Moscow Office of the Radical Party
(Ul. Trubnaja 25-2-49)
18:15 - 21:15
Participants:
Pavel BRUKHIS, Vadim HESSE, Nikolaj KHRAMOV, Pavel PAVLOV, Konstantin PETUKHOV, Kirill SHULIKA, Sergej VORONTSOV
Agenda:
1. Last news from Rome, mobilization for membership in Italy, upcoming initiatives in parliaments.
2. Campaign for Mozhzhnukhin.
3. Street tables.
4. Consultations for conscientious objectors.
5. Leafleting ARA.
6. CORA and "Antiprohibitionists all over the world..."
7. Various.
1st issue (Last news from Rome)
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NIKOLAJ KHRAMOV informed about last decisions taken during the recent seminar in Roman Hotel Ergife, as far as it has been published in Conference Radical Party and Conference Segreteria PR in Agora Telematica. In particular, speaking about membership mobilization in Italy and decision to enroll 7,000 news members within September, 300 among them within Ferragosto, it has been calculated that "Russian" part of this goal corresponded to 230 new members within September, 10 of them within Ferragosto - results which are not realistic with the current financial resourses at disposal of Moscow office which not permit to make even small amount of printing matters and at least a mini-mailing.
He also informed about two new mailings addressed to the MPs which should be done at the end of August - on death panalty and ICC, supported by further personal contacts with MPs regarding their participation in campaigns and possible enrollment to the Party.
KIRILL SHULIKA said that personal contacts with MPs in September on death penalty issue should start from those who voted last December in favour of Borscev - Rybakov bill on moratorium. Shulika has taken responsibility to get the list of voting in Duma on that issue and to draw the list of MPs needed to be contacted first of all.
2nd issue (Campaign for Mozhzhukhin)
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It was unanimously found that demonstration at 12.00 in front of General Procurator's Office has been succeeded, given the fact of a good media presence.
It was decided to concentrate now the basic efforts in this context on the Internet campaign to defend Mozhzhukhin and other C.O. SERGEJ VORONTSOV informed about some technical problems with organizing a respective section on ARA Web site, and said this problems he will try to solve with Glasnet staff.
3rd issue (Street tables)
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VADIM HESSE, responsible for organizing street tables, informed about problems caused by police prohibition to use megaphone drawing people's attention to a table. In order to solve this problem, next requests to the city authorities should inform about a "meeting" and not about a "picket". He also said about problems with involving activists in this activity, given the fact that majority of people are now out Moscow for summer vacations. In particular, this made impossible street table on July 30.
Next requests for table have been presented to the authorities for holding tables on August 8, 9 and 11, on the same places - Cvetnoj blvd. and Sukharevskaja square.
4th issue (Consultations for conscientious objectors)
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KONSTANTIN PETUKHOV informed about the course of weekly seminars for conscientious objectors, which intensity is now - after the finishing of draft campaign and summer pause - very law too. Thus, in the last seminar gathered only three persons, although two among them joined ARA. Meanwhile, the first person have enrolled for an individual consultation, after the decision about such consultations has been taken one week ago.
5th issue (Leafleting ARA)
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NIKOLAJ KHRAMOV proposed to renew the leafleting campaign ARA, organizing it now on another level, doing it in the metro by means of activists dressed in T-shirts with ARA's logo and slogan "Military Draft? No, Thanks!" Another obligatory condition is that in the leaflets should be a return coupon for requesting additional information about ARA and Radical Party campaigns, information on C.O., proposing voluntary assistance, etc.
VADIM HESSE said, such an initiative is necessary to start as soon as possible, while KIRILL SHULIKA argued that it is better to do later in September, when autumn draft campaign will be near.
It was decided to complete as soon as possible a preliminary budget for 30-50 T-shirts and 15-20 thousands of leaflets in order to understand when we can start with this action.
6th issue (CORA and "Antiprohibitionists all over the world...")
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NIKOLAJ KHRAMOV presented the General Motion of the VIII Congress of CORA which has been translated in Russian several days ago. It was decided to draw within early September the first project of "Political Aims and Constituent Act of CORA-Russia" which should include not only commitments resulting from the General Motion but also some "local aims", first of all regarding recently adopted by the State Duma the prohibitionist drug bill.
Regarding the "Antiprohibitionist all over the world...", SERGEJ VORONTSOV proposed to make a news conference dedicated to the beginning of publication of the "Antiprohibitionists..." in Russian language, beginning of membership campaign to CORA and plans about founding CORA-Russia. It was decided to organize this news conference as soon as CORA-Fax No.12 would be translated and RAPIC would permit to hold such a news conference.
7th issue (Various)
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SERGEJ VORONTSOV proposed to use free advertizing TV program "Znak Kachestva" (Quality Sign) on TV-6 in order to promote ARA's program for conscientious objection and attract new people. It was decided that PAVEL PAVLOV would establish contact with the direction of the program, while VADIM HESSE and KONSTANTIN PETUKHOV will present ARA on the air.
NIKOLAJ KHRAMOV informed about position expressed by the Secretary of the party regarding religion bill and promissed to draw as soon as possible draft statement of Radical Party on that issue to be agreed with Secretary.
KIRILL SHULIKA said, it is necessary to contact Borscev proposing him to organize in autumn public hearing on conscientious objection bill, since now his committee is again co-responsible for elaborating the bill.
SERGEJ VORONTSOV informed about letter from Rainbow Keepers concerning the events in Volgodonsk, where police and workers have made a pogrom on the RK protest camp at the future nuclear plant construction place. Raibow Keepers ask support against governmental violence. It was decided to get as soon as possible English version of their appeal in order to present it to the leaders of Radical Party and formulate the party's reaction if possible.
