Statement of the Society "Memorial"

On the Persecution of Human Rights Organizations of Kazan

In Kazan on July 20, 2009 law enforcement authorities paralyzed activity of two famous civil organizations – Inter-regional human rights organization AGORA and Kazan human rights centre. Under the pretence of the search of tax or other financial violations all the bookkeeping documentation was withdrawn. Investigation shows the main and in essence the only interest not to the correctness of the expense of the means but to the sources of the financing of the organizations.   

Such tendency appeared not yesterday. The idea of soviet leaders that receiving money from abroad is almost treason turned out more long-lived than the USSR. More and more often high-ranking officials and governmental mass-media try to depict human rights activists who receive money from foreign funds as "hirelings of the West", if not "the fifth column".

It's obvious that in most cases it's not a sincere delusion but an old propagandistic method that allows to avoid the discussion of exact facts and problems using "revealing" wording: "The one who pays money orders music" (Russian saying). Repeated delivery of the trivial maxim about money and music has not solved any real public problem. But the phrase by itself often influences those people who do not know much about the character of public organizations' work. Many people do not know that not the funds (Russian or foreign) hire activists-executors for any purpose but on the contrary public organizations look for and choose sponsors for their own projects.  

It would be destructive for human rights organizations to depend on their sponsors. They also can not depend on governmental money – always and everywhere the main violator of citizens' human rights is government. In the whole world human rights organizations base on non-governmental financing, and it is one of the sources of their independence.  

Unfortunately, in Russia quite only foreign charity funds support human rights organizations (and many other independent public organizations). It's not the preference of these organizations but the consequence of the situation in the country. It would be great to get support from national sponsors but nowadays in Russia quite non of serious businessmen would venture to support human rights organizations without the approval of the authorities.

Till nowadays it's useless to think of such approval. It seems that changes are beginning to show – president Medvedev told in public about need and importance of human rights activists' work although such work can be unpleasant for authorities.  

But yet, it seems that Russian officials do not believe in the sincerity of the president. It seems that they think that his words are just ritual phrases for foreign partners. Recent events in Kazan make such an impression.

We are sure that real interests of the country are represented not by those quasi-patriots which fight against "foreign influence" but human rights activists which help citizens defend their rights from lawlessness of national officials. Inter-regional human rights organization AGORA and Kazan human rights centre do that quite effectively.

We are indignant at the withdrawal of the documents of Kazan human fights organizations and demand to take them back immediately. We express solidarity with our colleagues. We hope that they will be able to return to their regular work soon.   

July 24, 2009