Nikolai Girenko
Encyclopedia
Nikolai Mikhailovich Girenko was an ethnologist and human rights
activist.
. He graduated in African studies from Leningrad University's Oriental Institute in 1967. From 1967 to 1970 he worked as a translator for Soviet specialists working in Tanzania
. In 1970 he began working for the Institute of Ethnography in Leningrad. Girenko received recognition in USSR for his ethnology
and African studies
. Girenko taught in the university and worked for Kunstkamera
.
Saint Petersburg's citizens elected Girenko to the first democratic Lensovet in 1990-1993. Girenko participated in the ethnic minorities rights group of this legislative body and chaired a similar committee of Saint Petersburg Union of Scientists.
Girenko managed scientific and education programs meant to foster tolerance
and counter-act chauvinism
. Girenko and others organized the European Conference for the Rights of Ethnic Minorities, the first of its kind in Russia, in 1991.
Girenko organized workshops on legal counter-acting the nationalistic extremism in the city of St. Petersburg. He also expressed concern about the rights of the Russian-speaking population in the Baltic states
("Baltic Russians
"). He participated in international human rights defenders' congresses.
He provided more than 20 expert examinations at requests of Moscow
's and St.Petersburg's law enforcement bodies and served as expert witness on trials. Several far-right journalists were convicted by courts with the help of Girenko's testimony as expert witness. Members of the nationalist groups voiced irritation in their press with Girenko's work.
Nikolai Girenko took part in the trial of the ultra-nationalist newspaper Russian Veche in 2004 as an expert witness. Girenko provided expert examinations of publications of the Shultz-88 group in another trial. He consulted the investigators of the 2002 murder of a 53-year-old salesman Mamed Mamedov.
Two or more anonymous attackers, suspected to be Neo-Nazi youths, killed Girenko by a rifle shot through the entrance door of his St.Petersburg apartment on 19 June 2004, shortly after Girenko testified about Russian National Unity
in the court.
Vladimir Popov, leader of the radical group Russian Republic, claimed responsibility for the killing in an interview to the Agency of Journalistic Investigations on June 24, 2004. Popov said that a "death sentence" was given to Girenko by the group.
As of June 2005, the official investigation did not find suspects, according to the newspaper Tainy Sovetnik. Yelena Ordynskaya, senior assistant to the city Prosecutor, said the investigation found that Russian Republic published its "death sentence" to Girenko few days after the murder.
The city court of Saint Petersburg sentenced 12 members of a gang led by Voevodin and Borovikov.
, ethnic discrimination and xenophobia
. In Russia alone, more than 70 non-government organizations and 47 mass media editor offices are taking part in the campaign.
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
activist.
Biography
Nikolai Girenko was born in 1940 in LeningradLeningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
. He graduated in African studies from Leningrad University's Oriental Institute in 1967. From 1967 to 1970 he worked as a translator for Soviet specialists working in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. In 1970 he began working for the Institute of Ethnography in Leningrad. Girenko received recognition in USSR for his ethnology
Ethnology
Ethnology is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes the origins, distribution, technology, religion, language, and social structure of the ethnic, racial, and/or national divisions of humanity.-Scientific discipline:Compared to ethnography, the study of single groups through direct...
and African studies
African studies
African studies is the study of Africa, especially the cultures and societies of Africa .The field includes the study of:Culture of Africa, History of Africa , Anthropology of Africa , Politics of Africa, Economy of Africa African studies is the study of Africa, especially the cultures and...
. Girenko taught in the university and worked for Kunstkamera
Kunstkamera
The Kunstkamera was the first museum in Russia. Established by Peter the Great and completed in 1727, the Kunstkammer Building hosts the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, with a collection of almost 2,000,000 items...
.
Saint Petersburg's citizens elected Girenko to the first democratic Lensovet in 1990-1993. Girenko participated in the ethnic minorities rights group of this legislative body and chaired a similar committee of Saint Petersburg Union of Scientists.
Girenko managed scientific and education programs meant to foster tolerance
Toleration
Toleration is "the practice of deliberately allowing or permitting a thing of which one disapproves. One can meaningfully speak of tolerating, ie of allowing or permitting, only if one is in a position to disallow”. It has also been defined as "to bear or endure" or "to nourish, sustain or preserve"...
and counter-act chauvinism
Chauvinism
Chauvinism, in its original and primary meaning, is an exaggerated, bellicose patriotism and a belief in national superiority and glory. It is an eponym of a possibly fictional French soldier Nicolas Chauvin who was credited with many superhuman feats in the Napoleonic wars.By extension it has come...
. Girenko and others organized the European Conference for the Rights of Ethnic Minorities, the first of its kind in Russia, in 1991.
Girenko organized workshops on legal counter-acting the nationalistic extremism in the city of St. Petersburg. He also expressed concern about the rights of the Russian-speaking population in the Baltic states
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
("Baltic Russians
Baltic Russians
The term Baltic Russians is usually used to refer to the Russian-speaking communities in the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.The term "Baltic Russians" does not imply a separate ethnic subcategory among the Russians. It came into use in the context of discussions of their fate after...
"). He participated in international human rights defenders' congresses.
He provided more than 20 expert examinations at requests of 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...
's and St.Petersburg's law enforcement bodies and served as expert witness on trials. Several far-right journalists were convicted by courts with the help of Girenko's testimony as expert witness. Members of the nationalist groups voiced irritation in their press with Girenko's work.
Nikolai Girenko took part in the trial of the ultra-nationalist newspaper Russian Veche in 2004 as an expert witness. Girenko provided expert examinations of publications of the Shultz-88 group in another trial. He consulted the investigators of the 2002 murder of a 53-year-old salesman Mamed Mamedov.
Two or more anonymous attackers, suspected to be Neo-Nazi youths, killed Girenko by a rifle shot through the entrance door of his St.Petersburg apartment on 19 June 2004, shortly after Girenko testified about Russian National Unity
Russian National Unity
Russian National Unity or All-Russian civic patriotic movement "Russian National Unity" , is a far right, fascist political party and paramilitary organization based in Russia and operating in states with Russian-speaking populations. It was founded by the ultra-nationalist Alexander Barkashov...
in the court.
Murder investigation
Lev Borkin, Girenko's colleague, said that Girenko mentioned receiving threats. One night in November 2003, unknown individuals broke the entrance to the office of Union of Scientists and left a note, "We will be whacking you, science freaks!".Vladimir Popov, leader of the radical group Russian Republic, claimed responsibility for the killing in an interview to the Agency of Journalistic Investigations on June 24, 2004. Popov said that a "death sentence" was given to Girenko by the group.
As of June 2005, the official investigation did not find suspects, according to the newspaper Tainy Sovetnik. Yelena Ordynskaya, senior assistant to the city Prosecutor, said the investigation found that Russian Republic published its "death sentence" to Girenko few days after the murder.
The city court of Saint Petersburg sentenced 12 members of a gang led by Voevodin and Borovikov.
Homage to Girenko
The portal "Human Rights in Russia" organized a social campaign called "I don't want to hate". The authors of the campaign hope to overcome racismRacism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, ethnic discrimination and xenophobia
Xenophobia
Xenophobia is defined as "an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange". It comes from the Greek words ξένος , meaning "stranger," "foreigner" and φόβος , meaning "fear."...
. In Russia alone, more than 70 non-government organizations and 47 mass media editor offices are taking part in the campaign.
Scientific works
- Sociology of tribe. Published by the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, St. Petersburg, 2005.
- Ethnos, culture, law. Published by the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography and Civil Control, St. Petersburg, 2005.
External links
- Girenko's biography at KunstkameraKunstkameraThe Kunstkamera was the first museum in Russia. Established by Peter the Great and completed in 1727, the Kunstkammer Building hosts the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, with a collection of almost 2,000,000 items...
, in Russian. Machine translation. - In memory of Nikolai Mikhailovich Girenko, Jewish Petersburg, in Russian. Machine translation.
- Obituary by Yuli Rybakov, in Russian. Machine translation.
- The "I don't want to hate" campaign, in Russian. Machine translation.
- The death of a giant, Russian National UnityRussian National UnityRussian National Unity or All-Russian civic patriotic movement "Russian National Unity" , is a far right, fascist political party and paramilitary organization based in Russia and operating in states with Russian-speaking populations. It was founded by the ultra-nationalist Alexander Barkashov...
, in Russian (dead link). - "Sentence N1" of the "official site of the Government of the Russian Republic", in Russian. Machine translation.
- The blow was made very accurately, by Artyom Kostukovsky, AiF-Petersburg, for Novaya GazetaNovaya GazetaNovaya Gazeta is a Russian newspaper well known in the country for its critical and investigative coverage of Russian political and social affairs....
. Machine translation. - Russian Federation. Report 2005, Amnesty InternationalAmnesty InternationalAmnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
. - Death of an anti-fascist from Kunstkamera, by Uliana Skoibeda, Komsomolskaya PravdaKomsomolskaya PravdaKomsomolskaya Pravda is a daily Russian tabloid newspaper, founded on March 13th, 1925. It is published by "Izdatelsky Dom Komsomolskaya Pravda" .- History :...
, 11 August 2004. Machine translation.