When the Public Square Became Not So Public

Seven times a year the Russian government has to come up with some reason why human rights activists can not exercise their constitutional freedom to gather on Triumph Square in Moscow.  According to the 31st article, coincidentally enough, of the Russian Federation’s Constitution, “Citizens of the Russian Federation shall have the right to assemble peacefully, without weapons, hold rallies, meetings and demonstrations, marches and pickets.”
 
However, recently President Medvedev signed a new bill into law that extends the powers of the Federal Security Service (FSB).  The new law allows officials to warn and punish individuals for “creating the conditions” for crimes.  This law clearly leaves room for flexible interpretation, which will most definitely go to the benefit of the state, and will give authorities the ability to prosecute for thought crimes.  Many argue that by passing this law, Medvedev has put a stain on his liberal efforts.  After Promoting a law that effectively limits the right to freedom of expression and conscience, and enables the KGB predecessor, the FSB, with preventative powers, Medvedev argued that the Russian political system will remain “open, flexible and internally complex” as well as keeping society “free, secure, critical thinking, self-confident people.”

The May 31st gathering on Triumph Square in Moscow was met with strict resistance from the local authorities.  One activist, who attended, Bela, said that when she got off the Metro at the Mayakovskaja station, there stood an abundance of police officers as well as soldiers with Kalashnikovs on their shoulders.  As she came out of the metro onto the street, the square was completely barricaded and full of law enforcement officials.  The only way that she could go was back down into the metro.  It did not matter if you were an activist or a local resident trying to get home, they did not allow any people to exit the metro station.  Bela eventually made her way back from a different area through alley ways, to join only a handful of other activists who were able to make it onto the square, to almost immediately be kicked out by law enforcement.
 
This was a gathering of human rights activists.  Yes, it could be seen as a political opposition to a tyrant ruler, but in reality it was merely a gathering of citizens standing up for their constitutional right of peaceful assembly.

The July 31st gathering on Triumph Square was a different story.  The Russian Ministry of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy held a series of sporting events on this day.  Was it coincidental that they planned the drifting (a sport involving cars) event on the same square?  When I asked Yuri Samodurov, former director at Andrei Sakharov Museum and Society Center, he agreed that it was most definitely planned.
As we came up from the same metro station that Mrs. Bela had issues with on May 31st, and exited out on to the street, five feet in front of the doors, the square was barricaded once again.  This time they had a reason.  These sports cars were spinning out of control and they needed to keep the public a safe distance away from the danger.  Even though the barricade ran parallel to the building, creating a corridor in which you could walk around the event, there were police blocking from all sides and demanding that we go back down into the metro.  If they really were having a sporting event, then why would they not allow people to come and watch it?

Although the area which was being used for the drifting event was only a third of the square, another third was barricaded off, as a bumper zone.  There was literally no room for any spectators of the sporting event, let alone for the demonstration of human rights activists.  Regardless, the activists still gathered where they could, on the opposite side of the square.  To get from the metro to the other side was near impossible and required going through two lines of police officers and through an area of buses full with soldiers.

The large number of riot police and troops were posted all around the barricade and area, and were ready to pounce on the right activists at any given moment.  Sadly, as the activists started to shout their slogans for freedom of assembly, just this happened, and many were dragged off and arrested.  In total, an estimated 30 people were detained from the event.  Amongst those arrested were distinguished opposition figures to the Kremlin, Boris Nemtsov and Sergei Udaltsov.  There were also many other prominent figures from Moscow’s various human rights organizations, including Yuri Samodurov  and Lev Ponomaryov, director of “All-Russian Public Movement For Human Rights” and a former parliament member.  
 
There were similar rallies held in St. Petersburg and Kiev, Ukraine, in support of the Moscow demonstration. Police also detained several people in both these cities as they struggled to break up the rallies.

By Daniel Adams Jr. A UVU student intern in Russia

Photos Courtesy of: http://www.rferl.org/content/Russian_Activists_Opposition_Apply_For_Mass_Gathering_In_Moscow/2194037.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/40130/

“Women’s Perspectives from Around the Globe: An International Symposium” at Utah Valley University

On Thursday September 2nd, 2010 “Women’s perspective from around the globe: an international symposium” was held at Utah Valley University. Students and community members gathered to hear presentations given by many successful and influential women from around the world. The key guest presenters were Mrs. Mariza Graca Lima ( Wife of Consul General of Brazil), Dr. Galit Dayan (wife of Consul General of Israel), Mrs. Kamsiah Kamaruddin (wife of the Consul General of Malaysia), Mrs. Jan Ippolito (wife of the honorary Consul General of Liberia and president of the Los Angeles Ladies Consular Corps Association), Mrs. Lala Abdurahimova (wife of the Consul General of Azerbaijan) and Mrs. Ingrid Hirstin Lazcano ( Wife of former Consul General of Bolivia). Also, Dr. Susan R. Madsen & Dr. Tcholpon Akmatalieva were the moderators for the panel of session 2.
The guest speakers started their presentations by introducing themselves and the country they were from. While all the speakers spoke on similar topics about the success and advancement of women in the business world as well as the political sector they all brought a different perspective and a very unique story of their personal achievements as women and the progress that their countries have made with women’s rights.
Each woman shared personal stories of the choices and decisions that they made in their lives that helped them become the women of influence that they are today. When the question “What pushed you to be a woman of influence?” was asked, they all had an experience earlier in their life that touched their hearts and planted a desire in them to help others and be leaders even if it was uncommon for a woman to do so at the time or in their cultures. One woman told the story of growing up in a Muslim family where women were not allowed to go to school or become leaders. She decided that is not what she wanted for her life and is now a successful diplomat today.
Each of these women made commitments to themselves to become a woman of influence and not just what the world or people of their countries viewed as being a woman. They wanted to make a difference in this world and their societies and that is what they have done and are still doing today. Almost every one of them put education as a pillar of their success. We think that this statement is very important to young ladies in Utah where there is a problem with a smaller proportion of the female population attending college. As Dr. Tcholpon Akmatalieva highlighted: it is not enough to wish to be women of influence and make a difference. It is also important to be able to fulfill that wish. Education gives women knowledge and skills for that.
One bold message that was proclaimed is that you do not have to choose between being a wife and mother or having a career and going after your dreams. The message to women is that you can have both. You can have it all in today’s world if you own your time and manage it wisely. You can find the true happiness that you pursue if you really want it.
All who were in attendance were inspired by the message that each these women presented. Kathie Kriek, a UVU student stated. “All of the speakers were really good and inspiring to me as a woman. I was able to see women from around the world and how much work they put into their lives. They also showed me how amazing you can be as a woman and that if you want it no one can hold you back from it. They also showed me that women all over the world are becoming stronger and more independent. This however does not stop them from having a family life and supporting their husbands in their jobs.”
The conference was directed towards women, it strongly affected many of the men who were in attendance as well. Eric Seegmiller another student of UVU, who was in attendance stated the following. “Although it seemed to be addressed to the audience of women, I took to heart a lot that was said, and I know that it will make me a better leader and a more influential person in the world today.”
We personally had the opportunity to talk with few of the guests and during our conversation with them we found out that they were very hopeful and optimistic about the future of women in general. They mentioned that women are making a difference no matter whether it was being a mother, a CEO, a doctor or a diplomat; they all believed that we had so much to offer to our society.
Seminar was organized by office of International Affairs and Diplomacy at Utah Valley University with personal contribution from Dr. Rusty Butler, Associate vice-president and the Honorary Consul General of Russian Federation to the State of Utah.

Written by Samridhi Poudel and Don Southwick, students of Utah Valley University