Press Release

For Release 18:00

February 20, 1995

For More Information:

Radical Party, Moscow Office

Trubnaja Ul. 25-2-49

103051 Moscow, Russia

Tel./fax: +7-095-9239127

E-mail: n.khramov@agora.stm.it

On February 23, at the Fatherland Defender's Day (the old name of the holiday is Soviet Army Day), the Transnational Radical Party will take part in the international action of protest against war in Chechnya, against militarism and for conscientious objection right.

In Moscow, from 11 to 12 AM will take place picketing the building of Defence Ministry on Arbatskaja Square (Entrance 2, from side of Janysheva Street). Sharp at noon participants of the action will make a symbolic die-in: they will lie down onto the sidewalk to commemorate those perished in Chechnya and to protest against war. Collection of signatures under the Radical Party's appeal to both chamber of Russian parliament as well as to the president to recognize conscientious objection right as a universal civil right will also be conducted during the demonstration.

The formal request for action in front of Defence Ministry was submitted by Committee of Soldiers' Mothers. Apart of it and Radical Party, also members of "Memorial" Society, activists of Quaker Peace & Service, Youth Anti-Militarist Committee (MAK), Free Democratic Party of Russia, "Democratic Russia" Movement, Buddhist monks and other opponents of Chechen war will also participate.

Action near Defence Ministry will take place in the framework of the Action Week from 19 to 26 of February, declared by participants of the Agreement About Common Actions For Peace And Freedom, Against Bloodshed In Chechnya, signed on January 28 in Moscow by more than one hundred of different public and political organizations.

The same actions will be held simultaneously at noon local time in a number of other cities of the world. In Rome demonstration near the embassy of Russian Federation on Via Gaeta 5 will be organized by Italian members of the Transnational Radical Party. In London the anti-war die-in in front of Russian embassy on Kensington Palace Garden will be held by Quaker Peace & Service. In Kiev Ukrainian members of the Radical Party will demonstrate in front of Russian Federation embassy on Kutuzova, 8. In Bonn the anti-war action near Russian embassy will be organized by The Greens, in Paris - by representatives of Russian emigration. In a number of cities in the world demonstrations at that day will be held by members of Buddhist order Nippo-Dzan Meho-Dzi.

Such a tradition - to celebrate the Soviet Army Day by anti-militarist manifestations in opposition to the official military-patriotic actions - originates from 1986, when several tens of participants of independent peace movement in Soviet Union (including Nikolaj Khramov, currently as member of General Council of Radical Party coordinating anti-militarist campaign of the party, and at that time - one of the leaders of "Movement For Establishment Of Trust Between East and West - Moscow Trust Group") were arrested on Gorky Street in Moscow during the demonstration against war in Afghanistan and for conscientious objection right.

- end of press release -