At the end of  November St.Petersburg hosted a Forum of non-governmental organizations of Northern Europe and Russia. Among those who took part in it were the Russian NGO activists, their colleagues from Northern countries, politicians, journalists and scientists.

Our life isn’t a political game, - say representatives of sexual minorities

An unexpected event took place at the opening of the forum. LGBT activists of St. Petersburg were picketing near the hotel Pribaltiyskaya’s main entrance. In their message to the participants of the forum they were drawing attention to the violation of the human rights of the LGBT people. The community’s protest was provoked by the recent draft that was read the first time by the legislative assembly of St. Petersburg. The draft implicates there is an administrative responsibility for the promotion of homosexual relationships.

The document, in particular, contains the suggestion that one should be fined 1-50 thousand rubles for the public actions promoting pederasty, lesbianism, bisexualism and transgender issues to the under aged.

Earlier similar laws have been adopted in Ryazan’ and Astrakhan’ oblasts, and they are likely to be supported on the federal level.

I guess a Forum of non-governmental organizations which gathered those that are concerned with environmental, human and women’s rights issues, was a right place for the LGBT people’s voice. We hope their motto ‘Our life isn’t a political game!’ will get a hearing.

‘No-one can tell you when there will be a civil society in Russia. But we don’t have enough time’, said Grigory Yavlinsky, the Yabloko party chairman and a professor of National Research University known as a Higher school of Economics, who attended the forum. He was sorry to say there was a growing gap between the State and an ordinary person. According to Yavlisnky, instead of real democratic institutions we are getting their fully controlled lookalikes.

-         In order to force the existing Union of journalists out they are creating a media union, - marked the politician and asked the media to tell the people trustily that   at this very moment, right before the elections, Russia has got a chance to move to a democratic way which is essential for the country’s future. He mentioned the VTsIOM’s data evidencing an increasing political apathy of the people. According to the survey held in October some 82% of the population do not believe there is an opportunity to influence the country’s political situation. The Yabloko’s chairman summoned everyone to stop being passive observers. ‘Democratic reforms should be struggled for’, he said. 

Barents – the word close to our hearts.

 I have taken part in different forums and conferences in St. Petersburg for many times. A common topic to be discussed is usually the issues related to The Baltic Sea. This time Barents has also been on the agenda. Irina Nazarova, a Russian lady who is now working in the international Barents Secretariat in Kirkenes, was the one who was speaking about our region at the forum. In particular, she said the Secretariat can consult the authors of the interesting projects in their search for the foundations that may grant them financial support, or help to find the associates in the Northern countries. Among those applying for assistance there may be no only the NGOs but also the editorials that run some international projects.

To make Russia stronger

‘Russia is a very strong and a very weak country’, said the last ambassador of Finland in Soviet Union Mr Heikki Talvitie.

I do agree with him in many aspects though  do not like when my country is criticized by the foreigners. We do know ourselves what we are strong at but we are reminded that have a weak civil society (and we don’t almost have one) and weak non-governmental organizations. Such forums contribute in making Russia strong not only with its weapons. The initiator and the organizer of the forum is the society called ‘Finland - Russia’ in cooperation with ‘Norden’ association. The financial support was granted by Nordic Council of Ministers.

 Elena Larionova, St-Petersburg – Murmansk