(Moscow, February 11, 1996) - A public assembly of Radical Party was hold today in Moscow's Soil Institute. It was the first big reunion of Radical members, activists and supporters in Russia after the assemblies in Cheljabinsk and Saint Petersburg last Summer and first in Moscow after the 37th Congress of Radical Party. It was to intensify membership campaign for 1996 as well as to organize Radical members and supporters for two upcoming events: the March 10th rally for freedom of Tibet, which should take place also in Moscow, simultaneously with those in Brussels and Washington, DC; as well as the First Congress of Anti-militarist Radical Association (ARA), which is being preliminary planned for this March too.

Among more than 120 participants of the assembly, there were presented in particular: Navang Rabgyal, personal representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Russia, CIS and Mongolia, enrolled to Radical Party for 1996; Valentina Meljnikova, secretary of Russian Committee of Soldiers' Mothers (RCSM) and member of coordination council of ARA; Kara-kys Arakchaa, ex-member of the State Duma; Olga Antonova, coordinator ad interim of Radical Party in Russia; Nikolaj Khramov, coordinator ad interim of Radical Party in Russia and secretary of ARA.

Taking in consideration that the big part of the hall was compound by new people, just recently adhered to some Radical initiatives (mainly anti-militarist one), Nikolaj Khramov shortly described the situation in the party after its 37th Congress and main directions of Radical Party activities, such as International Criminal Court, worldwide abolition of death penalty, antiprohibitionism on drugs, Tibet, defending civil and political liberties in Cuba and opposing militarism in Russia.

After this introductory speech the floor was given to Navang Rabgyal, who informed about history of Tibetan issue as well as about current situation in Tibet and the H.H. the Dalai Lama's attempts to solve peacefully the Tibetan issue. Olga Antonova, as a responsible for Radical Party's campaign for Tibet in Russia, spoke about organization of concrete Radical initiatives on Tibet (in particular, the initiative "Flag For Tibet In Your Window" and rally of March 10th). Kara-kys Arakchaa in her report informed about several attempts to pass pro-Tibetan motions in Russian parliament. Report about anti-militarist campaign in Russia was presented by Nikolaj Khramov - already as by secretary of ARA. Nikolaj Gudskov, member of Esperanto Radikala Asocio, has made intervention about Radical Party's initiatives in favour of the International Language.

The main topics of the followed debates were: Radical Party's campaign for freedom of Tibet; anti-militarist Radical initiatives in Russia, such as last year campaigning for conscientious objection bill and possible future initiatives to launch a referendum on CO bill and other military laws; war in Chechnya, in particular attitude to the petition initiative of Nizhny Novgorod's governor Boris Nemtsov to stop war in Chechnya.

Apart of table with books on Tibet presented by Tibet Information & Culture Center, materials on Radical Party's campaign for Tibet and Tibetan flags, there were also organized tables of ARA and Hands Off Cain International League.

During the assembly 4 persons have joined Radical Party for 1996 paying totally $30 and 390,000 rubles (about $83) as membership fees, while another 12 declared their intention to do it within next days. 2 persons have joined the Hands Off Cain (paying totally $25). 12 persons joined ARA paying totally 407,000 rubles (about $87) as membership or adhesion fees. 12,500 rubles (about $3) were collected as anonymous contributions for Radical Party. $20 and 46,500 rubles (about $10) were collected as anonymous contributions for ARA. There were sold 3 Tibetan flags for totally 300,000 rubles (about $64).

The Radical meeting was covered by three TV shooting teams - 2x2 TV News, MTK (a Moscow TV channel) and WTN (Worldwide Television News), as well as by correspondents of several newspapers: Kuranty, Panorama and Economic Daily (China).