  | Quantum Lime

Vladimir Putin's goal is to destroy Russian civil society | Lyudmila Alexeeva

Guardian World - 7 hours 44 min ago

For demanding fair elections and respect for the constitution, Russians are being treated as spies and traitors

I have been active in the human rights scene here since the dark days of the Soviet Union. As I look across today's Russia, I have every reason to believe that at the very top, the Kremlin has decided to destroy my country's civil society for daring to raise its head in protest against government repression and to demand fair elections and respect for the constitution.

From the end of the 80s to the middle of this century's first decade, a lively and active civil society formed in Russia. Today, it is an obstacle in the path of President Putin and his circle, who aim to form a harshly authoritarian, perhaps even totalitarian, regime.

It is precisely to destroy civil society – and primarily the human rights groups that form its backbone – that a series of repressive laws were adopted in 2012 by Russia's Duma, elected fraudulently and obedient to Putin. One of these laws requires that NGOs which receive funding from abroad and "engage in politics" voluntarily register as "foreign agents". This demand is the equivalent of Nazi Germany's demand that Jews don a yellow star.

This law is directed against human rights organisations that have to receive financing from foreign donors in order to maintain their independence – since neither the Russian government nor big business will support organisations whose goal is to protect citizens from violations of their rights by the state.

The foreign agents' law should not apply to human rights NGOs, as they do not engage in politics. However, the law defines the term "politics" as including "influencing the formation of public opinion" – and, of course, human rights NGOs do exactly that. For violating this law, NGOs face closure and fines of up to 500,000 rubles (£11,000), while their leaders face fines of up to 300,000 rubles and up to two years' imprisonment.

If the law demanded that NGOs register as organisations receiving foreign grants, all of us would register, as this would reflect the truth. But we cannot register as foreign agents. In Russia, "foreign agent" means "traitor", "spy". We are not agents of foreign governments or private foundations, as we do not carry out their instructions. To register as their agents would mean sacrificing our reputation.

Because not a single NGO registered as a foreign agent, several weeks ago the authorities began a mass wave of inspections across the country led by the state prosecutor, the ministry of justice and the tax authorities. We are aware of about 500 NGOs that have undergone such inspections – there are probably many more.

By law, the prosecutor has the right to conduct inspections only where there is evidence that a given organisation has, or is planning to, violate the law. The simultaneous inspection of hundreds of NGOs is a clearly illegal action by the prosecutor, whose mission is to ensure the law is obeyed.

Several dozen of the inspected NGOs have now received instructions stating that they are required to register as foreign agents. Golos, which organised election observers who uncovered massive falsifications during the parliamentary and presidential elections of 2011-2012, was the first to be sanctioned by the courts, receiving a fine of 300,000 rubles. All of these organisations are on the verge of being closed down.

The Moscow Helsinki Group, Russia's oldest human rights organisation, awaits this fate by the end of May, as do others. It is absolutely clear that Vladimir Putin's goal, as he begins his third term in office, is to destroy all independent civic activity. It is clear he fears that otherwise he will not succeed in retaining his office, let alone strengthening his authoritarian regime.

Lyudmila Alexeeva
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Categories:  

Is 'binge-watching' the best way to view TV shows? | Poll

Guardian World - 7 hours 53 min ago

Netflix's unorthodox release of an entire TV series at once has helped popularize marathon sessions of watching. Do you prefer your shows in one sitting?

Categories:  

Is 'binge-watching' the best way to view TV shows? | Poll

Guardian Tech - 7 hours 53 min ago

Netflix's unorthodox release of an entire TV series at once has helped popularize marathon sessions of watching. Do you prefer your shows in one sitting?

Categories:  

Is 'binge-watching' the best way to view TV shows? | Poll

Guardian USA - 7 hours 53 min ago

Netflix's unorthodox release of an entire TV series at once has helped popularize marathon sessions of watching. Do you prefer your shows in one sitting?

Categories:  

Boy Scouts decision to allow openly gay youth members garners mixed reaction

Guardian World - 7 hours 53 min ago

While some gay-rights supporters praised vote's outcome, others were disappointed in continued ban on gay adult leaders

While some gay-rights supporters praised Thursday's vote by the Boy Scouts of America in favor of formally accepting openly gay scouts, others were disappointed in the group's decision to continue to block gay scout leaders.

The Boy Scouts will formally accept openly gay boys beginning 1 January 2014, after more than 60% of its members voted Thursday in favor of ending the longstanding ban. Many conservatives within the scouts were distraught at the outcome of the vote and some threatened to defect. A meeting is planned for next month to discuss the formation of a new organization for boys.

"Within our movement, everyone agrees on one thing, no matter how you feel about this issue, kids are better off in scouting," said BSA president Wayne Perry after the vote. "Our vision is to serve every kid. We want every kid to have a place where they belong, to learn and grow and feel protected."

The organization added one sentence to the membership rules that permits gay youth from entering the organization. While gay rights advocates hailed the decision as a step forward, many were disappointed in the group's decision to block gay leaders from being a part of the organization.

"I wish I could say it's a step forward, but unfortunately, I think it actually makes things worse," said James Dale, the first person to bring a legal challenge against the BSA policy. "I think it's a bit of a step backward."

Dale was dismissed from his position as a volunteer scoutmaster after being quoted in a paper about LGBT issues. He challenged the dismissal in a case that was eventually brought to the US supreme court in 2000.

"This doesn't give younger gays a future," Dale told the New Jersey Star Ledger. "The Boy Scouts are still sending a destructive message."

White House spokesman Shin Inouye said President Barack Obama welcomed the Scouts' decision regarding gay youth but "continues to believe that leadership positions in the Scouts should be open to all, regardless of sexual orientation."

Pascal Tessier, an openly gay 16-year-old scout from Maryland, was told recently by his council that he would not be able to receive his Eagle scout award, the highest honor in scouting, unless the resolution passed.

"Just a few hours ago, I was thinking that today could be my last day as a Boy Scout," said Tessier, pictured. "Obviously, for gay scouts like me, this vote is life-changing."

"I'm so proud of how far we've come, but until there's a place for everyone in Scouting, my work will continue," said Jennifer Tyrrell, whose ouster as a Cub Scout den leader in Ohio because she is lesbian launched a national protest movement.

Tyrrell recalled having to tell her son she had been forced out as den mother.

"He doesn't deserve to be told that we're not good enough," she said. "We're not going to stop until this is over."

More than 1,200 delegates voted at the annual meeting in Texas, with just over 60% supporting an end to the ban. Texas governor Rick Perry, a former boy scout who ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, lamented the decision.

"The Boys Scouts of America has been built upon the values of faith and family for more than 100 years and today's decision contradicts generations of tradition in the name of political correctness," Perry said in a statement. "While I will always cherish my time as a scout and the life lessons I learned, I am greatly disappointed with this decision."

His opinions were echoed, at times much more vehemently, by numerous conservative and anti-gay groups including the Family Research Council.

The group's president Tony Perkins said in a statement that the decision was "another casualty in moral compromise."

"It is clear that the current BSA leadership will bend with the winds of popular culture, and the whims of liberal special interest groups," said Perkins. "There is little doubt that God will soon be ushered out of scouting."

Religious groups sponsor 70% of the more than 100,000 scouting units in the US. While some including the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Southern Baptist churches have supported the ban in the past, others think it should be revoked.

Amanda Holpuch
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds