OVER HUNDRED PERSONS TOOK PART IN THE "EASTER VIGIL AGAINST THE CHECHEN WAR" ORGANIZED BY THE RADICALS AND SOLDIER'S MOTHERS IN THE CENTER OF MOSCOW

PRESS RELEASE

Moscow, April 14, 2001

Tonight, in the center of Moscow, "Easter vigil against the Chechen war" was organized by the Radical Party, the Antimilitarist Radical Association (ARA) and the Union of Committees of Soldier's Mothers of Russia (UCSMR). About hundred persons took part in the action. The treasurer of the ARA Anna Zaytseva, Russian coordinator of the Radical Party Nikolay Khramov and the secretary of the UCSMR Ida Kuklina spoke before participants of the manifestation.

"Today, the day that is so important for millions Christians", Khramov addressed to the people who gathered at the square, "we, believers and non-believers, have gathered here to remember all those who were killed in Chechnya by the regime and who are being killed today. Not only servicemen of federal forces and Chechen guerrillas, but mainly - about 50 thousand peaceful civilians, men and women, old men and children, victims of monstrous war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Chechnya. I use this terrible word "about" because the most awful thing is that nobody knows exactly how many peaceful civilians were killed in Chechnya. Nobody counted them and nobody counts today. And the most terrible thing is that both the regime and the Russian society don't care a bit about that".

The participants of the manifestation also honoured with the minute of silence the memory of the activist of the ARA Dmitry Neverovsky who tragically died in Obninsk on April 4.

After speeches of the leaders of the radicals and soldier's mothers, the participants of the "Easter vigil" lit the candles and stood in silence listening to Mozart's "Requiem" and remembering those who were killed and is being killed today in Chechnya.

During the manifestation, the radicals distributed about 200 post-cards "Chechen war is a shame to my country" addressed to the president Putin which contained, in particular, the demand to begin immediate negotiations with the president Maskhadov. 28 post-cards against the Chechen war were filled right on the spot. 449 roubles were donated.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

tel. (095) 208-1805, 208-4902

www.radicalparty.org

www.radicalparty.org/russia