I. The Russian Charitable Foundation "No to Alcoholism and Drug Addiction (Nada)" Says the Law on Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Violates Human Rights
On April 11 the charitable foundation NADA staged a press conference at the Russian American Press & Information Center for the purpose of expressing its position on the draft law "On Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances" that was adopted by the State Duma on February 12 of this year and to publish an open letter to the Federation Council and the President of the Russian Federation [who can still block the law. Trans.].
"The current proposed law, especially its Article 7 dealing with questions of the treatment and rehabilitation of ill persons, threatens to return us to the infamous days of Soviet narcotics policy, which was an adjunct of the law enforcement system," said Oleg Zykov, the president of the foundation. "Henceforth not only distribution, dealing, and possession will be crimes, but mere use as well. Drug addicts under this law will not be considered ill but will be considered criminals, who must be punished, put in jail."
The "state method" reflected in the law even suppresses the activities of social organizations that conduct rehabilitation programs for drug addicts. "Treatment may be given only in state institutions," the law says. Yet even if rehabilitation programs continue to operate, their effectiveness over time will become nil, since addicts will stop coming to the drug counselors and psychologists of charitable foundations out of fear of exposure, the participants of the press conference believe. Thus, the problem, the consequences of which can be ameliorated by a humane relationship to the addicts, will only be driven underground, which is especially harmful for youth.
Ekaterina Savinaia, the director of the treatment and rehabilitation program "Zebra," said that 80% of high school upper class students have already tried narcotics. If the new law is adopted, interest in the "forbidden fruit" will only grow. The black market will flourish, the number of groups at risk will increase, and we will see a rise in the AIDS epidemic. In short, the situation will be reminiscent of the period of the "dry law" of the beginning of perestroika [which adopted a similarly heavy handed approach to the problem of alcoholism--Trans.], when underground drunkenness inflicted much harm. In fact, the situation this time will be even more lamentable.
NADA has appealed through the mass media to the President of Russia and to the Federation Council with an open letter "On the Impermissibility of Adopting the Law 'On Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances.'" The letter says: "In essence, the law is a system of discriminatory measures. We must object to the tendency to criminalize the medical use of narcotics. If this law is adopted the use of narcotics for medical and social uses will decline, the risk of complications from overdoses will increase, mortality will increase as will the risk of infection with HIV, the authority and availability of drug services will be reduced and the illegal drug market will be stimulated."
On April 16 the Federation Council met and considered this draft law. The law was rejected and returned to the Duma with a recommendation to form a conciliatory commission to rework it.
Telephone: 126-8861 (Elena Usacheva)
II. The Verdi Opera Society is Called to Save Russian Opera
The Verdi Opera Society was created in Moscow in 1996. Its creators were not opera artists, not musicians or theater people, but academic physicists. Viktor Kaslin, a Doctor of Physical-Mathematical Sciences...and an author of significant publications in the area of atomic and molecular physics and an expert on classical and operatic music, became the first general director of the society.
It was decided to invite the Italian Ambassador to Russia Baron Emmanuel Schiamacca [Italian spelling uncertain--Trans.] to serve as president of the society. He is a well known person who has no direct connection to opera. This was no accident. After all, sunny Italy is the homeland of opera. And today every beginning opera singer dreams of demonstrating his or her mastery to the Italians, who truly appreciate it.
Nonetheless the Verdi Society is a professional society. It deals with the multifaceted support and development of Russian opera. Not long ago opera in Russia was under the special protection of the state. Joseph Stalin, for example, had a special love of opera, personally knew all of the opera singers, and tried not to miss a single premiere. Today opera is less popular. This classical art with its rich traditions is in danger of being forgotten, and its performers are reduced to dragging out a miserable existence. Therefore the basic task of the society is to give singers and musicians the possibility of pursuing their profession and making a living. At the same time special attention is paid not to the stars but to average and beginning artists.
The circle of patrons [of the society] is not unknown. It includes the director Boris Pokrovskii, the chair of the International Musicians' Union Irina Arkhipova, Zubar Sotkilana, Bella Rudenko, and others.
In the year of its existence the society has organized around ten "bons mondes," at which singers from various operas of different artistic types have performed. "Important persons" gather at these "bons mondes" of the Verdi Society, among whom operatic art is promoted. In addition, opera singers, theater directors, impresarios, and musicologists have a chance to get to know each other better....
III. The Andrei Sakharov Museum and Social Center "Peace, Progress, Human Rights" is accepting Applications for Free Tours, Lectures and Meetings
Primarily invited are teachers, students, and those studying in middle and professional schools.
Tours are planned on the following subjects:
The museum also conducts free tours on history and literature as part of the program of the middle schools. Lectures are offered on the following subjects:
In addition, the staff of the museum can prepare and conduct without charge lectures and tours on any other topics of interest. They can invite specialists, and organize meetings with well known human rights activists, journalists, authors, and historians. The library has a large video collection on human rights, cultural, social, and civil topics.
The museum is accepting applications from teachers for conducting lessons for pupils on recent history (USSR) and the literary work of victims of repression in the coming academic year.
Send your applications for attendance to the museum at 107120 Moscow, Zemlianoi val, D. 57, str.6.
Telephone/fax: 917-2653
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