HUMAN RIGHTS IN RUSSIA - Statement by Lyudmila Alexeyeva

"Russia today is ruled by people who think and act in terms of special operations, taking hostages, spying, extortion and murder, suppressing the facts, censorship, and corruption. Society is powerless to get rid of them or to influence their decisions. There is no independence of the mass media in the country. Journalists who dare express their disagreement with government policy are persecuted and killed. The independence of the legislative and judicial branches of power has been destroyed. There is no such thing as an independent court system in Russia. Our courts are merely a cudgel the powers that be use to ruthlessly deal with those they don’t like. Less than 1% of the court cases tried in our country result in acquittals. This is the reason why 27% of the total number of applications submitted to the Strasbourg Court of Human Rights are from Russia. The overwhelming majority of these complaints concern groundless detention before trial or torture in jail, in the army or in the police. A third of a million people in Russian jails and prison camps are former entrepreneurs. One out of every six Russian businessmen has been before a court: because of corruption. Entrepreneurs lose about half of their profit on bribes to bureaucrats and other government officials. A single political party has come to the throne in the country, and all who want security in business must join it.

The authorities today have made themselves unaccountable to the citizens. The problems of children, the disabled, xenophobia, violation of migrants’ rights, and the violation of the social rights of citizens have been shifted onto the shoulders of society, but without equipping it with the means to resolve these problems, while every possible obstacle has been put up to the citizens’ ability to solve them on their own. Science, culture, education, and the social sector are being funded at poverty levels from the treasury, which deprives the country and the people of a future.

No fewer than one and a half million Russian citizens have left the country in the past decade and a half. These were the most active and educated people in the country, and yet they did not see any ways of moving up in the world or opportunities for self-realization for themselves even in the years of stratospheric oil prices. These numbers are beginning to approach the emigration levels that were observed after the greatest catastrophe in the life of Russia in 1917. Only now it is not former captains of industry who are emigrating, but ordinary citizens.

If such an anti-world as Russia has now become were to appear in the centre of Europe, no cost would be spared to stop its continuing expansion. And yet everybody is trying not to notice the expansion of such an anti-world right next door. The West needs to realize that accepting something it would never tolerate at home, cordoning itself off from someone else’s misfortune is no protection from this contagion. Because one fine day, you too just might be approached by partners such as these in business, dialogue, and politics with an offer you can’t refuse."

Ezz El-Arab's Recent Remarks Denying the Holocaust Underscore the Need to be Vigilant in Combating the Twin Scourges of Anti Semitism and Holocaust Denial

Since our founding the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice has been an active voice in combating the twin scourges of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial. In 2009 we joined forces with MEMRI to establish the Lantos Archives on Anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial and this continues to be a key focus of our ongoing human rights work.

We were deeply disturbed to read the outrageous statements made by Ezz El-Arab denying the Holocaust in a recent Washington Times article (see link to this article below). We are particularly outraged that he made his despicable claims on the sidelines of a conference co-hosted by two distinguished institutions, the International Centre for Democratic Transition (ICDT) and the newly established Tom Lantos Institute (TLI). Mr. El-Arab’s deplorable tirade underscores the need for ongoing vigilance in every corner of the world particularly among the emerging leadership of the Arab Spring.

We wish to commend the ICDT and the TLI for their very strong statement denouncing Ezz-El-Arab’s despicable and ignorant comments.

Washington Times Article

Lantos Swett Testifies on Russia's Dismal Human Rights Record

WASHINGTON, DC - On Thursday, July 7, 2011, Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, testified before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs on the impact that Russia’s track record of human rights abuses should have on future U.S.-Russian relations.  The hearing, entitled “Time to Pause the Reset? Defending U.S. Interests in the Face of Russian Aggression,” addressed the impact of a wide range of Russian policies on U.S. interests.

Dr. Lantos Swett focused primarily on the Russian government’s continued human rights abuses and disregard for rule of law, highlighting the most recent “show trial” of political prisoner Mikhail Khodorkovsky.   Lantos Swett gave voice to Khodorkovsky as well as the other victims of an increasingly corrupt and undemocratic system in Russia, asking that The United States Government take into account these human rights abuses when formulating our policies toward Russia.

“We must get away from the notion that we can delink Russia’s actions on human rights and justice from all of our other interests,” Lantos Swett said.  “When we delink those values that we hold to be profound, we begin to go off track.”

Lantos Swett was questioned by Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee Ranking Member Enid Faleomavaega about the level of priority that should be given to human rights in dictating U.S. Foreign Policy, especially considering our government’s history of supporting oppressive but U.S.-friendly regimes.

While Lantos Swett acknowledged that human rights cannot be the only factor that drives foreign policy, she pointed out that blind support for regimes that are pro-American or serve American interests is not always the best choice.

“Recent events in the Middle East have shown us that we make a poor choice when we choose the friendly tyrant,” Lantos Swett said.

Click here to view the complete testimony

Lantos Foundation Announces Inauguration of New Human Rights Institute in Budapest

Concord, NH -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her predecessor, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, will headline ceremonies June 30 at the Országház, the Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest, inaugurating the new Tom Lantos Institute, Lantos Foundation President Katrina Lantos Swett announced.

The rare joint appearance, where both women are scheduled to address an audience of Hungarian and American dignitaries, highlights the new institute’s importance both to the trans-Atlantic relationship as well as to Hungary’s regional role as a leader in the field of democracy and human rights.  “This represents an important commitment on the part of the Hungarian government to advance human rights, protect minority rights, promote tolerance and strengthen trans-Atlantic relations,” Lantos Swett said.  The Tom Lantos Institute will serve as a home for such projects as researching minority inclusion and developing proposed policies, gauging the effectiveness of various assistance organizations and developing means to defend those who champion human rights.

The Institute is named for Lantos Swett’s father, former Congressman Tom Lantos, who served in Congress from 1981 until his death in 2008.  Born in Budapest, he was the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to Congress where he was known as one of its greatest advocates for democracy and human rights. Congressman Lantos was the co-founder of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and also served as Chairman of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee. He gained the admiration of both sides of the political aisle and on both sides of the Atlantic for his active and unwavering leadership on behalf of human rights.

The inaugural ceremonies will culminate a week of activities including an International Human Rights conference sponsored by the International Center for Democratic Transition, the Tom Lantos Institute and the Hungarian Government.  There will also be the unveiling a statue of the late US President Ronald Reagan, who Hungarians honor for his leadership in hastening the end of communism. This will be followed by a gala “Freedom Dinner” commemorating the 20th anniversary of Hungary’s freedom from tyranny.

Lantos Foundation Presents the Film, “Crossing”

A Gripping Glimpse Into Human Rights Atrocities in North Korea

April 22, 2011-The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice along with the University of New Hampshire School of Law’s Social Justice Institute will present the movie “Crossing,” an unforgettable film depicting the ongoing human rights abuses taking place in North Korea.

The film, called a “Schindler’s List for North Korea,” by the Wall Street Journal, will be shown at 6pm on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at Red River Theatres in Concord. Admission is free, however reservations are suggested.

“Crossing,” Korea’s 2008 Official entry for Oscar’s Best Foreign Language film is a riveting film based on true stories concerning the dire human rights situation in a divided Korea. It is a bold, raw and unforgettable story of a young North Korean boy who dares to cross the border in search of his father. It is a story North Korea does not want told.

Prior to the film, a discussion regarding human rights abuses in North Korea and the  impact on international relations will take place with special guests, Ambassador Robert R. King, Special Envoy for North Korea, Chuck Downs, Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, Dean John Broderick from the University of New Hampshire School of Law and Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation.

“The ‘Hermit Kingdom’ of North Korea, goes to extraordinary lengths to hide the shocking truth about the starvation, repression and cruel imprisonment of its own people. There are few countries on the face of the earth, where human rights abuses are as massive and systemic as in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” said Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation. “The Lantos Foundation hopes that this screening and unforgettable movie, “Crossing,” will educate people and inspire them to get involved on behalf of the suffering people of North Korea.”

Both Ambassador Bob King and Chuck Downs will be available after the film for questions.

This important movie presentation is part of the ongoing efforts of the Lantos Foundation to raise the level of consciousness in the local community about human rights abuses in the world.

Lantos Foundation Urges Retraction of Flawed Goldstone Report

April 8, 2011-The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice is urging Richard Goldstone to retract his flawed report to the United Nations condemning Israel’s action during the Gaza War.  In an opinion piece written for the Washington Post last week, Goldstone acknowledged that portions of his report about Israel intentionally targeting civilians during the Gaza War of 2008-2009 were not true.

“Many of us believed at the time that the controversial Goldstone Report was issued, that its conclusions were outrageous, slanderous, and without foundation,” said Annette Lantos, Chairman of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice. “Given the historic mistreatment of Israel at the hands of the United Nations and its auxiliaries, the Goldstone Report stood as one more example of disturbing bias toward the State of Israel by those who claim to speak for the world community.”

Though admitting that the report contains false information, Goldstone, a former South African Judge says he will not ask the U.N. Human Rights Council to dismiss the report.

Annette Lantos, widow of former Congressman Tom Lantos, the only survivor of the Holocaust elected to Congress and former Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, says she joins with others calling on the United Nations to cancel the Goldstone Report.

“While I am gratified that Mr. Goldstone has disavowed his earlier report, the damage caused by the fundamentally flawed Goldstone report cannot be so easily wiped clean,” said Lantos.

Lantos Foundation Applauds Release of Popular Cameroonian Singer

April 8, 2011- The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice is pleased to learn of the early release of popular Cameroonian singer songwriter Lapiro de Mbanga, who had been held as a political prisoner in Cameroon for nearly three years.  Mbanga, who was scheduled to be released tomorrow, was released earlier today.

The 52-year old performer is known for his satirical lyrics, which criticize corrupt politicians and address social and economic injustice in Cameroon. It is believed Mr. Mbanga’s arrest was prompted by “Constipated Constitution”, a song he says he wrote to explain Cameroon’s troubles, in which he calls his country “a paradise for corruption”.

With the help of a Front-Line Fund grant from the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice and other human rights organizations, Lapiro was able to travel last month to the capital city of Yaounde and appear before the Cameroon Supreme Court. Though his appeal of the charges against him was denied, the court did set an April 9, 2011 release date. It is unknown why Mbanga was released a day early.

Although Lapiro de Mbanga is little known in the United States, his voice has echoed loud and clear in his native Cameroon as one who is unafraid to challenge corruption and injustice,” said Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice. “We are thrilled to learn of this early release and are gratified to have been able to support his stand on behalf of human rights in his country.”

The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice established the Front-Line Fund grant program to advance the cause of human rights in American foreign policy and to be a vital voice standing up for the nation’s most important values of decency, dignity, freedom and justice throughout the world.

Lantos Foundation Calls For Release of Chinese Dissident

The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice is in agreement with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in demanding the Chinese Government immediately release Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng. A judgment by the U.N. Working Group, issued in July, held that the imprisonment and reported torture of Zhisheng is a flagrant violation of international law. That judgment was made public yesterday by Freedom Now, the human rights legal advocacy organization that filed the U.N. petition on Gao's behalf.
 
In 2001, Mr. Gao was listed by the Chinese Ministry of Justice as one of the top ten lawyers in China. However, when he turned his legal skills to the defense of persecuted religious minorities he became a target of persecution himself.  Mr. Gao has been repeatedly imprisoned and tortured by Chinese authorities, and since April, 2010 he has been held incommunicado.
 
According to Freedom Now, a Lantos Foundation Front Line Fund grant recipient, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has had no response to the U.N. Rights Group’s July judgment.
 
Writing in yesterday's New York Times, Geng He, Mr. Gao's wife, warns that the Chinese government is using the turmoil in the Middle East as an opportunity to further tighten its iron grip on human rights activists while the world’s attention is diverted elsewhere.  Dr. Katrina Lantos-Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice said, "At a time when a historically unprecedented movement for human rights and democracy is sweeping through repressive nations of the Middle East and North Africa, the United States cannot close its eyes to the brutal crackdown by Chinese authorities against brave human rights leaders like Gao Zhisheng. We welcome the judgment of the U.N. Working Group and call on President Obama to ask for the immediate release of a true human rights hero, Mr. Gao Zhisheng.

The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice seeks to strengthen the role of human rights in American foreign policy and to be a vital voice in standing up for our nation’s most important values of decency and dignity. Through our Front Line Fund Program we support human rights defenders across the globe. We are pleased to support the outstanding work of Freedom Now.

Visit Freedom Now's website.