FINROSFORUM

FINROSFORUM

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.

Filed under

Democracy

See all posts on posterous with this tag »
 
Jan 17 / 2:56pm

Russia Making a Mockery of Human Rights

by Kerkko Paananen

Media_httpiimgurcoml5_grnfb

The Russian Foreign Ministry has published a report on the human rights situation in various countries. The starting point of the report is one of double standards: The report only focuses on human rights in countries, with which Russia is looking for discord.

The report devotes several pages to Finland. It seems that Moscow regards Finland as a similar target for pressure and part of its “near abroad” as the Baltic States. The report directs accusations against Finland using the same sort of demagoguery as against the Baltic States.

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  Democracy   EU   Europe   FINROSFORUM   Finland   Human Rights   Russia   Tuomioja  
 
Dec 23 / 1:52pm

"Putin's Voodoo Is Gone"

by Kerkko Paananen

Russian music critic and journalist Artemy Troitsky gave an interview to the Finnish publishing house, Into Kustannus, which publishes the Finnish edition of Novaya Gazeta. Speaking on the eve of renewed pro-democracy demonstrations planned for 24 December 2011, Mr Troitsky spoke about the change in the Russian people's protest mentality, the dismal state of the country's political party system, and the impending collapse of Vladimir Putin's regime. Below, an edited transcript of Mr Troitsky's comments.

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  Democracy   Human Rights   Medvedev   Opposition   Putin   Russia   Troitsky  
 
Dec 15 / 11:10am

Opposition Leader Held for Protest Attempt

by Kerkko Paananen

Media_httpiimgurcomwx_gweis

Russian opposition leader Sergey Udaltsov has been in detention in Moscow since 4 December 2011, solely for attempting to lead peaceful protests against alleged election fraud. Amnesty International considers Mr Udaltsov, leader of the political movement, Left Front, a prisoner of conscience, who should not be detained at all. He is in need of medical treatment and should be released without delay, the organisation demands.

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  Amnesty   Democracy   Demonstration   Human Rights   Left Front   Opposition   Russia   Udaltsov  
 
Dec 12 / 9:54pm

When There Is No Going Back

by Kerkko Paananen

Media_httpiimgurcom1s_kjxif

"It has been almost 20 years since Russia saw so many people in the streets," writes Masha Gessen in The International Herald Tribune's Latitude blog. "The unmistakable sense that everyone is here, that no one is talking about anything but the protests, is distinctly reminiscent of the time 20 years ago," she recalls.

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  Democracy   Elections   Putin   Revolution   Russia   Russian Spring   Soviet Union   USSR  
 
Dec 10 / 7:19pm

"Russia Will Never Be The Same"

by Kerkko Paananen

Media_httpiimgurcoms5_zdbfu

Russia will never be the same after the day of 10 December 2011. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across Russia to join the biggest anti-government rallies since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

According to rough estimates, in Moscow alone the protest rally brought together 100,000-150,000 people. In St Petersburg, around 10,000 people expressed their indignation at the fake election results and the level of public discontent with Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin's "power vertical."

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  Chelysheva   Democracy   Duma   Elections   FINROSFORUM   Russia   Russian Spring  
 
Dec 9 / 4:36pm

EU-Russia NGO Body Condemns Crackdown

by Kerkko Paananen

Media_httpiimgurcomop_udnau

Statement by the Steering Committee of the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum

Russian authorities should ensure that Russian citizens are able to excercise the rights to freedom of assembly and expression when demanding free and fair elections

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  Civil Society   Democracy   Duma   EU   Elections   Forum   Human Rights   Russia  
 
Dec 9 / 3:34pm

FINROSFORUM 2011 | Helsinki 10-11 December 2011

by Kerkko Paananen

Media_httpiimgurcomit_pwflz

The Finnish-Russian Civic Forum (FINROSFORUM) will hold its fifth annual conference, FINROSFORUM 2011, in Helsinki on 10-11 December 2011. The themes of this year's conference will be public participation in large-scale infrastructure projects and corruption in Russia. The programme consists of four panel discussions: The campaign against ”Gazprom Tower” in St Petersburg; the campaign to defend Khimki Forest near Moscow; the campaign against the Olympic construction projects in Sochi; and Russia's system of corruption.

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  Conference   Democracy   FINROSFORUM   Finland   Helsinki   Human Rights   Russia  
 
Dec 9 / 2:51pm

FINROSFORUM 2011 | Speaker Profiles

by Kerkko Paananen

Media_httpiimgurcomlh_jrarc

The fifth annual conference of the Finnish-Russian Civic Forum (FINROSFORUM) begins on 10 December 2011 at the Sofia Cultural Centre in Helsinki's Vuosaari district. Guest speakers include a number of grassroots civic activists and experts from Russia, Finland, and elsewhere. Below, short introductions of the speakers.

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  Conference   Corruption   Democracy   Environment   FINROSFORUM   Finland   Human Rights   Russia  
 
Dec 2 / 5:41am

Other Russia Members Charged in Moscow

by Kerkko Paananen

Media_httpiimgurcomv4_kwnba

Police in Moscow carried out mass arrests of members of the non-registered opposition party, Other Russia. At least nine people were arrested in raids carried out by Russia's political police, the so-called E-centre, at homes of party activists over night. Most of those arrested were severely beaten up during the raids. Those arrested will now be charged under Russia's so-called anti-extremism legislation, Article 282 of Russia's Criminal Code.

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  282   Democracy   Elections   Extremism   Human Rights   Limonov   Other Russia   Russia  
 
Nov 24 / 9:49am

Other Russia Member Seeks Asylum in Finland

by Kerkko Paananen

Media_httpiimgurcomzm_grifb

Sergey Porokhovoy, member of the Russian opposition party, Other Russia, has applied for political asylum in Finland. Mr Porokhovoy is one of 13 activists of Other Russia, who are charged in St Petersburg with political crimes under Russia's "anti-extremism" law. The authorities accuse the members of Other Russia of continuing the activities of the left-wing political party, National Bolshevik Party (NBP), which was banned in 2007 -- also under Russia's draconian anti-extremist legislation.

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  282   Asylum   Democracy   Extremism   Finland   Human Rights   Other Russia   Refugee   Russia