Where is Russia going?

Do you fear that something may happen to you upon your return to Russia? “I hope nothing happens to me”. Lyudmila Alexeyeva doesn’t use many words in her reply to journalist, but says she doesn’t exclude retaliations. Alexeyeva is one of the first human rights activists in Eastern Europe. She was sent to exile for her engagement. She continues her fight in favour of equal rights to detainees in former Soviet Union. At 82, threats no longer scare her. Her words are loud and clear. And her presence in Strasbourg with Oleg Orlov and Sergei Kovalev to receive the 2009 Sacharov Prize, on behalf of the civil rights organization Memorial, doesn’t pass unnoticed. Her criticism of Moscow is strong and explicit.Those friends who are no longer there… “The first thought – Alexeyeva explains – goes to all those friends who are not here to receive this award, who were killed or put into prison. It’s a long list…” She underlines: “In my country people disappear by hand of the secret services”. Her friends follow suit: “You must not believe liars, as Sacharov used to contend”, said Sergei Kovalev, 69, who founded the first human rights organization in the USSR forty years ago. He claims the liars are President Medvedev and Premier Putin “when they say we had free elections in Russia”. Oleg Orlov, 56, chairman of Memorial announced he “will resume the commitment in Chechnya”. In fact, following the abduction and murder of Natalya Estemirova past June, Memorial representative in Grozy, the organization had suspended its work in the region. “It’s time we return to work there”, Orlov remarked, “but we need the support of the international community” along with “ongoing media attention”.Political integration and European values. During the plenary meeting (December 14-17), the European Parliament awarded the Sacharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Memorial in recognition of the organization’s active engagement in the field of human rights in the Russian Federation and in former USSR countries. “Twenty years ago, the tragic events that took place in the Soviet Union paved the way to historical democratic reforms in Russia and to the peaceful reunification of Europe”, said the Polish EP president Jerzy Buzek, “although in recent years the European Parliament repeatedly voiced its concern over the deterioration of human rights’ enforcement” in Moscow. Buzek underlined “the courage and the importance of the commitment” of Memorial activists, bringing to mind the figure of journalist Anna Politkovskaja, murdered in 2006. “The EU is founded on political and economic integration and on an increasingly stronger idea of wellbeing and stability. Human rights are a critical factor to us”. Without Russia, Europe isn’t complete. It was Kovalev’s turn to deliver his speech upon receiving the award, consisting in a plate and 50 thousand euro. “By giving the Sacharov Prize to MEMORIAL, I believe the EP wished to draw the attention of the international community to those of us who died to defend human rights in former-Soviet Union”. “These people died because they wanted Russia to become a true European country. They died for Europe, since without Europe, Russia isn’t complete”. “The principles of democracy and freedom – Kovalev remarked – ought to be affirmed throughout the world”, from Russia, to China, to Africa. Kovalev also recalled the commitment of other dissidents and human rights workers. “Russian politicians cannot wipe out our country from the list of European nations. In Russia today we have an ‘imitation’ democracy. And this was the situation also under Stalin”.Is it for gas? “Over the past ten years people in Chechnya were abducted, murdered and massacred. Three-thousand people disappeared leaving no trace behind them and local authorities deny responsibilities. In Chechnya acts of violence occur on a daily basis”. Speaking to MEPs Sergei Kovalev declared: “We continue believing there is reason to hope. Russia cannot renounce democracy. As Sacharov said, we need external pressure to make steps forward”. According to Kovalev, Europe “must tend a hand and exert pressure. The same must be done by the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg”. The Memorial representative decried widespread caution in condemning the lack of democracy. “It is owing to Russian gas?”, the speaker remarked. Memorial brought a document to Strasbourg requesting the establishment of the human rights path in Russia. Among these figures “the need to grant equal dignity to human rights in EU-Russia relations, with emphasis on energy and trade”.