| Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir
Lukin celebrated his birthday on Tuesday in St. Petersburg. The main
goal of his visit, Lukin said, was to meet the colleagues of the late Nikolai
Girenko. He also found time to meet Valentina Matvienko and talk to journalists.
At the meeting with St. Petersburg scientists and experts who had worked
with Girenko - Boris Pustyntsev, Alexander Vinnikov, Vladimir Shnitke
and others - Lukin suggested the creation of a working group within the
framework of the Human Rights Ombudsman’s Expert Council responsible
for the issues of extremism and nationalism, and also suggested that Girenko’s
former colleagues participate in the preparation of the Ombudsman’s
annual report.
Incidentally Nikolai Girenko had recently been involved in the case
of inter-racial hatred incited by the newspaper "Novgorodets"
- members of the local branch of the RNE were suspected. Colleagues of
Nikolai Girenko claim that problems have arisen, as Girenko’s conclusion
on this case had been challenged, as the scientist had not had enough
time to sign it...
To date the reasons for the murder of Girenko remain unclear. Valentina
Matvienko informed Lukin that she received a report on progress with the
investigation every Monday, but...
Matvienko claimed that she wanted to ensure the prompt election of a
human rights ombudsman in Petersburg, but that the Legislative Assembly
had failed to resolve this issue so far. (This discloses a certain slyness:
the decision to begin a new stage in the election of an ombudsman for
St. Petersburg was approved in the first reading by city parliament, but
was not ratified before parliament closed for the summer break. Clearly
this issue would have been resolved promptly, if the authorities had really
been interested in this issue).
“It is sad that you do not have an ombudsman, - Vladimir Lukin
declared, - in fact St. Petersburg is not only the cradle of revolution,
but also the cradle of democracy. It is essential that the public has
an influence over the Legislative Assembly”. Well, we shall wait
and see...
Before leaving, Lukin answered on some questions from "Novaya Gazeta”.
Q: Recently in Moscow you met representatives from initiative groups protesting against density of construstion. In your opinion, can such density be attributed to infringements of human rights?
Lukin: If the construction work was performed in breach
of the law, without the necessary checks, with infringements of sanitary
and environmental norms, without agreeing the construction plans with
its residents, this is without doubt an infringement of human rights.
This is definitely typical for any large city, and not only for Moscow.
This is also a problem in St. Petersburg. Land is expensive and you can
find any number of lions, tigers, wolves and jackals of private business,
black, grey and white fighting for the land. What can be done? This problem
can only be resolved in one way, through the creation of an initiative
group which protects the interests of citizens. And I shall help –
to the extent that I am able. I must admit that citizens are not always
right, when they protest against construction work, as the authorities
can also have their reasons. However, this must be resolved through dialogue...
Q: Do you have any information on the investigation into
the murder of the Tajik girl Hursheda Sultanova in St. Petersburg? Our
law enforcement agencies have already declared that this is not a crime
on national grounds, but rather a case of hooliganism. Some mass media
have made unfounded allegations that the girl’s family traded in
drugs...
Lukin: When that happened, I said immediately: I have
very strong suspicions that the crime was caused by chauvinism. But this
is only suspicion. I am not a supporter of a priori decisions on the motives
for a crime. The crime is a fact, and one ought not to make any a priori
statements about motives. Valentina Matvienko told me when we discussed
this issue that an investigation was being conducted. I will definitely
monitor this case. I plan to visit St. Petersburg in the near future to
meet the city’s public prosecutor and discuss the situation in detail.
Q: When you met with St. Petersburg’s human right
activists, it was suggested that nationalist ideas are becoming more popular
in many cities in the North West, and that the situation there is more
dangerous than in the northern capital. And the authorities tolerate all
this...
Lukin: Primitive ideas such as “ours - not ours”
are always popular if there are any serious social problems and psychological
disorder in society. More open-minded people are inclined not to treat
such problems in unequivocal black-and-white tones. But less educated
people attracted by more simple formulas: they are “not ours”
they are guilty in everything... And harmful – the primitive explanations
for events start to grow. But it excuses neither the authorities, nor
public organizations of human right activists and rational political public
organizations from conducting more vigorous work. It is necessary to explain
to people the real sources of problems, the reasons of our disorder and
turmoil in a head and soul. It is necessary to struggle and not give in
to the loud extremist demagogues, but to resist them.
Q: And what about the law and enforcement agencies which,
as a rule, close their eyes to displays of nationalism?
Lukin: Paragraphs in Russian laws are completely unequivocal:
inciting inter-racial hatred is a serious crime which should be punished.
The problem is that these paragraphs are poorly enforced. Certainly, one
of my tasks is to change this situation.
See also:
Human
Rights
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