I hear from agents!

Human rights activists are not needed. Then the question inevitably arises: do citizens need us?

“This message was created and widespread by a foreign media that performs the functions of a foreign agent and (or) a Russian legal entity that performs the functions of a foreign agent.”
Such a paragraph Roskomnadzor obliges me to precede any of my publication. The font size, so you understand, is also determined in the order of Roskomnadzor. Evaluate! &

The deeper Russia plunges into the crisis, the louder the anti -democratic rhetoric of the authorities sounds, which is already openly demonstrating its totalitarian nature. Rights and freedoms, the replacement of power are all, in their opinion, “Western values”, alien to the Russians, “a threat to national sovereignty”, and those who defend them in Russia are traitors, enemies of the people, foreign agents. And this is not just a rhetoric - this is a policy supported by laws and repression.

But a democratic legal state is the words recorded in the Constitution of Russia. Human and freedom rights are enshrined in it and preserved even after Putin's amendments. On the part of the authorities, the words about “alien Western values” are a lie, and the abandonment of basic principles is a crime called a coup.

Lev Ponomarev (in the center) for promotions against the arbitrariness of security forces at the headquarters of the FSB on Lubyanskaya Square in Moscow. Photo: Vlad Dokshin / "New Gazeta"

I am a human rights activist, and the essence of my work is to defend the rights of any Russian citizen, if they are violated in any way. This is not an imposition of certain values alien to the Russian person and not actions in the interests of the enemies of Russia, of which we are accused, gluing the label of the foreign agent. On the contrary, human rights activists in Russia, as in other European countries, proceed from the interests of their fellow citizens and are based on the declaration of human rights, supported by Russia.

Let me remind you the first words of the oath of the president when taking office: "I swear in the exercise of the powers of the President of the Russian Federation to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of man and citizen ..."

This is my work today, and it has been like that for the past 30 years. If you want, this is my vocation. I never worked for foreign governments and corporations, did not promote other people's interests to the detriment of the people of Russia. I have never been any “foreign agent” in a common and even legal sense and perceive such a label as a personal insult. My goal is a civilized democratic Russia, successful, safe and comfortable for the life and self -realization of every citizen of the country. And I believe that she will be like that. In my view, those who believe that it is unattainable for Russian people, are just Russophobes and agents of the enemies of Russia, who do not want their country of prosperity and prosperity. So I hear from agents!

Human rights organizations in Russia had different periods. In the 90s, when there was no money in the country, they received grants from international funds completely unhindered, and this did not cause any surprise or protest. In the same way, science and art were supported from abroad. Later, many human rights activists switched to domestic financing. For example, for 8 years I received presidential grants for two organizations. But then there was a fracture that is associated with a change in the political situation in the country.

Until some point, the illusion was preserved that the activities of human rights activists are useful to power, since it helps to eliminate violations in the field of human rights. But since the authorities actually passed into the hands of the security forces who wipe their legs on the constitution and human rights, human rights activists fell into disgrace. An open confrontation began. What domestic grants can we now count on?

In European countries, human rights activists, as a rule, supports business. This is due to respect for human rights and the recognition of the benefits of human rights activists to combat the abuse of the authorities. But not in Russia. In our country, business trembles before omnipotent power structures and is ready to serve them, not society.

Now, none of the most active human rights organizations can count on government grants or business support and is forced to contact international funds. On the eve of the New Year, the president signed a package of hastily concocted repressive laws, including on individuals - foreign agents. So they were in a hurry to accept them, as if they wanted to shock to end the leap year, which already brought a lot of troubles to the country.

The wording of the new document is so unintelligible and confused that neither I, nor my colleagues, nor even professional lawyers can understand how to fulfill it. And the result of its application will inevitably be difficulties in work, colossal fines and, ultimately, criminal prosecution of human rights activists, journalists and public activists.

All this fits into a clear criminal logic, far from protecting public interests. This year, elections to the State Duma and the local legislative bodies, and in the interests of the authorities, will be removed - to remove everything that may prevent the preservation of control over the parliament by United Russia.

This explains both the attempt on the life of Alexei Navalny, and the removal from the political life of Julia Galyamina, and an attempt to neutralize the most active human rights activists, bloggers and journalists. Human rights activists do not directly participate in the elections, but advocate compliance with the law, for honest and free elections, publicly criticize power, record violations and abuses and participate in observation in the elections.

We are actually destroyed.

To survive, we must either try to comply with the absurd requirements of the new set of laws, or completely abandon foreign grants. The first seems impossible, and the second depends only on the possibility of finding funding sources in Russia.

I am grateful to everyone who expressed my support and solidarity. There were many such people, and many even publicly stated that they are ready to voluntarily add themselves to the list of foreign agents, to create a community of foreign agents with me. This offer is worth a lot!

But the most difficult and alarming question for me is the opportunity to continue work. The solution to this issue depends not only on moral, but also on the material support of citizens. From the experience of charitable foundations it is known: their stable existence is not supported by one -time, but albeit small, but regular donations. If in Russia there are several thousand people who are ready by subscription regularly to our organization from 300 rubles per month, then this problem will be resolved in my case. When thousands of people become accomplices in human rights activities, this gives hope for a change in the situation in the country.

Human rights activists are not needed. Then the question inevitably arises: do citizens need us?

Subscribe to regular donations in favor of the national public organization “For Human Rights” can be here .

PS
In one “honorary list” there were four more people with me today, and there is no doubt that he would be replenished. I promise that we will join forces in order to defend ourselves in all legal ways available to us.

This material was published on the website "Echo of Moscow"