Russia, Commissioner on Human Rights
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Russia, Commissioner on Human Rights
Entering the third millennium
Russia has entered the new millennium while passing through a complex period of its history. The building of new institutions of democracy, of a state based on supremacy of law; on respect of rights and interests of every individual is always a difficult process. In our country, however, it was accompanied by aggravation of social and economic problems, by worsening of the living standards of a large part of the population.
The serious energy crisis that broke out at the end of the century has brought about the shutoff in winter of electricity and heat not only in the faraway regions, but also in the center of Russia. People undergo physical and moral suffering, quite often the fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution – the right to life – is being denied.
It is hard to find an area of life that could not be named a problem area. Miners and doctors, teachers and librarians, the elderly and the young, military servicemen and people in penitentiary – everyone suffers. The society has not freed itself from animosity and violence, as well as interethnic strife that violate fundamental human rights and freedoms. A direct effect on the situation in Russia has the criminalization of society that leads to large-scale infringement of human rights.
While analyzing in my annual and special reports the situation in the human rights area in Russia I could not but come to the conclusion that it is unsatisfactory. Most citizens of our country are unaware of their rights; do not know in what way and by what methods to defend them. The court system needs serious reform in order to carry out its main function of the protection of rights of the citizens. It is essential to change the mentality of the law-enforcement agencies, to achieve the understanding by the numerous Russian bureaucracy of the obvious fact that in a democratic society not a person exists for the needs of the society, but the society for the needs of a person.
The progress of democratic reform is being hindered by the conservatism of administrative structures that quite often prevent the implementation of norms guaranteed by the current legislation. In the fifth year of its membership in the Council of Europe Russia has not realized many of the international legal obligations it had undertaken when entering this authoritative European organization. Disrespect for law and disregard of rights and legal interests of citizens have a negative effect on the state of the society in general, create distrust towards authorities and officials, and give rise to social apathy.
At the same time not long ago some symptoms of social concord appeared, as well as first signs of stability and economic growth.
The human potential of Russia is enormous. There are teachers who quite often, not receiving salaries, in decrepit premises, but with sense of duty and responsibility educate the new generation. There are doctors who even in the circumstances of energy shutoffs do their best in order to save human lives. There are military servicemen who very often lack the most elementary things but do their duty defending the homeland. There are rescue teams, every day and every hour coming to the assistance of people in danger, responsible and professional judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, investigators, members of the militia (police) – in short, all the citizens of Russia who want to create a better life for themselves and their children, for all their compatriots. There are signs of a spiritual growth in the society, the achievements of Russian science have been marked by the appearance of one more Nobel prize winner, and, probably, not the last one.
The world has entered the third millennium. There are all reasons to hope that Russia is entering it in the spirit of confidence, consolidation, and readiness to cope with the historic challenges. It would be most welcome if the very first year of the new millennium were marked in our country by real progress towards solution of economic and social problems, that, in turn, would create essential preconditions for adequate life for all citizens, for realization of their rights and freedoms.
Newsletter No. 23
Russia, Commissioner on Human Rights
Entering the third millennium
Russia has entered the new millennium while passing through a complex period of its history. The building of new institutions of democracy, of a state based on supremacy of law; on respect of rights and interests of every individual is always a difficult process. In our country, however, it was accompanied by aggravation of social and economic problems, by worsening of the living standards of a large part of the population.
The serious energy crisis that broke out at the end of the century has brought about the shutoff in winter of electricity and heat not only in the faraway regions, but also in the center of Russia. People undergo physical and moral suffering, quite often the fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution – the right to life – is being denied.
It is hard to find an area of life that could not be named a problem area. Miners and doctors, teachers and librarians, the elderly and the young, military servicemen and people in penitentiary – everyone suffers. The society has not freed itself from animosity and violence, as well as interethnic strife that violate fundamental human rights and freedoms. A direct effect on the situation in Russia has the criminalization of society that leads to large-scale infringement of human rights.
While analyzing in my annual and special reports the situation in the human rights area in Russia I could not but come to the conclusion that it is unsatisfactory. Most citizens of our country are unaware of their rights; do not know in what way and by what methods to defend them. The court system needs serious reform in order to carry out its main function of the protection of rights of the citizens. It is essential to change the mentality of the law-enforcement agencies, to achieve the understanding by the numerous Russian bureaucracy of the obvious fact that in a democratic society not a person exists for the needs of the society, but the society for the needs of a person.
The progress of democratic reform is being hindered by the conservatism of administrative structures that quite often prevent the implementation of norms guaranteed by the current legislation. In the fifth year of its membership in the Council of Europe Russia has not realized many of the international legal obligations it had undertaken when entering this authoritative European organization. Disrespect for law and disregard of rights and legal interests of citizens have a negative effect on the state of the society in general, create distrust towards authorities and officials, and give rise to social apathy.
At the same time not long ago some symptoms of social concord appeared, as well as first signs of stability and economic growth.
The human potential of Russia is enormous. There are teachers who quite often, not receiving salaries, in decrepit premises, but with sense of duty and responsibility educate the new generation. There are doctors who even in the circumstances of energy shutoffs do their best in order to save human lives. There are military servicemen who very often lack the most elementary things but do their duty defending the homeland. There are rescue teams, every day and every hour coming to the assistance of people in danger, responsible and professional judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, investigators, members of the militia (police) – in short, all the citizens of Russia who want to create a better life for themselves and their children, for all their compatriots. There are signs of a spiritual growth in the society, the achievements of Russian science have been marked by the appearance of one more Nobel prize winner, and, probably, not the last one.
The world has entered the third millennium. There are all reasons to hope that Russia is entering it in the spirit of confidence, consolidation, and readiness to cope with the historic challenges. It would be most welcome if the very first year of the new millennium were marked in our country by real progress towards solution of economic and social problems, that, in turn, would create essential preconditions for adequate life for all citizens, for realization of their rights and freedoms.
