Press Release, October 12, 2013

A concert in support of “The third way”(trety put’) cultural centre, which is under threat of illegal eviction from its premises, was conducted on October 12, at Pyatnitskaya Street, Moscow. Sergei Mitrokhin and YABLOKO’s activists came to support the event.

This is how the entrance to the premises looks like at the moment

The concert was supposed to take place at the premises of the organisation by candlelight, as the water and electricity have been turned off. But the police didn’t allow the participants of the concert to come in supposidely under the ground of the investigatory actions. The police said they were investigating a robbery which had taken place at night. This didn’t stop the organisers of the concert, they decided to conduct the event in the court.

Vlada Raskolnikova, head of the NGO, talks to the police officer

Sergei Mitrokhin, Alexander Lepnitsky, Vlada Raskolnikova decided to conduct the concert in the court

Sergei Mitrokhin helped to carry the equipment to the court

The participants of the concert get ready for the performance

Sergei Mitrokhin hung the poster “Let’s protect the Third way!”

YABLOKO leader Sergei Mitrokhin, head of “The third way” Vlada Raskolnikova, rock-journalist Alexander Lipnitsky greeted all those present. Vlada Raskolnikava asked the participants of the concert not to make much noise not to disturb the residents. “There are no grounds to stop our work, we will carry on painting pictures, conducting exhibitions and concerts”, she said. Vlada Raskolnikova mentioned that YABLOKO were the first who came to help.

Vlada Raskolnikova, Alexandr Lipnitsky, Sergei Mitrokhin greeted the audience

Sergei Mitrokhin told the guests about the case with “The third way” NGO. “We are dealing with the situation typical of our country: those who obey the law are evicted, those who violate the law triumph”, said Mitrokhin. Sergei Mitrokin called to support the NGO. “We’ll do what it takes to help the organisation. It’s only the beginning of our struggle. We have the law on our side. The culture is with us, the heresy is with them [the authorities], said Mitrokhin.

“We hope that our modest concert will inspire you for the new challenges”, said Alexandr Lipnitsky when opening the concert.
The street conditioned didn’t disturb the musicians. For many of them “The third way” became home where they’ve made their first steps.

By the end of the concert Vlada Raskolnikova thanked Mitrokhin and YABLOKO for “non-indifference to the law, humanity, understanding and the effort to conduct the concert in any case. Unfortunately the interests of a religious and a public organisations clashed. It’s not easy for me as a spiritual. But the goals of our NGO to assist the education of a person will be fulfilled”, promised Vlada Raskolnikova.

“Let’s wish each other that in the XXI century we will obey the law as this is the guarantee of the well-being of our country which has the culture and a wonderful history of church. Unfortunately, the rule of law never took place here”, said Alexandr Lipnitsky.

Sergei Mitrokhin thanked everyone and especially Vlada Raskolnikova for her courage, determination and inspiration which she gives to the members of the cultural centre. He mentioned that Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, head of Moscow Department of Culture Sergei Kapkov and head of Moscow Cultural Heritage Department Alexandr Kibovsky were invited to the concert. However, they ignored the invitation.

“The are not the authorities, we are the opposition, that’s why the solution of this problem is not in our power. But in such situations we say “We are going to fight till the end!”.”The third way” is the symbol of freedom, culture, art, that’s why we will protect everything vital to our country, everything that will be our future”, said Mitrokhin.

The cultural centre “The third way” had been situated at Pyatnitskaya Street for 22 years. The authorities want to evict it because of the property dispute with the nearby church.

The collection of signatures in support of the organisation takes place on the Internet. More than 7000 signatures are collected at the moment.