The Empire can not be a democratic state

The Russian human rights activist, chairman of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmila Alekseeva talk journalists hromadske.tv

– Lyudmila, You krymchanka you from Yalta?

– I was born in the Crimea, Yevpatoria.

– Do you follow what is happening in the Crimea, and what is your assessment of what is happening?

– Of course, I’ve been watching what is happening in the Crimea, but not just because I was born there, but because the people who are interested in what is happening in Russia, generally follow the Crimea, as Crimea joining Russia a significant event in our public life. Much has changed after that.

– We love to draw parallels with respect to human rights violations, as this is different from what is happening in Russia? Is there a particular violation of rights in Russia and the Crimea?

– At that time I was not in the Crimea, so clearly have no idea what is going on there. But I think that in general, the Crimea is more or less repeats what is happening all over Russia, especially with the exception of large cities – Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ekaterinburg – and in the rest of Russia. The regional Russia – it seems.

– As the Crimean Russian events changed? Has the Crimea as a catalyst for some processes in Russian society?

– Yes. For me it was a great and very unpleasant surprise, that the invasion of the Crimea was supported by a large part of our population. I was dismayed to learn that more than 80% of my fellow citizens to support this so-called action “Crimea ours.”

This to me was an unpleasant surprise, because I believe that in the years that have passed since the collapse of the Soviet Union, my fellow citizens in the most got rid of the imperial syndrome. It turned out that there is. It turns out that they are pleased that we have something to attach itself, and nice to show the strength of our state, and that we were afraid of. It is very sad, because the empire can not be a democratic state.

And if I’m dreaming about a democratic future of their country, it shall cease to be an empire, cease to hold the land and that citizens no longer crave to be feared. Suppose we would like it, let us be respected, let us be valued for the contribution that Russian culture has made to world culture. But were afraid … Why do we have to fear?

Unfortunately, the less educated strata of our society, not megacities, and the province, which constitute, in general, the majority in Russia, they have kept this: “Let me naked, let me barefoot, let the authorities have humiliated, but we are afraid worldwide”.

– After the Crimean events appeared a lot of political prisoners – Oleg Sentsov Alexander Kol’chenko, Gennady Afanasiev Aleksey Cherny. Many political prisoners are now directly in the Crimea, they are accused in the case of “February 26”. Can we expect a speedy release of these people? You, as a human rights defender with vast experience, can make a prediction?

– Firstly, you are wrong, that political prisoners have become multiplied after the annexation of Crimea. We have for a long time, unfortunately, there are political prisoners in the country. And dozens of them. Not only Ukrainians, and not only those connected with the events in Ukraine.

Can we count on their early release? Those associated with the Ukraine – it depends on how events unfold in the world, will be required to our authorities the world community to these people released. It is possible condition in which they could be released. Or exchange of all for all, as they say.

– This week it was reported that in the Crimea will start monitoring mission of the Council of Europe, which will fix the violations of human rights. Can it give the result? And the possibility of the international mission work – for example, whether the Russian human rights organizations to support the initiative of the Ukrainian human rights activists that the international mission involving different organizations earned in the Crimea?

– We always support any initiatives that promote the release of political prisoners. Of course, they will support.

– As for the Council of Europe’s mission. What are your expectations here?

– You know, it depends on our relationship with Europe. While it leaves much to be desired. We, unfortunately, are increasingly isolating from Europe and even from the rest of the world. From the West we isolate and say we have with China and would like to be friends, but I think they are not very eager to be friends with us.

Source, 27/01/2016