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Sakharov Center

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The Sakharov Center is a museum and cultural center in Moscow. It was founded by the Public Commission to Protect the Legacy of Andrei Sakharov, an international non-governmental organization established in 1990 through the efforts of Yelena Bonner and other Sakharov friends and colleagues.[1][2] The museum is open six days a week 11.00 – 19.00. Admission is free.[3]

History

In 1994 the Public Commission opened the Sakharov Archives[4] in the three-room apartment where Andrei Sakharov lived. The archives’ contents were donated by Yelena Bonner, and include files donated by Russia's Federal Counterintelligence Service. [5]

In 1996 the Sakharov Commission opened the Sakharov Museum and multi-functional social center for Peace, Progress and Human Rights (renamed in 2012 as the Sakharov Center). [6]The main building of the museum is a two-story manor that houses a library, and a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of the dissident movement in the USSR, and to the life and works of Andrei Sakharov. [7][8] The exhibition was designed by Evgeny Asse.[9] An installation made from a piece of the Berlin Wall stands in the park belonging to the museum. [10][3]

The Sakharov Center

Activities

The Sakharov Center provides a space for open expression in an increasingly-restrictive political climate. In 2003, the Sakharov Center was vandalized after organizing a contemporary art exhibition titled “Caution, Religion!”.[11] In 2013 Cossacks stormed the Sakharov Center and interrupted “Moscow Trials,” a play based on the trial of Pussy Riot directed by Milo Rau.[12] In 2014 the Center was attacked by Orthodox fundamentalists during events advocating tolerance for the LGBT community. [13] The memorial service for opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was also held in the Sakharov Center. [14][15]

On December 26, 2014 the Sakharov Center was declared a “foreign agent” under Russia's foreign agent law.[16] This law has been criticized both in Russia and internationally as representing a violation of human rights and having been designed to counter opposition groups.[17][18][19] In fact, the court cited the Sakharov Center's political activity as the main reason for designating it as a “foreign agent”.[20] In January of 2015, the Tagansky District Court fined the Sakharov Center 300,000 rubles for not voluntarily declaring itself a “foreign agent”.[21] The Sakharov Center denies this designation and has appealed the decision.[22][23]

References

  1. ^ "Мемория. Андрей Сахаров - ПОЛИТ.РУ". polit.ru. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  2. ^ "Биография Андрея Сахарова". РИА Новости. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  3. ^ a b "Sakharov Centre - Lonely Planet". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  4. ^ Chebotarev, Tanya (2014). Russian and East European Books and Manuscripts in the United States. 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10017, USA 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN: Routledge. p. 130. ISBN 978-0789024053. {{cite book}}: line feed character in |location= at position 43 (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  5. ^ BOUDREAUX, RICHARD (1994-05-22). "Soviet Dissident Sakharov's Widow Inaugurates Library : Russia: Yelena Bonner opens archives in building where writer lived. Yeltsin, secret police donate files". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  6. ^ "Сахаровский центр". liveinmsk.ru. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  7. ^ "Sakharov Museum Inaugurated | News". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  8. ^ Richardson, Dan (February 16, 2009). The Rough Guide to Moscow. Rough Guides; 5 edition. pp. 174–175. ISBN 978-1858280615.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  9. ^ "Сахаровский центр". cult.mos.ru. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  10. ^ "The Fall of the Berlin Wall: 25 Years Later". VOA. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  11. ^ "'Orthodox Bulldozer' | ARTnews". www.artnews.com. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  12. ^ "Russian Officials Hassle Pussy Riot Play Director". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  13. ^ "International Coming Out Day event in Moscow besieged by homophobes, ransacked by police for underage teens". Queer Russia: Live LGBTQ News & Views Feed. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  14. ^ White, Gregory L.; Kolyandr, Alexander. "Mourners Pay Their Respects to Slain Kremlin Critic Boris Nemtsov in Moscow". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  15. ^ "В Сахаровском центре пройдет прощание с Борисом Немцовым". НТВ. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  16. ^ "Russian Center Honoring Victims of Soviet Regime Branded 'Foreign Agent' | News". Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  17. ^ Lally, Kathy (2013-04-15). "Putin pushes NGO foreign agent law". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  18. ^ Barry, Ellen (2012-07-02). "Russia Introduces Law Limiting Aid for Nonprofits". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  19. ^ "Europe - Russian MPs pass controversial bill to label NGOs 'foreign agents'". France 24. https://plus.google.com/102302812252644717886/. Retrieved 2015-10-09. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ Lyons, Kate; Rice-Oxley, Mark. "Harassed and shunned, the Russians labelled foreign agents by Kremlin". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  21. ^ "Russian Court Fines Sakharov Center Under 'Foreign Agent' Law". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  22. ^ "Сахаровский центр отказался работать как «иностранный агент»". Slon.ru. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  23. ^ Козлов, Вячеслав. "Сахаровский центр оштрафован за нарушение закона об НКО". Коммерсантъ. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
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