Transforming Cynicism to Action in Russia

MSI’s USAID-funded project in Russia, called “I’ve Got Rights!” is using the web to demonstrate that citizens’ rights in Russia can be defended effectively and to stimulate more citizens to stand up to defend them.

Since the project begin in 2009, local project staff have posted 63 cases collected from throughout the country on a variety of rights, including freedom of speech, army service, municipal services, discrimination, housing, personal safety, health and the rights of disabled persons.

In one of the most significant cases highlighted, the European Court of Human Rights handed down two decisions. In February 2010, the court ruled in favor of a journalist’s right to freedom of the press. The Russian courts were found to be in violation of Article 10 of the European Convention because they ruled in favor of government officials who were trying to suppress newspaper articles critical of their government decisions. These articles also exposed their misuse of public funds.

Each “success” story presents judgments handed down by Russian or European courts, as well as decisions by local governments in favor of citizens’ rights.

The website is driven by the idea that ordinary Russian citizens are typically very cynical about their rights. However, if they are shown that there are productive paths to stand up – and their fellow citizens have done it successfully – they too will become motivated.

The stories are coming from news outlets, NGOs and human rights groups which work with the MSI project to "mainstream" human rights activity down to the ordinary citizen.

To read more about MSI’s work on human rights in Russia, click here.

To view the website in Russian, click here.