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G8 RUSSIA: "International support means a huge amount to us" |
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Monday, 17 April 2006 |
In 2006, the G8 will meet in Russia for the first time. While for the majority of apolitical Russians
this is a totally uninteresting occurrence, the Russian government and all shades of opposition consider it to be a highly
significant event. The Russian elite is eager to ensure it does not end up with egg on its face and that all these
high-powered meetings run smoothly.
To that end the corrupt, but nonetheless powerful, apparatus of the Russian special forces has been called
into action. They have already started calling people in for "chats" with the FSB, and began filming all activists while in
detention. Our "counterintelligence" has informed us of infiltration into anarchist activist groups by two FSB officers.
Any mention of the G8 draws serious attention. When Food Not Bombs handed out pancakes and G8 leaflets on pancake day, the
event ended in arrests.
Another peculiarity of Russia is the high
level of activity among a variety of rightwing, nationalist and
patriotic-oriented Stalinists, who consider themselves to be the true
anti-globalists. A variety of social demands from
these groups are combined with a chauvinistic anti-American mood, a
desire to re-establish the Russian empire, or the idea
that all illegal immigrants should be sent to forced labour camps.
In these conditions we consider
international organisation against the G8 in Russia absolutely vital,
as the success
of the movement must not be taken over by the right-wing. One of the
qualities of the antiglobalisation movement is its
truly global nature, and that's why it's important year after year to
repeat the phrase "We are everywhere".
reformers, Trotskyites, trade unions, a whole range of civilian initiatives, the antiauthoritarian left, and various kinds
of academics who "research the problems of globalisation". They are preparing the second social forum, to be held in St
Petersburg, and have already put the call out for action under the banner "Citizens 8", created by the authorities to work
with the NGOs (and be controlled by them).
The first social forum took place in April
2005 and 1000 people gathered - which is quite a lot for Russia. The
majority of these anti-gloablisationists are demonstrating for the
protection of social guarantees for Russian citizens -
against the long-term privatisation of the public sector, and
neoliberal reform.
The second force is the "near anarchist" scene. It comprises several
anti-fascists, Food Not Bombs, the hardcore-punk scene, squatters,
feminists, radical ecologists, and so no. By no means do
all participants consider themselves anarchist, but the common basis of
cooperation is an anti-government stance and ideas
of equality and social justice. In November 2005 a network against the
G8 was set up which formulated five key principles
of its existence and resistance to the politics of the G8, you can find
these principles on the website mentioned below.
In February 2006 there was an international meeting of activists held in Kiev, Ukraine, where strategy decisions were taken
as to how the network should operate. Working groups were set up on street action in St Petersburg, media, opposing
repression, organising the "One Day of Action" (solidarity actions around the world), and so on. It was decided that on 2
June - 12 days before the beginning of the summit - training sessions and discussion forums for activists would take place
in Moscow.
Why Moscow? One reason is that we suggest
that Moscow will be less the target of government control than St
Petersburg.
Another is that there is a group of activists in Moscow who are ready
to take on the responsibility of creating this space,
and the training will be essential as there are so many new activists.
We are hoping that this space will attract lots of
foreigners too, who are keen to share their experience and who want to
meet Russian activists and find opportunities for
future cooperation.
The three-day summit will happen in an
environment of great stress and hurry, so we are inviting all who have
the
opportunity, to come to Moscow or St Petersburg earlier, so as to take
part in the preparation for actions around the
summit and not just participate in the street actions.
Even if the actions in St Petersburg are
blocked by the authorities, and one must never exclude this
possibility,
then your journey to Russia will not be completely in vain if you are
able to take part in the Moscow training camp.
We really hope that we will get support
from people from other countries. We want to use this summit more than
anything for the development of the movement in Russia, and
international support means a huge amount to us.
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Action Info 
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
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