Translated material
Unwanted foreigner
American Jennifer Gaspar, who is engaged in human rights in Russia, is deprived of a residence permit
The decision to recall the Russian residence was made by the Migration Service on the basis of allegedly that Jennifer Gaspar "advocates for a violent change in the foundations of the constitutional system of Russia, or by other actions pose a threat to state security."
Jennifer Gaspar - St. Petersburg human rights activist, wife of the chairman of the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information Ivan Pavlov, has been living in Russia for 10 years.
American Jennifer Gaspar, who is engaged in human rights in Russia, is deprived of a residence permit
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0:00 0:03:01 Download the media fileThe FMS letter was dated July 21, it was sent by "Russian Post", and therefore it reached the addressee only on August 5, that is, 14 days later.
For Jennifer Gaspar, the content of the letter was not a surprise:
- Nine days ago we were called from our district department of the Federal Migration Service and asked: "Have you received a letter?" I did not quite understand what they want from me, and handed over the phone to my spouse. They explained to him what kind of letter it was and what this reason why they refuse me a residence in Russia. We have been living with this information for more than a week.
- You have been living in Russia for ten years, are engaged in counseling on management issues in non -profit organizations. Is it possible to assume that your work had something to do with the state security of Russia, especially since it could pose a threat to this safety?
- Of course not. I work in the field of activities of non -profit organizations. In the USA, such a profession as mine is completely ordinary. I worked in this profession before I arrived in Russia. What is my work? I meet with the client, advise him. The purpose of the consultation is a great openness of NPOs in front of a society, in front of his donor, and improve the efficiency of NPOs. This is my work. I do not understand what kind of threat to Russia such work can pose.
- But you worked with non -profit organizations that are declared "foreign agents." Maybe for this reason you were deprived of a residence permit in Russia?
- Yes, I worked with various NGOs and with those, including those who are engaged in the protection of human rights. Some of these NPOs now have problems related to new laws that define such a concept as a “foreign agent”. Yes. But I understand that this is still legal work, it does not pose any threat.
Journalists from Fontanka.ru tried to find out what was hiding behind the wording contained in the letter. Elena Dunaeva, Head of the Department of the FMS in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, officially replied: “The FMS management does not accuse anyone, the FMS management is guided by the opinion of the security services. This is their competence, this is the current practice in the whole world. We have only decided to expel, but the procedure for making such a decision includes interaction with a whole unit of law enforcement agencies. We We do not draw conclusions about who is doing what, unless these are issues related to labor activity.
Jennifer Gaspar intends to appeal this decision in the court of the Frunze district of St. Petersburg. And in the press service of the FSB Office for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, the Radio Liberty correspondent refused to comment on the deprivation of the residence permit Jennifer Gaspar and the statement of the head of the local Federal Migration Service Elena Dunaeva.
In response to the question of Radio Liberty, did Jennifer Gaspar have recently been leaving for herself, whether she had been calls with threats, she answered negatively:
- No. No. We live very calmly. We are law -abiding citizens. And we still had no problems. We have such an expression Ideal Storm - "perfect storm". This is the moment when all the factors, all circumstances work against you. I found myself in such a situation. A woman who works with NPOs, human rights activist. It was at that time in the place where various well-known laws were adopted, for example, the Law on Foreign Agents, and her husband was a well-known lawyer-lawyer ... In general, all this developed into a single whole. I accept this as a kind of historical fact. Of course, everything is very sad. My daughter is a citizen of Russia. She is five years old. And if we leave, then it will be deprived of the opportunity to understand her culture, her language. I am very sad for those active young Russians who work in the non -profit sector, in NGOs, and on which a blow to the blow continues to pour.
As the “ideal storm”, Jennifer Gaspar, Chairman of the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information Ivan Pavlov, regarding what is happening.
- Indeed, all this can be called a "perfect storm", when at one time in one place all the events gathered that can be allowed with such a blow. Jennifer is a US citizen, a country that has been in the eyes of our officials for some time to look hostile. Plus, my activity, which was objectionable to people who, one way or another, make a decision in this matter. I am very familiar with them in my professional activity, since I often participated in the processes, where the FSB officers were on the other side. Therefore, it was decided. In my opinion, awkwardly and unfairly.