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 INFORMATION FOR THE MEDIA

October 12, 2005

Samara, Russia

Constitutional and Human Rights Defense: Progressive Youth Union appealed to the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation

On October 10, 2005 in Moscow the Union Leader Alexander Andreev visited the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation and delivered an official letter to its Chairperson Valery Zorkin informing him that anti-constitutional amendments, introducing penalties for presence of persons under 14 years old without their parents at night time (10 pm – 6 am) at public places (streets, parks, squares, courts, railway stations, airports, entertaining places and somebody else's houses), has been passed in Samara Region in the first reading. The letter of the Union to the Court Head was admitted.

On October 11, 2005 the Union Leader spoke at the meeting of the Committee of healthcare, education and social policy of Samara Regional Duma (Parliament) and appealed to the deputies not to pass the bill in the second reading. Alexander Andreev mentioned that the bill had been considered and passed without public discussion or consultations with NGOs. He suggested establishing a public commission that could make decisions how to reduce juvenile crimes with civilized means and expressed initiative of the Union to participate actively in its work. The suggestion was supported by Deputy (Member of Parliament) Gennady Zvyagin and Member of the Public Council of Samara Regional Duma Marina Nayanova. Though the majority of the Committee members ignored the opinion of the youth organization and the fact that the bill is in obvious conflict with the Russian Constitution and federal law, and recommended to approve the amendments in the second reading without discussion of other options.

It is clear that the bill mentioned is in conflict with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and federal law: sections 27(1), 55(2,3) of the Constitution, section 150(1) of the Civil Code of the RF. The bill is obviously in conflict with international law in human and children rights. We emphasize that the bill was proposed by the regional Ministry of Culture and Youth Politics (Minister Olga Rybakova) and supported by the Committee of healthcare, education and social policy of Samara Regional Duma (Head Nikolay Musatkin, communist). The Union considers this initiative pointless, repressive and unlawful. We believe it is a retrograde remnant of the Soviet Past. The Union attitude is supported by the Commissioner of Human Rights in Samara Region Irina Skupova, Samara Human Rights Center, Amnesty International Samara Group, Russian Democratic Party Yabloko, the youth organization of LDPR. Moreover, as it is possibly known, Legal Department of Samara Regional Duma and Regional Office of Public Prosecutor gave negative conclusions for the bill as well.

We believe that any limitation of citizens’ freedom and introduction of penalties in the situation simply cannot reduce crime rates, drugs or alcohol abuse and other antisocial effects. These social problems should be solved with specially developed target programs, efficient work of governmental authorities responsible for children and youth, militia, as well as the improvement of social and economic conditions of life, education and family well-being of citizens. Moreover, in case of this bill finally passed the criminal situation in the streets of Samara Region may even become much worse as a result of extra work for militia to search for young people at streets and public places at nighttime.

"It is strange that the bill was not discussed in public and that our suggestions are left unaccounted. The pass of this bill may become an act of populism in public opinion, which will show that government is unable to carry out its policies dealing with children and youth affairs efficiently, with adequate and civilized means", - the Union Leader Alexander Andreev stated.

For reference:

On October 5 Democratic Movement "Progressive Youth Union" arranged a piquet at Samara Regional Parliament to express its concern for inadmissibility for the curfew introduction in Samara Region. The rally gathered quite prominent young leaders such DJs, VJs and public figures. Representatives of Russian Democratic Party Yabloko, LDPR, Samara Public Association as well as Amnesty International Samara Group came to support the rally. Detail...

Earlier, on September 27, Samara Regional Parliament (Duma) passed in the first reading that should insert amendments to the Regional Administrative Law and introduce penalties for presence of persons under 14 years old without their parents at night time (10 pm – 6 am) at public places (streets, parks, courts, railway stations, entertaining places and somebody else's houses). In other words, the issue is the curfew introduction in the region. Before it happened we stated our disagreement with the bill. Detail...

The Union Press Service