On September 15, Parliamentary Forum for Democracy convened on Capitol Hill to explore current challenges to democratic development. Experts and officials of several former Soviet republics shared their views on the problems in their countries.
Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov delivered a speech in Washington
Parliamentary Forum for Democracy is a diverse coalition of parliamentarians from nations representing the Community of Democracies (CD). It was established in March 2011 with the goal of strengthening democracy and protecting human rights around the world.
This time it was Washington that hosted the event. Emanuelis Zingeris, President of Parliamentary Forum for Democracy, and John A. Boehner (R-OH), Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, opened the Forum. In his remarks Mr. Boehner underscored America’s commitment to stand with member nations as they continue the difficult work of expanding freedom and democracy throughout the international community.
Speakers of the first panel, “The Role of Parliaments in Assisting Democratic Transitions and Governance,” shared their experiences of transition to democracy. Giorgi Baramidze, vice prime-minister of the Republic of Georgia, called his case a success story and was not at all shy about praising his country’s successful democratic transition. But he also noted that some obstacles are hindering democratic development, such as corruption.
Freedom and human rights were the major topics of the second panel. Opposition leaders from two other former Soviet republics — Boris Nemtsov of Russia and Anatoly Lebedko of Belarus — were invited to speak.
Lebedko gave a very emotional speech on the atrocities that the Lukashenko regime brings upon his country. Lebedko himself has been recently released from a prison where he spent the last 10 months because of his political activities. Many other opposition members remain in jail. He said that “changes are at the door of Belarus” and that those changes should enter the country. He also urged other nations, the United States in particular, to take part in the struggle against Lukashenko’s authoritarian regime.
Lebedko’s Russian counterpart, Boris Nemtsov, a leader of Russia’s Solidarity opposition movement, followed with his own story of imprisonment. Nemtsov was arrested on December 31, 2010 in Moscow during a protest march of the “Strategy 31” civil movement and spent 15 days in jail. The protest denounced restrictions on freedom of assembly and multiple violations of human rights in Russia.
Nemtsov accused the Russian Parliament of constitutional abuses, asserting that Russia’s upcoming elections are not free and will not bring any change, as their outcome is easy to predict. He also pressed the United States and Europe to reconsider their priorities and to not put economic issues over basic human rights. In conclusion, Nemtsov added that passing the Magnitsky Act in the U.S. Congress would help Russia to fight corruption and human rights violations.
