AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

View Alerts By > Case | Date | Country | Victim

AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 19 June 2004, Dr. Nikolai Girenko, a Russian anthropologist, was shot and killed by two gunmen inside his home in St. Petersburg. Dr. Girenko, 64, was a leading expert on racism and discrimination in the Russian Federation. He was also the head of the Minority Rights Commission of the St. Petersburg Scientific Union. His research specialty was on neo-Nazi and skinhead groups in Russia. His research demonstrated that these groups were on the rise and becoming more active in Russia.

Dr. Girenko frequently served as an expert witness in trials against fascist groups, neo-Nazis and skinheads. According to one report, there are as many as 50,000 racist attacks and two dozen related murders in Russia per year. Dr. Girenko had testified at 20 cases in the last two years alone. His testimony angered members and supporters of these groups and over the years, he has received numerous death threats. The St. Petersburg Prosecutor's office believes that Dr. Girenko's work as a researcher and expert witness in racism trials and investigations was the likely motive for his murder. According to Amnesty International, Russian authorities often dismiss hate crimes as the work of "hooligans" and do not seriously investigate the cases.

(Sources of information for this case include: the Human Rights Committee of the American Anthropology Association, Amnesty International, and the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews.)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• Article 19(1): Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
• Article 13: An alien lawfully in the territory of a State Party to the present Covenant may be expelled therefrom only in pursuance of a decision reached in accordance with law and shall, except where compelling reasons of national security otherwise require, be allowed to submit the reasons against his expulsion and to have his case reviewed by, and be represented for the purpose before, the competent authority or a person or persons especially designated by the competent authority.
• Article 6: Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his [or her] life.

The Human Rights Defenders Declaration

• Article 12(2): The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the [Universal Declaration of Human Rights].
• Article 6(a): Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: To know, seek, obtain, receive and hold information about all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including having access to information as to how those rights and freedoms are given effect in domestic legislative, judicial or administrative systems.
• Article 6(b): Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: As provided for in human rights and other applicable international instruments, freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms;
• Article 6(c): Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Requesting an immediate, thorough, and impartial investigation into the murder of Nikolai Girenko;
• Requesting that the perpetrators be brought to justice; and
• addressing your concern about reports of increased racism and extremist violence in Russia and expressing your hope that the government will take all efforts to protect and uphold minority rights and to ensure the safety of all researchers and experts who participate in criminal investigations and trials.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
President of Russia
The Kremlin
Moscow
Russia
Fax: (011) 7 095 206 5173 or 7 095 206 6277
president@gov.ru
Salutation: Your Excellency:

COPIES SENT TO:

Yuri V. Ushakov
Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States
Embassy of the Russian Federation to the United States
2650 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007
Fax: (202) 298-5737
Salutation: Dear Mr. Ambassador

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

Main | CSFR Letters | Science and Human Rights Program