Feb 12, 2007

Sponsor: NED

New York Democracy Forum

Garry Kasparov

"The Prospects for Russian Democracy"

Read the Transcript :: DOC

Watch Video :: VIDEO

As Russian parliamentary and presidential elections approach in 2007 - 2008, the Kremlin-backed United Russia party has passed a series of laws:

• curtailing media freedom;
• restricting nongovernmental organizations, religious communities, and other civil society groups;
• and restricting freedom of assembly and the use of popular referenda.

The democratic parties, SPS and Yabloko, have been almost entirely marginalized. Existing nongovernmental organizations have, however, been loath to give up their independence, and new organizations like The Other Russia and a thriving youth movement have arisen.

Garry Kasparov, who abdicated his #1 chess ranking in 2005 to devote his intellect and energy to Russian democracy and was a principal organizer of The Other Russia's inaugural meeting in July 2006, will discuss the role of these and other pro-democracy forces in the coming 2007-2008 election cycle.