Anti-Seliger
Encyclopedia
Anti-Seliger is a forum of civil and environmental activists that took place from 17 to 20 June 2011 in Russia
, in the Khimki Forest
near Moscow
. The initiative to hold the forum has been proposed by the Movement in Defence of the Khimki Forest.
According to the leader of the movement, Yevgenia Chirikova, Anti-Seliger is an alternative to the pro-Kremlin forum at Lake Seliger
. On the other hand, it is a place for meetings and discussions for civil activists, who want to unite and stand on their rights.
The organisers had invited civil and eco-activists, politicians, artists, and all active citizens who are willing to support the protection of nature and civil society development. The programme included lectures, musical and literary performances, exhibitions, competitions, debates, walks and tree planting in the Khimki forest.
Speakers included Yevgenia Chirikova, journalist Oleg Kashin
, democracy activist Oleg Kozlovsky, former Speaker of the Federation Council
Sergey Mironov
, the leader of Yabloko Party
Sergey Mitrokhin
, politologist Alexander Morozov, anti-corruption activist Alexey Navalny
, a leader of the Solidarity
movement Boris Nemtsov
, the head of Transparency International
—Russia Elena Panfilova, journalists Valery Panyushkin and Leonid Parfenov, art critic Artemy Troitsky
, popular blogger Ilya Varlamov and others.
Some other well-known Russians did not participate, but endorsed the event including State Duma deputy Gennady Gudkov
and human rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva
.
The participants were provided with some tents, as well as hot meals, toilet and washing facilities as well as transportation by buses from Moscow. Two requirements were imposed on the participants during their stay: respect for each other and abstention from drinking alcohol.
The forum was, at least in part, paid for from donations of individual supporters and opposition organisations.
On 15 June the organisers sent a letter to Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev
asking him to ensure that the work of the forum is not impeded. Despite presence of some police on site, there have been no reports of any conflicts or violence from either side.
According to Yevgenia Chirikova, the next Anti-Seliger will be held most probably in August 2012.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, in the Khimki Forest
Khimki Forest
Khimki Forest is a birch tree forest in the Russian city of Moscow covering about 1000 hectares. It is part of the so-called "Green Belt" around Moscow. An $8 billion dollar high speed road has been proposed to go through the forest to connect Moscow and Saint Petersburg. For this purpose, part of...
near Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. The initiative to hold the forum has been proposed by the Movement in Defence of the Khimki Forest.
According to the leader of the movement, Yevgenia Chirikova, Anti-Seliger is an alternative to the pro-Kremlin forum at Lake Seliger
Seliger (forum)
«Seliger» is an educational forum held since 2005 at Lake Seliger in the Russian Tver Region .Seliger forums bring together young people to study and discuss issues in political science, economics, art, literature and culture...
. On the other hand, it is a place for meetings and discussions for civil activists, who want to unite and stand on their rights.
The organisers had invited civil and eco-activists, politicians, artists, and all active citizens who are willing to support the protection of nature and civil society development. The programme included lectures, musical and literary performances, exhibitions, competitions, debates, walks and tree planting in the Khimki forest.
Speakers included Yevgenia Chirikova, journalist Oleg Kashin
Oleg Kashin
Oleg Kashin is a former seaman and a prominent Russian journalist.-Career:Kashin graduated from the Baltic State Fishing Fleet Academy with a degree in sea navigation in 2001. While studying, he wrote for Komsomolskaya Pravda in Kaliningrad where he expressed rather sharp views...
, democracy activist Oleg Kozlovsky, former Speaker of the Federation Council
Federation Council of Russia
Federation Council of Russia ) is the upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , according to the 1993 Constitution of the Russian Federation...
Sergey Mironov
Sergey Mironov
Sergey Mikhailovich Mironov , is a former chairman of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament and a leading figure in the A Just Russia party.- Biography :...
, the leader of Yabloko Party
Yabloko
The Russian United Democratic Party "Yabloko" The Russian United Democratic Party "Yabloko" The Russian United Democratic Party "Yabloko" (Russian: Росси́йская объединённая демократи́ческая па́ртия «Я́блоко» Rossiyskaya obyedinyonnaya demokraticheskaya partiya "Yabloko"; is a Russian social...
Sergey Mitrokhin
Sergey Mitrokhin
Sergey Sergeyevich Mitrokhin is a Russian politician and statesman. Leader of the The Russian United Democratic Party "Yabloko". Deputy of the State Duma and of the Moscow City Hall .-References:...
, politologist Alexander Morozov, anti-corruption activist Alexey Navalny
Alexey Navalny
Alexei Anatolievich Navalny is a Russian political and social activist who in recent years gained great prominence amongst Russian bloggers and mass media due to his social campaigning activity...
, a leader of the Solidarity
Solidarnost
Solidarnost is a Russian liberal democratic political movement founded on 13 December 2008 by a number of well-known members of the liberal democratic opposition, including Garry Kasparov, Boris Nemtsov and others from the Yabloko and Union of Right Forces Solidarnost (Солидарность, Russian for...
movement Boris Nemtsov
Boris Nemtsov
Boris Efimovich Nemtsov is a Russian politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of Russia from 1997 to 1998. He was a co-founder of the Russian political party Union of Right Forces and is an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin.-Early life:...
, the head of Transparency International
Transparency International
Transparency International is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, a comparative listing of corruption worldwide...
—Russia Elena Panfilova, journalists Valery Panyushkin and Leonid Parfenov, art critic Artemy Troitsky
Artemy Troitsky
Art, Artem, Artemiy or Artemy Troitsky is a Russian journalist, music critic, concert promoter, broadcaster, and an academic who has taught classes on music journalism at Moscow State University. He was born in Yaroslavl, then in the Soviet Union...
, popular blogger Ilya Varlamov and others.
Some other well-known Russians did not participate, but endorsed the event including State Duma deputy Gennady Gudkov
Gennady Gudkov
Gennady Vladimirovich Gudkov is a Russian politician and businessman.In 1982–1992 he worked for the KGB.Since 2001, he has been a deputy in the State Duma of the Russian Federation; he was most recently elected to this post in December 2007....
and human rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva
Lyudmila Alexeyeva
Lyudmila Mikhailovna Alexeyeva is a Russian historian, human rights activist, founding member of the Moscow Helsinki Watch Group, and one of the few veterans of the Soviet dissident movement still active in modern Russia.-Soviet period:...
.
The participants were provided with some tents, as well as hot meals, toilet and washing facilities as well as transportation by buses from Moscow. Two requirements were imposed on the participants during their stay: respect for each other and abstention from drinking alcohol.
The forum was, at least in part, paid for from donations of individual supporters and opposition organisations.
On 15 June the organisers sent a letter to Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is the third President of the Russian Federation.Born to a family of academics, Medvedev graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad State University in 1987. He defended his dissertation in 1990 and worked as a docent at his alma mater, now renamed to Saint...
asking him to ensure that the work of the forum is not impeded. Despite presence of some police on site, there have been no reports of any conflicts or violence from either side.
According to Yevgenia Chirikova, the next Anti-Seliger will be held most probably in August 2012.