall. Presenting the Award, Mrs Robinson said: "The work of the Joint Mobile Group is an inspirational example of how committed individuals, despite all the pressures that are brought to bear on them, can hold the line in defence of justice, truth and the rule of law. It is the denial of access to justice that enables tyrants to prevail. This is why the work of human rights defenders like the Joint Mobile Group is so important."
“Fear is a companion which will never leave you,” says Lidiya Yusupova, who was called "the bravest woman in Europe" by BBC and Amnesty International. She was a Nobel Prize Candidate in 2006 for her work as a human rights defender in Chechnya. Giancarlo Bocchi interviewed Ms Yusupova for Prensa Marea Socialista in August 2010: The European Court of Human Rights could do more to stop the Russian authorities. There are partial “small victories” which represent hope for the relatives of the victims. These victories also may introduce to Russia the same legal standards that are practised throughout the rest of the democratic world. Citizens of the Russian Federation have great faith that the European Court of Human Rights will deliver justice, and this gives them the hope and energy to continue fighting. It is necessary to work internationally in the area of law. It is useless to use foreign media to make a list of the dead and wounded people every day. We need to defend victims internationally. Many of our colleagues were persecuted for reporting the facts to international tribunals because Russia has not obeyed any international agreements. If not today, then tomorrow or maybe in five or ten years, Russian politicians will be tried for the crimes committed in the Caucasus.
Read the full interview:
http://www.waynakh.com/eng/2010/08/lidya-yusupova-russian-politicians-will-be-tried-for-the-crimes-which-have-been-committed-in-the-caucasus/
The Chechen and Ingush diaspora in Finland has turned to the Finnish Ombudsman for Minorities, Eva Biaudet, for protection against threats by Lutheran pastor Juha Molari, member of the "Finnish Anti-Fascist Committee". The pastor claims that refugees from North Caucasus residing in Finland are linked to terrorism.
On 24 September 2010, Molari wrote in his blog that there were no genuine refugees from the Caucasus in Finland. "Everyone who has fled Caucasus and arrived in Finland is linked to terrorism," the pastor claimed. Earlier, he wrote that asylum applicants were "brought into Finland because of their terrorist links." Chechens and Ingushetians living in Finland regard Molari's allegations as incitement to racial hatred. Moreover, Molari's statements are an affront to the Finnish immigration authorities, given that people guilty of crimes are not eligible for asylum. Read the open letter of the Nakh diaspora to the Finnish Ombudsman for Minorities:
