"We work too well"

In Saratov, an organization, which has been helping patients with diabetes for more than 30 years, intends to recognize a foreign agent. The complaint to the NGO to the prosecutor was filed by the local Prooputin activist. In January, a lawsuit in an administrative case will begin in relation to a member of the board of the patient's organization Ekaterina Rogatkina.

The head of the Student Staff in support of Vladimir Putin in the presidential election Nikita Smirnov complained to the prosecutor's office at the Saratov regional organization of disabled people with diabetes. The student of the Saratov State Medical University named after V. I. Razumovsky suspected the patient organization of financing from foreign companies. “I considered it a signal by a civil duty to conduct a check against them, nothing more. This is civic activity. If you suspected something like that, you would probably do the same!” - Smirnov said to the journalist of Novaya Gazeta .

Photo from Instagram Nikita Smirnov

This news caused great public resonance. Nikita Smirnov received from Internet users many unflattering characteristics and curses in the comments on photos on Instagram. On December 28, the student wrote to his page on the social network in VKontakte, which is calling for a statement and is ready to "help this organization in every way, if necessary."

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Smirnov’s decision, most likely, will not affect the course of events. On January 15, a member of the board of the organization Ekaterina Rogatkin will judge. The charge under part 1 of Article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (the work of an organization that is a foreign agent, without registration in the corresponding register) was brought by the Saratov regional organization of disabled people with diabetes, which is now led by Larisa Saigin. She said in an interview with Radio Liberty that the patient's community was taking revenge for too effective work.

- What do you think, what does Smirnov’s review mean statements to the prosecutor's office? Can this somehow affect the lawsuit?

- I think not. The mechanism has been launched, the case is already in court proceedings. So the courts cannot be avoided. Nikita is just a puppet in someone's hands. I think we are taking revenge for working too well. And some people who occupy higher posts do not like it. Politics and “foreign agents” were simply drained here to deal with a strong patient organization.

Nikita is just a puppet in someone's hands

- What problems do you manage to solve?

- Our organization has existed for thirty years. It was created by doctors in the late eighties. The founders helped patients with diabetes, defended their rights, conducted explanatory work. Then there were about two thousand people in the organization. Now we have only 35, but we help everyone who addresses us. Different people come to us: both lonely grandmothers, who have no one to learn about diabetes, and young people who are very afraid to lose working capacity and hide their diagnosis from colleagues. We help to find medicines and medicines. We provide psychological assistance to adults, children and their parents. We hold conferences in which professionals explain how patients with diabetes to preserve the quality of life. We say that patient with diabetes has the right to receive from state structures. And we explain how to achieve this. We find the opportunity to send children to the sanatorium. We go to the Saratov Region to long -range areas with screening to help people with high blood sugar in a timely manner seek medical help. We won presidential grants in 2014 and 2015.

- What exactly are you haunting you?

Last year there were no insulin supplies of a certain type, and we raised noise with the help of the media

- Probably because we complain too much. Every year we write long letters to state structures that people who are contacting us cannot get vital drugs. Patients with diabetes, which are not financed from the federal budget, are especially difficult. For example, recently we were addressed by a woman who did not eat anything for several days, because she did not have insulin. The patient had a very high blood sugar, and she was afraid to eat. We report such cases to the Ministry of Health. If the Ministry of Health sends an unsubscription, then we ask Roszdravnadzor to conduct a check. Very often, as a result of such work, people receive insulin and consumables. Recently, several mothers of children with diabetes informed us that after a complaint in Roszdravnadzor they were given all the drugs in full. Once my son (and I became a member of our organization because of my son’s illness) was told in the clinic that there was no insulin. Then we turned to television and took off the video right at the clinic. The next day, the head of this medical institution called us and asked to go after insulin. Since then, a piece of paper with the name of my son lies under her glass. Last year there was no insulin supply of a certain type, and we raised noise with the help of the media. And they did not allow patients to be transferred to a less comfortable drug. I am one of those people who believe that we need to fight, protect their rights and make noise if they are violated.

- Before Smirnov’s appeal to the prosecutor's office, have you already had troubles with government agencies?

First, the former president of the organization Ekaterina Rogatkin was poisoned at work

- The problems began in the spring of this year. First, the former president of the organization Ekaterina Rogatkin was poisoned at work. She was constantly reported that she combines work in our organization and professional activities. She was carried out reprimands and hinted at dismissal. In the end, she refused the position of president. And I took her place. Then we took the premises in the regional clinic. Two large rooms where we held meetings and gathered children for holidays. From the building where I now rent an office, they can be kicked out at any time. The officials put the contract on gratuitous lease under the cloth and do not sign.

- What can we say on the fact of the prosecution?

- We were helped by Russian representative offices of foreign pharmaceutical companies. They have factories in Russia, some have already since the 50s. All drugs and medicines are produced in these factories, and not imported from abroad. The leadership of the plants is included in the Association of Russian Pharmacists. The products of these companies are sold in pharmacies. It is purchased by the Ministry of Health. That is, the Russian state can cooperate with supposedly foreign agents, and for this for this? Our financial activity is absolutely transparent. Every year we submit all the reports. We will definitely unsubscribe to the donor, which we spent his money. The money that we receive from the sponsors immediately transfer to the negotiated goals by bank transfer. On a bank account, we have almost nothing but membership dues and money for statutory activities. Now I have 150 rubles on my account, I even have nothing to pay for a city phone. And we have no money for lawyers. I do not work, I am engaged only in social activities. I am provided by my husband, a simple worker.

- How do you plan to act if your organization is recognized as a foreign agent?

- Yesterday I found out that our case was divided into two in court proceedings. Ekaterina Rogatkin will be judged separately. Apparently, to make it easier to finish us. But we will not break. If we are recognized as foreign agents, we will appeal. Health officials abandoned us. They do not even comment on our business. Pharmaceutical companies that helped us have not yet contacted. But we are supported by patients. They say they will go to court. They are even ready to reach our defense. People to whom we help are outraged and do not understand what is happening. Parents of children with diabetes are especially worried. For the sake of them, we will fight to the end and do not close the organization.

The comment was given by a member of the Saratov regional organization of disabled people, patients with diabetes mellitus Vladislav Tkachenko (40 years old):

I am not for the whites and not for the red, and not for the blue, because all the politicians are temporary. And I have a disease forever

- I am a disabled person of the second group, I have been sick with diabetes from two years old. Honestly, before I came to the organization, I waved my hand at myself. The day has passed and okay. I almost did not leave the house, I was afraid that it would get worse. In 2010, there were problems with insulin in Saratov: either one species will be given, then the other. I began to look for information on how this problem can be solved, and learned about the organization of patients with diabetes. Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Rogatkina called the district health department, I came to the endocrinologist and received insulin. Employees of the organization sent me to specialists who helped cure trophic ulcers on their feet. Prior to this, in the state hospital, doctors redirected me with this problem from the office to the office. I came to the conference held by the organization, where doctors of different profiles performed. I talked with specialists, asked questions that tormented me and realized that you can live with diabetes and not exist. I began to play sports, go to nature, to help relatives. I realized how to control my lifestyle in order to feel good. It is very disappointing that our patient organization, which is engaged only in the protection of the rights of patients, is trying to draw into political games. I am not for the whites and not for the red, and not for the blue, because all the politicians are temporary. And my disease is forever. I need to learn to live with him and teach others to live with your example.