Moscow Office of the Radical Party
(Ul. Trubnaja 25-2-49)
18.00 - 20.30
Participants:
Bikbov Ruslan, Brukhis Pavel, Hesse Vadim, Khramov Nikolaj, Pavlov Pavel, Petukhov Konstantin, Shulika Kirill, Sorokin Sergej, Vorontsov Sergej
Agenda:
1. Mozhzhukhin's case.
2. Street tables.
3. Religion Bill.
4. Civil Obedience Campaign.
5. CORA-Russia.
1st issue (Mozhzhukhin's case)
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VADIM HESSE informed about recent developments on Nikolaj Mozhzhukhin's case, a conscientious objector kidnapped by militaries and placed in custody on military base in Yaroslavl region. He also informed about steps already undertaken (formal appeal the Prosecutor General) to actions already publicly proposed on behalf of ARA: a news conference on Monday, July 28 and demonstration in front of General Prosecutor's Office on Thursday, July 31.
NIKOLAJ KHRAMOV is his intervention stressed that we - as usual in the whole Radical history - must use the emblematic case of Mozhzhukhin to make it symbol of our campaign to defend conscientious objectors' rights and to get "the law, the good law, the law now". We must do our best for resolving Mozhzhukhin's case, he said. He also proposed to organize an Internet campaign of sending protests to the Prosecutor General.
SERGEJ VORONTSOV has taken on himself responsibility for dealing this Internet petition drive.
The slogans of demonstration on July 31 have been discussed. It was decided for the moment to fix following ones:
LEGAL GANGS KIDNAP CITIZENS IN THE VERY CENTER OF MOSCOW
FREE NIKOLAJ MOZHZHUKHIN
DEFEND LEGAL RIGHTS OF CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS
MR. SKURATOV, DEFEND CONSTITUTION
MILITARY VIOLATING THE LAW IS A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY
Under proposal of Vadim Hesse it was decided to organize also a normal paper petition campaign - at least a small one for the moment - addressing to the Prosecutor General, allowing people to sign the standard forms and send them by post.
It was decided that Vadim Hesse and Konstantin Petukhov would coordinate telephone calling of about 500 Moscow members and adherents of Radical Party and ARA urging them to take part in demonstration and to sign the letter to the Prosecutor General.
Sergej Sorokin has been appointed to be in touch with activists in Yaroslavl and Rybinsk.
It was agreed that Nikolaj Khramov will take responsibility for keeping in touch for this matter with Radical Party's leadership, with Amnesty International and with Human Rights Directorate of Council of Europe.
2nd issue (Street tables)
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VADIM HESSE informed about results of previous series of street tables conducted on Pushkin square last months. He also told, that formal notification to the city authorities has been submitted to hold tables on July 28, 30 and August 1 - on Cvetnoj Blvd and on Suharevskaja square.
It was decided to extend the amount of materials presented on tables with newly received from Brussels postcards Panchen Lama, as well as with short booklets "What Is CORA" which should be prepared within several days.
Responsible persons for organizing tables remain Vadim Hesse and Konstantin Petukhov.
3rd issue (Religion bill)
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KIRILL SHULIKA proposed to express publicly position in favour of freedom against religion bill drafted by Duma and vetoed by Yeltsin - simply on behalf of several Russian citizens enrolled to Radical Party.
However, on proposal of NIKOLAJ KHRAMOV it was decided to wait with such statements until it would be possible to get more evident involvement of Radical Party expressed by its Secretary.
4th issue (Civil Obedience Campaign)
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NIKOLAJ KHRAMOV proposed to make without delay a mailing to about 100 regional committees of soldiers' mothers who are holding on a regular base consultations for draftees in their cities, urging them to support actively Civil Obedience Campaign and supplying them necessary materials (forms etc.).
KONSTANTIN PETUKHOV have taken responsibility for drafting a letter and organizing this mailing.
5th question (CORA-Russia)
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NIKOLAJ KHRAMOV called up to launch urgently membership campaign to CORA for 1997 as soon as the order of administration would be agreed with CORA's Treasurer. For this, he said, it would be opportune to use street tables as well as posting on Usenet conferences in Russian language. The General Motion of the VIII Congress of CORA is being translated now in Russian and short booklet "What is CORA" will also appear in several days. All this would allow to found CORA-Russia this autumn.
