01.03 - Between two elections in Russia: Environment, politics and freedom of speech. Grigory Yavlinsky – The man Putin fears most
Nikitin symposium 2012.
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., March 1st
Location: Gamle Logen, Grev Wedel's Plass, room 2, Oslo
Language: English
What: An analysis of how December 2011’s Duma elections and the upcoming presidential elections in March 2012 affect freedom of expression and civil society in Russia.
Grigory Yavlinsky, former deputy prime minister to Boris Yeltsin, author of Russia’s economic reforms, and leader of Yabloko, Russia’s single opposition political party, was to become a presidential candidate in the upcoming elections in March 2012. But he was banned by the Moscow regime from participating. Yavlinsky is the leader of Russia’s most reputable opposition political party which puts him at special risk for Kremlin driven harassment.
The symposium will offer a firsthand look at the boiling political life of today’s Russia and offer a forecast of what will happen if things turn from bad to worse for freedom of speech and democracy. Or is there still a ray of hope for Russia’s future based on human rights?
Program
09.30 - 09.45 Frederic Hauge – President of the Bellona Foundation. Opening remarks.
09.45 – 10.15 Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the Russian opposition party Yabloko. Elections to the State Duma and changes in the political landscape. Is Putin’s new presidential term is a risk for Russia? Possibilities for reforms and economic liberalization.
10.15 – 10.45 Pavel Bayev – Research professor, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) How internal crisis is influencing the Russian foreign policy in the recent months and in the nearest future.
10.30 – 11.00 Alexander Duka – Dr. of Political Science and Sociology, Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Democratic procedures and the current political system in Russia. Should Russia’s 1993 Constitution be changed? Why have the authorities begun to allow opposition meetings and given the opposition a rostrum on state television? Who if not Putin? Can we unite opposition forces?
11.00 – 11.30 Norwegian politician (to be confirmed)
12.00 – 12.30 Lunch
12.30 – 13.30 Panel discussion. Moderator Julie Wilhelmsen, NUPI.
Click here to register for the event.
Nikitin Symposium Background: Former submarine officer and nuclear supervisory inspector Alexander Nikitin along with the Bellona Foundation revealed severe nuclear pollution in Northwest Russia and the Russian Navy’s Northern Fleet’s poor handling of radioactive materials. The revelations led to the 1996 arrest of Nikitin on charges of treason and espionage. Six court cases followed, and the case garnered international attention. In 2000, Nikitin was finally acquitted by the presidium of Russia’s Supreme Court.
In 2010, Bellona marked the decade since Nikitin’s acquittal by holding a symposium in Nikitin’s honor entitled "Ten years since the Nikitin Case: Where is Russia Heading."