Despair - sin

Politician, journalist and human rights activist Marina Litvinovich gave a great interview to Discourse magazine, in which she tells what kind of civil activity can be engaged in Russia and why this is important:

“Now in the regions I highly recommend people to go (participate in the voting in the elections - Polit.ru), because, for example, in the legislative assemblies in many regions there will be a real struggle, different political forces will be represented there. There is someone to choose from and what to control, so I recommend that those people who are important and interesting receive a mandate from one of the political parties represented in the region and went to observe. I would suggest <...> be sure to go to the election observer, because this is a great good experience. <...> Firstly, you can catch some kind of violation and prevent him from committing him, and secondly, it is simply useful for understanding how everything works in our country. <...>

<...> When a significant part of our citizens call the Nazis, this does not explain anything to them. This does not give an understanding of what we will do next. <...> We cannot pretend that these people do not exist, and their opinion is insignificant. Talks about guilt and even about responsibility do not help. They make a person in an aggressive position and resistance.

<...> A native country is not always the place where you feel good. Because the country can fall into some periods when you do not agree with the actions of its authorities or part of citizens who have another opinion that look differently at the world. But this does not mean that you have to leave.

It seems to me that <...> If there is no direct threat to life and health, then I want to urge everyone to stay. I believe that not in the political, but public field there is still something to do. <...>

<...> A lot depends on the presence of people here with a different point of view. They must be visible. <...> If we take not Moscow, but the regions, then there is still an opportunity to participate in the elections. This is mainly the municipal level - where there are not many tight political control.

<...> At the level of cities and weights, the issue of representation of people remains important, and I support those who still run and participate in the elections. At the local level, those issues that the authorities solve are significant. <...>

If we talk about the human rights direction, a large number of tasks related to refugees from Ukraine were added. <...> There is also help, which is addressed by mobilized and their families. Such people also have problems: someone wants to return to the family and is looking for legal grounds for this, there are people who simply do not want to be there. This is also a direction for human rights activists. I came to me several requests for help from those who returned from <...> (Swo - Polit.ru).

<...> The prison theme remains a large sphere where you can make efforts. In connection with this, in the country as a whole there is bitterness, the prison is hardened in the first place. There are more problems with torture, with violence and violation of rights, because public control, the PMC, stopped practically helping.

<...> The forces of everyone periodically disappear. My colleagues and I organized an important program of free psychological assistance for women. ‌ <...> A lot of women are persecuted for various reasons associated with <...> (Wow - Polit.ru): arrests, attacks, fines and searches <...>. We came up with a scheme in which women pursued for political reasons, while at large, could get such assistance for free. <...>

All who stayed here, urge not to fall into despondency, because, as they say, despondency is a sin. I am a person is not a believer, but I think that our country is experiencing a difficult stage, and he will not be eternal. ”