Civic Assistance Committee Was Very Much Involved in Arranging Assistance for These People

Варианты использования на белом фоне, Варианты использования на цветном/пестром фоне: Варианты использования на однородном без подложки под блоком лого есть белая общая подложка черном /темном фоне: подложки нет, текст белый Варианты использования на белом фоне, Варианты использования на цветном/пестром фоне: Варианты использования на однородном без подложки под блоком лого есть белая общая подложка черном /темном фоне: подложки нет, текст белый

Illustrations: Ezra W. Smith CONTENT

Greetings 4 Help from cafes and restaurants 18

Statistics 6 Volunteers’ help 19

How we help 8 Help from medical institutions 20 Total within a year we helped WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC: 22 About work during the pandemic 10 Financial report 24 Help from individuals 12 Mass media. Award for journalists 26 Help from organizations 16 Our reports 28

The Committee’s events 30

Humanitarian Festival “Without Borders” 32 relief aiding Sandra, from the Democratic Festival “Let Me Know” 34 Republic of Congo, and her children during the Our team 36 pandemic. Our partners 40

How you can help 41

19 11 сommittee report2O2O

DEAR

FRIENDS, WE PRESENT TO YOU OUR REPORT ON THE WORK OF OUR ORGANIZATION IN 2020. THE YEAR WAS A DIFFICULT ONE FOR PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD. IT WENT UNDER THE SIGN OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

n 2020, many of our applicants lost their jobs, and all means of living. Most of I them did not have any permanent legal status in Russia and therefore had to work unofficially, which means that they are not entitled to any state support. The Civic Assistance Committee was very much involved in arranging assistance for these people. First of all, for families with many children, the disabled, single parents with children and the elderly.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 4 2O2Ogreetings Five hotlines were organized for people to contact us. We request our donors to re-allocate funds to direct assistance to the applicants. Besides, we turned to our fellow citizens for support. It appeared that while facing a common enemy people are ready to stand together. We managed to raise considerable funds to help people in distress. We were delivering food products to families with help of volunteers. We helped some of our applicants to pay rent. Restaurant owners and trading companies did We turned to our fellow not stand aside either, and the first million rubles « citizens for support. It appeared was donated immediately by Embassy of France in Moscow. that while facing a common It should be noted with satisfaction that authori- enemy people are ready to ties were also sympathetic. The President of Russia stand together. issued several decrees extending legalization documents of migrants for duration of the pandemic. » Besides, a great deal of work was carried out together with administration of deportation centres to release detainees. Unfortunately, Moscow and St. Petersburg were in last place in that matter. Much to our regret, 2020 was also a year of a great loss for us: on November 23, Lydia Ivanovna Grafova, a brilliant journalist, an ardent and proactive person, one of the founders and first co-chairs of the Civic Assistance Committee, passed away. Since 1990, Lydia Grafova has dedicated her entire career to problems of migration. Sometimes an article she wrote had more influence on people’s life than dozens of complaints filed in court by the most qualified lawyers. May the memory of Lydia Grafova live forever.

Svetlana Gannushkina, Chairman of the Committee

5 CIVIC ASSISTANCE сommittee report2O2O THANKS TO CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE’S SUPPORT IN 2020,

124refugees were granted 5Ostateless people obtained official temporary asylum; status.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 6 2O2Orefugee status Distribution of refugees and persons granted temporary asylum, By country of former residence (according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia)

PERSONS WHO HAVE RECEIVED REFUGEES TEMPORARY ASYLUM Number of Number of People Number of People Number of People People as of as of January 1, as of January 1, as of January 1, January 1, 2021 2020 2021 2020 ALL 455 487 19 817 41 946 Azerbaijan 8 7 12 11 Afghanistan 256 252 514 543 Georgia 23 27 119 120 Kazakhstan 2 2 10 10 Kyrgyzstan 1 3 28 29 Syria 2 2 359 591 Tajikistan 6 6 36 34 Turkmenistan — — 24 12 Uzbekistan 16 17 59 44 Ukraine 83 119 18 345 40 274 other countries 58 52 311 278

n each booklet, we publish information on Affairs, 596 citizens of different countries had I number of people who received refugee status refugee status, and the number has only been during the year. The statistics only make us sad decreasing since. for the last five years. In multimillion Russia Russia also grants temporary asylum as a in 2020, only 28 people were recognized as humanitarian status. It is issued for up to a year, refugees. In total, only 455 people have this status and it is not easy to receive the extension. More (according to the RF Ministry of Internal Affairs’ people have temporary asylum rather than ref- data of January 1, 2021). In 2016, when migration ugee status. But their number is also rapidly services became part of the Ministry of Internal decreasing.

7 CIVIC ASSISTANCE сommittee report2O2O

HOW WE HELP

IN 2020, CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE CELEBRATED ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY. THE COMMITTEE STAFF MET THE NEW YEAR FULL OF OPTIMISM AND PLANS FOR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. IT WAS PLANNED TO CELEBRATE IN PERSON, OR OFFLINE, AS EVERYONE BEGAN TO CALL IT LATER. AFTER ALL, WE COULD NOT IMAGINE ANY OTHER WAY.

s we can see, now life is divided into "before A March 2020" and "after March 2020". The pandemic caused closure of borders and all government agencies. And for several months of isolation regime, in addition to providing legal assistance (online, at that time), we also provided humanitarian support on a huge scale. As for anniversary celebration, it had to be postponed.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 8 2O2Ohow we help

THE 2020 LIST OF CHARITABLE PROGRAMS:

Samir is originally from Syria. His most Assistance to refugee and the stateless prominent childhood memory is seeking a Assistance to labor migrants bunker to hide out in. Help to victims of hate crimes Help to prisoners from North Caucasus Access to education

Help with integration This is also Samir. Here, he is at the Committee's integration sessions.

What: counseling on migration issues and labor law, helping Maria Krasova is a lawyer working for the charitable programme Access to Education. to defend our applicants’ rights in Russian court and adminis- trative authorities, applying to ECHR, providing medical and The brothers, Bazi and Booz, have finally been granted temporary asylum in Russia, psychological assistance, offer- after several years of appeals for status. ing Russian language lessons, clothes, food, and financial support. Who: migration consultants, lawyers, translators, project coordinators, accountants, a secretary, communications team, volunteers.

9 CIVIC ASSISTANCE сommittee report WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC

IN MARCH, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE SITUATION WITH COVID-19 WAS WORS- ENING; THE NUMBER OF CASES WAS GROWING EVERY DAY. RESTRICTIONS WERE GRADUALLY INTRODUCED IN MOSCOW. THE COURT AND MIGRATION SERVICES SUSPENDED PERSONAL RECEPTION OF CITIZENS, FACE-TO-FACE SESSIONS WERE POSTPONED INDEFINITELY.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 10 work during the pandemic

Immediately after Victory in court: we the end of the self- succeeded in overturning imposed isolation the decision to expel the period, we resumed student from Uzbekistan. the face-to-face The young man was reception of refugees. helping his father with his work, and he was accused of unlawful labour practices.

ince March 30, the Committee's public reception room has been under quarantine yet S we continued remote work and phone counseling. Five hotlines were operated in different languages (Russian, English, French, Arabic and Dari). More and more families turned to us for humanitarian aid daily. We were receiving from 20 to 50 requests per day. Many of our applicants were left without job and social protection during the period of self-isolation. They were requesting food assistance, saying that they were afraid to be left without a roof over their head with children, because had no means to pay monthly rent. We were receiving so many requests that were afraid that would not be able to deal with them on our own. However, it turned out that we were not alone.

TOTAL FOR MARCH - AUGUST:

1162people called to the hotline asking for food assistance

290people — for medical and legal assistance

11 ГРАЖДАНСКОЕ СОДЕЙСТВИЕ сommittee report2O2O

WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC HELP FROM INDIVIDUALS for us is the year of mutual assistance. During the pan- 2020demic, it became obvious that self-isolation was, on the one hand, a privilege that not everyone could afford. On the other hand, it became a serious test for those who could not leave home, even if it was vital. For example, temporary asylum certificate was not included in the list of documents eligible for obtaining a pass for going out. Or someone could not get a pass due to insufficient knowledge of Russian. As a result, the most vulnerable social groups found themselves in a difficult situation in the first place.

2257people received food assistance

1267people received financial assistance

(a third of them received assistance more than twice)

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 12 2O2Owork during the pandemic | help from individuals During the pandemic, our volunteers actively helped families learn Russian at home. On March 17, we announced a solidarity effort with refugees and migrants on social networks. A lot of people responded to our call. They started to bring food and hygienic items to our office, transfer money for humanitarian aid to refugees’ and migrants’ families. In 2020, the total amount of donation arrived to the Committee’s account was 12,070,203 rubles (including funds raised through crowdfunding platforms).

13 CIVIC ASSISTANCE сommittee report2O2O

WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC HELP FROM INDIVIDUALS

2,888,448 rubles from this amount were donated through a special form on the Committee's website. This is 2.5 times more than last year. On April 1, we launched a campaign for help to single refugees on the Planet platform. We organized crowdfunding to help our most vulnerable applicants, women with children, to pay rent for coming months and provide them with food during quarantine. In support of female refugees 295,907 rubles were raised on the Planet. Having lost their jobs, migrants had no means of sustenance since they certainly had no rainy day funds. Therefore, it was very important for us to raise a large enough amount promptly to help the most vulnerable families. We also applied for help through the Need Help Fund and received donations in the amount of 891,262 rubles. To be honest, it was more than we expected.

In 2020, we also received from individuals and distributed 240 New Year’s gifts to children, 80 of them were passed on to children from Syrian refugee families in Noginsk and Losino- Petrovsky. Prior to beginning of the school year, the Committee also took part in purchasing school supplies with private donation funds and was distrib-

We helped some uting them in the framework of families, who were in the project “Get Children Ready particularly difficult for School” in cooperation with circumstances, with food for several UNHCR and Health and Life months at a time. Charity Foundation.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 14 2O2Owork during the pandemic | help from individuals In the beginning of the pandemic, Mah Jan, a refugee from Afghanistan, started sewing fabric masks and giving them to people for free.

We began purchasing food products and arranging food packages for families in need. The Food City whole- sale store took over all logistics for delivering food to our applicants’ homes according to the list. This facilitated prompt response to family needs of food assistance within few days after they contacted us.

3,000 RUBLES IS THE COST OF THE FOOD PACKAGE. Our aid with access to supplies during the pandemic was lifesaving for many single refugee women THE FOOD PACKAGE INCLUDED: with children. Milk — 2 packs; Butter and sunflower oil; During this period, we also received Eggs –10; support from business. Employees of Rice — 2 packs + buckwheat — 1 pack + oatmeal — 1 pack; the VkusVill retail food chain of natural Potatoes — 3 kg + cabbage — 2 kg + products contacted us and offered free carrots — 1 kg + onion — 1 kg help. We shared with them the way we Chicken — 1; deal with applications from people and Canned beef — 2 cans; priority needs. So within few days a large Canned salmon — 3 cans; consignment of food was delivered to Green peas — 1 can + our office. Thanks to the help of VkusVill sweet corn — 1 can; we were able to help people from the Ketchup; waiting list. Sugar — 1 kg + salt — 1 pack; 120 food packages were arranged for Flour — 2 kg; 40 families with children. Condensed milk — 1 can; Black tea; Biscuits — 5 packs.

15 CIVIC ASSISTANCE WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC ORGANIZATIONS HELP OF AND OTHERS. FRANCE INRUSSIA,VLADIMIRPOTANIN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION ORGANIZATIONS AND MAJORFOUNDATIONS: THE EMBASSY OF IN 2020, WE ALSO RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM INTERNATIONAL online. transferred socialandlegalcounseling during the pandemic and promptly to arrange remote counselingroom support of the foundation we were able Potanin Charitable Foundation. With Philanthropy program ofVladimir I became awinneroftheEffective n 2020,CivicAssistanceCommittee CIVIC

ASSISTANCE

сommittee report

16 2O 2O 2O2Owork during the pandemic | help of organizations In June, we launched a large joint project with the European Commission “Right to self-isolation for refugees and migrants during the coronavirus outbreak”. Thanks to this support, we could not only continue our food assistance to refugee and migrant families but also provide them with financial support for rent payment and medical expenses. If at the beginning of the pandemic people first of all asked to help them with food, then after a couple of months of quarantine, the issue of paying rent became especially acute.

It was particularly difficult for men — seeking help was The European uncomfortable, but Commission provided having lost their jobs, great assistance many were unable to to refugee families feed their families. during the pandemic.

If at the beginning of the Together with our colleagues from “Dom Dobroty” (House of Kindness) charitable fund we pandemic« people first of all asked were supporting 33 students from Afghanistan. to help them with food, then after Young people were staying in the same dormitory in a couple of months of quarantine, self-isolation due to positive tests for coronavirus. They had neither money nor food. Employees and the issue of paying rent became volunteers of Dom Dobroty helped them with food especially acute.» throughout the entire quarantine. 17 CIVIC ASSISTANCE humanitarian aid. aged toraise Weticipating intheevent. man total of Civic Assistance Committee. A for help to applicants of the coffee beverages were donated received from sellingoneofthe Migrants”. Cup ofCoffee for Refugeesand organized acharitableevent Introvert Place Chiornyi coffee shops: together withthree Moscow twice duringthelockdown. to families in Moscowregion They delivered food packages refugees from SyriainNoginsk. nized thedeliveryoffood to T ALLDIFFICULTIESDESPITE FACING THE THEYWERETHEMSELVES. SECTOR AND SMALL BUSINESS DID NOT REMAIN UNINVOLVED DURING THE PANDEMIC, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SERVICE

OnSeptember26,2020, WORK of Contemporary Art orga he staffofGarage Museum DURING THE PANDEMIC AND RESTAURANTS AND FROMHELP CAFES 115 people , Sverstnik café Thatday, allfunds 20,100rubles coffe shop, we Kooperativ were par and for for “A “A - - - Committee. ugees in shelters who were assisted by the Civic Assistance to leavefor theirhomeland. Besides, hedelivered mealstoref organizing mealsatairportsfor labormigrants whowere unable Khodorkovsky During the pandemic, Moscow restaurant owner CIVIC

provided great help to migrants and refugees by ASSISTANCE

сommittee report Alexei 18 2O - 2O

IN 2020, THE CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE HAD ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY.

he Committee was created in 1990 in order to assist refugees from the TArmenian-Azerbaijani conflict--victims of the anti-Armenian pogroms. This group of displaced persons was the first of many that had to leave their homes after the collapse of the USSR. And, it was for this reason, that the activities of the Committee were not limited to the support of the Bakuvians (those who were victims of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict). Instead, the “Civic Assistance Committee” dedicated itself to helping those who identify as Russian culturally who fled from the Soviet republics in the 90s as a result of eth- nic oppression and then later other migrants. The national government was not ready for the process of resettling migrants and refugees, believing it was a temporary problem. The Committee, therefore, hoped to push the national government to solve the growing number of problems that emerged.

Lydia Ivanovna Grafova, one of the founders of the Committee. This is how we have always known her. In the second half of the 1990s and 2000s, the Committee actively supported victims of the Chechen wars and refugees from Afghanistan, Abkhazia, and Central Asia. In the 2010s, Syrians and Ukrainians began to turn to the Committee for help. Now, among the people helped by the Committee are many citizens of Afghanistan and Syria, as well as refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Yemen, and other countries. The Committee assists both migrant workers and those without citizenship.

Laila Rogozina, the current head of the Civic Assistance Reception Office, has been working for the Committee for 20 years.

This is the Literaturnaya Gazeta building in which the Committee's founders started hosting refugees in the 1990s. From the very start to the present day, the first priority of the Committee is to offer consultations on issues pertaining to the receipt of asylum, as well as medical and humanitarian assistance. Over the years, the Committee has provided consultations on migration questions to tens of thousands of individuals, provided medical and humanitarian assistance to thousands, helped hundreds of adults learn Russian, and supported several hundred children in gaining access to education.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE 30-TH ANNIVERSARY NOW, WE WANT TO LOOK BACK AND REMEMBER WHAT WE HAVE DONE. 1990–1999:

From the end of the 1990s to the present day. The work of the Intake Commission of the Civic Assistance Committee: support for victims of the Karabakh conflict, those who identify with the Russian culture, those who fled from the countries of Central Asia, the Baltic States, Georgia and other former Soviet republics. Assistance for refugees from Afghanistan, stateless persons, and temporarily displaced individuals. Assistance with obtaining housing, legalization, receiving compensation for lost property, medi- Beginning in 1993, when Russia cal and psychological support. Over the years, the joined the 1951 UN Conference Committee has given the assistance mentioned “On the Status of Refugees”, an above to more than 70,000 individuals. office of the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). From it’s first days, the Civic Assistance Committee col- laborated with the UNHCR. The UNHCR organized the joint work of state migration authorities and NGOs at the end of the 1990s and taught us how important it Lawyer Filipp Shishov is to view public organizations as with Armenians from Baku, who still live full partners of the government. at hotels they were Unfortunately, the level of this accommodated as cooperation has dropped signifi- refugees 30 years ago. cantly.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE 30-TH ANNIVERSARY In 1998, the Committee became a partner of the From 1995-1997, Svetlana UNHCR, which, to this day, supports the work of the Gannushkina participated in drafting commission that processes applications from refugees, new laws about forced migrants and asylum seekers, and stateless persons. In fact, the work refugees. Thanks to her efforts in par- of accepting new applications is fully passed to the ticular, in the federal law of the Russian Committee. At the same time, the UNHCR develops Federation “About Refugees”, the defi- strategies for the protection of refugees, provides guid- nition of refugees corresponds to the ance to the Committee, participates in discussions sur- definition given at the 1951 Geneva rounding the most difficult cases, and provides country- Conference “On the status of refugees”. specific information to partners.

1996-2016. In 1996, Centre for Adaptation and Education of Refugee and IDP children was opened under the support of the Committee. At the Centre, students of Moscow institutes began to study subjects from the school curriculum with children who did not have access to education. The first victims helped were children whose families left Chechnya due to the brutal hostilities. Restrictions of giving children access to schools were regulated in different years by different document. In 1996, this was established in an order from the Mayor of Moscow Luzhkov, the contents of which were then transferred in 1999 to Resolution No. 241-28 “On Approval of the Iksen in training at the Committee's Rules for Registration and Removal of Citizens integration centre. His family fled the DRC. of the Russian Federation with Registration at Their Place of Stay in Moscow and the Moscow City Court. In 2000, the Moscow City Court Region”. In clause 5 of this decree, there was an declared the registration requirement illegal, and order to admit children to schools and preschools in 2002 this decision was upheld by the Russian only if the parents had registration in Moscow Supreme Court However, the problem of access and the Moscow region. The Civic Assistance to education is one that has not been resolved Committee contested this clause in the Moscow to this day.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE 30-TH ANNIVERSARY The Adaptation Centre exists 1998 Archive of the Chechen War. The to this day, but, in 2016, it Committee created an archive of audio and video separated from the Committee interviews with people who survived the First and transformed into the Chechen War. In total, there were more than 200 organization “Same Children”. interviews: text, audio, and video fragments. 2000–2009:

2003–2008. Support program for patients from Chechnya after the war. This was the larg- est humanitarian project of the Civic Assistance Committee. The Committee provided help in Moscow, Nazran, Grozny, Gudermes, Sernovodsk, and Shali. The project helped 8,500 people: assistance was provided in obtaining referrals and travel to other regions for treatment, medi- cines were provided, and medical research and Ali, a refugee from Sudan, shows that consultations were paid for. he learned to read Russian.

1994-2010. Humanitarian expedi- tions of the Committee. Along with the work of the Moscow intake commission of the Civic Assistance Committee, employees of the organization went to provide assistance on the ground at the temporary accommodation Centres of the FMS of Russia, at refugee camps for those from Chechnya in Ingushetia and Dagestan, and at residences for ref-

Aid to refugees from the mountain villages. The Gudermes district of Chechnya. December 2006.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE 30-TH ANNIVERSARY ugees from Georgia in North Ossetia. The Keloi, the Committee participated in the Committee also implemented three local construction of homes for teachers, and, in humanitarian projects in three mountain vil- the villages of Zumsoy, the Civic Assistance lages in Chechnya: a socio-cultural Centre Committee helped residents return to their was created in Sharo-Argun, in Nokhchi- land after the war.

2006–2008. Peacekeeping projects in the 2007. The Committee provided Prigorodny region of North Ossetia. The 1992 assistance in reconstructing schools in Ossetian-Ingush conflict resulted in numerous mountain villages in Chechnya affected casualties on both sides; almost the entire Ingush by the war. We provided electricity to population of Vladikavkaz and the Prigorodny one school, assisted with the renovation District fled to Ingushetia. Even ten years after of two other schools, purchased mini- these terrible events, the inhabitants could still buses for schools in the Itum-Kalinsky not initiate a productive dialogue. The Civic district, and, for others, purchased Assistance Committee hoped to improve the sports equipment, textbooks, comput- situation through projects aimed at promoting ers, musical instruments. In all, this interactions between students. So, in 2006, the project provided help to 21 schools and Committee, together with the Memorial Human a Centre for children’s creativity. Rights Centre, organized a summer educational and entertainment camp for Ossetian and Ingush children. In 2008, a seminar for Ossetian and Ingush teachers was organized.

A girl from the Chechen village of Borozdinovskaya whose residents, due to Kadyrov's violence, fled to Dagestan. The Committee helped them to settle in their new place, 2007. Assistance to schools in mountainous villages of Chechnya. The Nozhay- Yurtovsky district. May 2007.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE 30-TH ANNIVERSARY 2004–2005. Projects aimed at rees- tablishing cultural projects in post-war Chechnya, where, as a result of the fighting, almost all libraries were destroyed. Shatoysky The Committee organized translations District, into Chechen and a three-volume edi- Bekum-Kale tion of fairy tales of the peoples of the village. After world. the theatrical performance

2008–2012. Rehabilitation and educa- 2005−2012. The Committee tional seminars for teachers from Chechnya in realized a separate project for Moscow, the Moscow region and St. Petersburg. helping political refugees from Psychological support, computer training, and Central Asian countries. Its task seminars on play and other creative teaching involved advising asylum seek- methods. ers on obtaining asylum, appealing refusals of asylum in courts up to the ECHR, generalizing law enforcement practices in extradi- tion cases, and prepared propos- als to adjust the legislation of the Russian Federation in this sphere. The Committee continues these activities in an effort to protect refugees to this day.

Aid programme for patients from Chechnya (2003-2008). School Aid Project in Chechnya's war-affected Doctor Prikupets mountain villages. The school in the village of receives patients Dshne-Vedeno. A celebration of the opening of the at the Committee reconstructed gymnasium in Dyshne-Vedeno, 2007. office.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE 30-TH ANNIVERSARY 2007-present. Project to assist migrant workers. Since 2007, more than 3,500 people under Assistance project for migrant workers. The this program have received consultations related committee organised and to labor issues, assistance in drafting complaints paid for treatment for a to the court, defense in courts, and appealing migrant from Tajikistan expulsions, as well as assistance in lifting entry who was mutilated by the bans. Nazis.

2009−2013. The program “Education in the Field 2012–2013. One of the projects of Human Rights in the North Caucasus”. Within the realized as part of the program was framework of this program, seminars and trainings are work with the “Personal Memories of conducted on human rights and peacemaking for youth the Chechen War”. Young employees and teachers in Chechnya, Ingushetia, and North Ossetia. and Committee volunteers conducted Participants of the program implemented their education- around 20 in-depth interviews with al projects in schools and universities of three republics, participants and eyewitnesses of the which were related to the following themes: human rights, military events in Chechnya. The proj- countering corruption intercultural dialogue, and support ect made it possible to have an honest for the poor and those with special needs. In each repub- discussion about the conflict and cre- lic, youth activist clubs were opened, in which participants ate a joint experience between those develop new projects under the guidance of curators, who left untouched by the war and those also taught English. A program of individual internships whose lives were changed forever. at public organizations in Moscow and Saint Petersburg The materials from these stories were was implements, and trips to Germany were organized to included in the collection “Everyone connect participants with youth activist projects and ini- is silent about their own stories. The tiate collaboration. In Ingushetia, a round table was held story of one war”; this collection is on the problem of torture and human rights violations available on the Committee’s site at with the participation of the head of the republic and law this link: https://refugee.ru/wp-con- enforcement leadership. Seminars on human rights were tent/uploads/2018/11/kazhdyj-mol- held for the personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. chit-o-svoem.pdf More than 350 people took part in the educational events of the program and more than 30 mini-projects were implemented. Around 40 people took part in internships and trips.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE 30-TH ANNIVERSARY 2010–2020:

2011–present. Assistance program for victims of hate attacks: legal support for victims and provision of a lawyer, medical, psychological, and humanitarian assistance.

Aktam was shot in the back by a police officer. The boy was not guilty of anything.

2011–present. Shelters for especially vulnerable groups.

The most frequent complaints by 2014 - present. "Protecting detainees are about ill- the rights of women persecuted treatment and lack of for violating traditions." Within medical care. the framework of the project, a shelter has been organized 2011–present. Help to residents of the North Caucasus where women persecuted by in prisons. This includes legal support, namely visits members of their family, clan or from lawyers and human rights advocates to convicts in community can receive shelter the colonies, representation of the convicts’ interests in and protection until their prob- courts, collection of data and information from detention lem is permanently resolved.. Centres, and information support.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE 30-TH ANNIVERSARY 2014—present. Assistance in Access to Education. The Committee monitors violations of the rights of migrant children to access education and fights against these violations, including in court, and draws attention to this problem both from officials and the public.

Hajera's family 2014–2015. School for the fled Afghanistan. Rights of Migrants. This project The Committee arose in order to help refugees ensured that the and migrants integrate them- girl was enrolled in selves into society and teach school. them how to protect their rights. For six months, participants of the projects attended classes in law, Russian language, and using computers..

2015-present. Integration project. In the framework of this project, refugees studied Russian, communicate, visit exhibitions, and walk around Moscow with the staff and volunteers of the Committee.

More than 20 adult refugees learn Russian every year with the support of the Committee.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE 30-TH ANNIVERSARY Over the 30 years of the Committee’s existence, the state policy in relation to refugees, internally displaced persons, and labor migrants has changed although, unfortunately, it can not be said that it has at any point become favor- able. The only exception can be maid for the attitude towards refugees from the southeast of Ukraine from 2014- 2016. The Committee’s report “Russia as a country of asylum” (2015) is dedicated to describing the system of asylum and its analysis; the report contains the first complete description of the asylum system of the Russian Federation as it compares to the standards of the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Svetlana Gannushkina at the border, where, desperate for asylum in Russia, the Syrians, Afghans, Africans tried to get into Norway.

Although at different times the Civic Assistance Committee has built different relationships with government agencies, the Committee has always actively coor- dinated with the Ombudsman for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, the Federal Migration Service, and the Head Directorate for Migration of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Cooperation continues today. Since 2002, the chairman of the Committee, Svetlana Gannushkina, has been a member of the Human Rights Council under Svetlana Gannushkina after the murder of the President of the Russian Federation; she voluntarily Natalya Estemirova at the Human Rights left it in 2012. From 2012-2017, she was a member of the Council meeting with the President, 2009. Government Commission on Migration Policy.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE 30-TH ANNIVERSARY 2O

Presentation of an award to the Civic Assistance Committee by the French Foreign Ministry's Human Rights Commission. Paris. November 2013.

The work of the Committee and Svetlana Gannushkina Since 2009, has been repeatedly recognized with rewards: the “Tree of Svetlana Gannushkina, Friendship” Medal of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the president of the Civic the CIS Countries “For outstanding contribution to sup- Assistance Committee, has porting the information space of CIS” (2000), Honorary award from the Charitable Council of Moscow “For ser- been nominated for the Nobel vice in charitable activities” (2001), Gratitude of the Peace Prize every year. In President of the Russian Federation as a member of the 2016, Svetlana Gannushkina Council (2008), Certificate of honor from the President received the “Alternative Nobel often Russian Federation (2012), the Gaidar Prize “For Prize”-- the Right Livelihood actions contributing to the formation of civil society” Award. (2015), Diploma of the Commissioner for Human Rights of Russia for cooperation (2019), and others.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE 30-TH ANNIVERSARY 2Owork during the pandemic | volunteers’ help

WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC VOLUNTEERS’ HELP DURING THE PERIOD OF SELF-ISOLATION, THE WORK OF THE During the quarantine, 27 new COMMITTEE'S VOLUNTEERS WAS ALSO REORGANIZED. ALL volunteers joined RUSSIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN the Committee. WERE TAUGHT REMOTELY. t turned out that there were many advantages of online I education for refugee and migrant children. It made possible to get involved those children and families who previously could not regularly come to classes in person. Thus in October, we started a new project — a conversa- tion club for women with migration experience. These are online classes at Zoom, where refugees can communicate with each other and practice Russian from the comfort of their homes without spending several hours for travelling. In total, 36 adults and 33 children studied Russian online last year.

19 ГРАЖДАНСКОЕ СОДЕЙСТВИЕ THERE WERE: 1076 WORK DURING THE

and treatment) 61 16 ( initial consultationswithatherapist PANDEMIC INSTITUTIONS MEDICAL FROMHELP 704 PATIENTS. AND PSYCHOLOGIST CONTINUED TO RECEIVE THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, OURDOCTOR

referred tomedicalexamination taken tohospital byambulance

peoplereceived medicine CIVIC

ASSISTANCE medicine needed) to apsychiatrist andreceived ( psychologist’s consultations 34 6

people were referred сommittee report

20 2O 2O 2O2Owork during the pandemic | help from medical institutions HELP FROM MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

uring the pandemic, our partners D from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other organizations allocated money to purchase two mobile irradiators for the office to decontami- nate premises, disposable medical masks, disposable medical gloves, dis- infectant solutions, and individual pro- tective screens.

21 CIVIC ASSISTANCE OF FAMILIES AT RISKDURING THE PANDEMIC: INDIVIDUALS, IN2020WEMANAGED TO SUPPORT A GREAT NUMBER THANKS TO THE HELP OFINTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES AND 636 WORK DURING THE

assistance families received food PANDEMIC YEAR WE HELPED WE YEAR TOTAL WITHIN A CIVIC

ASSISTANCE 345

medical expenses for paying rent and financial assistance families received сommittee report Maria Muzalevskaya.

Refugee Day 2020. Meduza onWorldMeduza the Committee's Photographer published inthe beneficiaries,

Photos of

22 - 2O

2O 2O2Oза год мы помогли In 2020, during the pandemic, the Committee Photos of the Committee's beneficiaries, published in the Meduza on World Refugee Day 2020. provided humanitarian assistance over Photographer - Maria Muzalevskaya.

3500times in the amount of 18 053 152,85rubles. Families of migrants in need received food, and were able, with the support of the Committee, to afford medical appointments, purchase medicine, and pay rent.

The Committee specialists conducted 1076 medical consultations 1016 legal consultations at the office

people received 1144 clothing children attended classes at 23 Noginsk integration centre adults studied Russian as a foreign 36 language

23 CIVIC ASSISTANCE сommittee report2O2O FINANCIAL REPORT TOTAL EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR:

67 340 020rubles

EXPENDITURE BREAKDOWN: AMOUNT, RUBLES Opening balance at the beginning of 2020 7 647 851,0 INCOME Foundations 73 430 044,0 Corporate donations 340 000,0 Private donations 12 070 203,6 TOTAL 85 840 247,5 EXPENDITURE Administration 7 811 792,1 Social counseling 20 828 968,5 Legal aid 6 786 037,3 Humanitarian aid 18 053 152,9 Integration program 730 731,3 Analytical work 1 010 566,6 Work with volunteers 996 474,6 Public relations 7 140 271,0 Workshops and conferences 3 982 026,5 TOTAL 67 340 020,7 Closing balance in the end of 2019 26 148 078,0

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 24 2O2Ofinancial Report

6% ГУМАНИТАРНАЯ ПОМОЩЬ 12% АДМИНИСТРАТИВНЫЕ РАСХОДЫ 11% РАБОТА С ВОЛОНТЕРАМИ 1% СОЦИАЛЬНЫЙ ПРИЕМ 1% ИНТЕГРАЦИОННАЯ ПОМОЩЬ 1% СВЯЗИ С ОБЩЕСТВЕННОСТЬЮ rubles ЮРИДИЧЕСКАЯ ПОМОЩЬ 67 340 020 31% АНАЛИТИЧЕСКАЯ РАБОТА СЕМИНАРЫ, КОНФЕРЕНЦИИ

27%

10%

6% HUMANITARIAN AID 12% ADMINISTRATION 11% WORK WITH VOLUNTEERS Expenditure data for 1% SOCIAL COUNSELING 01.01.2020 по 31.12.2020 1% INTEGRATION PROGRAM 1% For further information, please, see PUBLIC RELATIONS the website of the Ministry of Justice. LEGAL AID 31% ANALYTICAL WORK WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES

25 CIVIC ASSISTANCE 27%

10%

Workshops and conferences сommittee report2O2O MASS MEDIA. AWARD FOR JOURNALISTS DURING THE PANDEMIC, MANY MEDIA OUTLETS DREW ATTENTION TO MIGRANTS IN THE MOST VULNERABLE POSITION. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO JOURNALISTS WHO DURING THE LOCKDOWN WERE WRITING ABOUT HELP TO REFUGEES AND LABOR MIGRANTS. MEDIA PUBLICITY, AND AS A RESULT, PUBLIC RESPONSE QUITE LITERALLY SAVED MANY LIVES.

n 2020, we announced the Award for journalists in honor of Lydia I Grafova, a journalist and human rights activist who wrote over 500 articles about migrants in Russia. We made a decision to establish the award to encourage journalists who ethically cover the topic of migration in Russia and share problems of refugees in our country. In 2020, the Novaya Gazeta’s journalist Elena Kostyuchenko became a winner of Lydia Grafova Award in the category “Writing that change people’s life” (“Those who could not fly away, or the Kyrgyz Titanic”) for her article about labor migrants who were stuck at Zhukovsky airport in Moscow region without possibility to return home due to the pandemic.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 26 2O2Omass media. award for journalists Most of them were running out of money and couldn't even buy food for themselves. After the article was published, the restaurant owner Alexei Khodorkovsky started delivering food from his eating establishments that were closed for lockdown, first to the airport, and then to other places in Moscow where migrants in need stayed. Therefore, several thousand people received food. Ekaterina Ivaschenko also became a winner in nomination “For contributing to coverage of migration issues” since all materials written by Ekaterina for various publishing houses are always dedicated to migrants.

It's stuffy and cold, monstrous hubbub. People «with gray faces and red eyes walk, sit, lie all over the airport. They chew pieces of white bread, drink water — in the morning they have chipped in and sent couriers for food. Some of them have masks on their faces, most often they are home-made, someone has a headscarf on. Babies are also wrapped in headscarves - “at least, something. Elena Kostyuchenko, “Those who could not fly away,» or the Kyrgyz Titanic”

Leaving to work unprepared, girls can find themselves in the «same situation as Maftunakhon. They could be deceived or aban- doned by a partner, they could become victims of violence from a man, even a husband, remain in a foreign country without job, documents or legal status, without money, without understanding where to turn to in case of trouble. At the same time, the option "to return home" to the homeland is the most unthinkable, because it is a shame, relatives will not accept you. Women find themselves disoriented and may not see any other way out but to repeat what Maftunakhon did,— the expert said. Ekaterina Ivaschenko, » "Foundlings and Silence" 27 CIVIC ASSISTANCE сommittee report2O2O OUR REPORTS

IN TOTAL, IN 2020, THE COMMITTEE PUBLISHED EIGHT LARGE ANALYTICAL MATERIALS ON THE SITUATION OF REFUGEES, MIGRANTS AND THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED IN RUSSIA.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 28 2O2Oour reports he Civic Assistance Committee was particularly concerned T about the cases of abductions of refugees from North Korea in the Russian Federation. According to the information available to the Committee, the cases of abduction were organized by the DPRK security services. To raise awareness for Russian and international community to the problems of refugees from North Korea in Russia and disregard of the UN recommendations by the Russian authorities, the Civic Assistance Committee, together with Professor Munyong Li from Seoul University, prepared a report “One Recognized Refugee in Nine Years. Overview of the situation with refugees from the DPRK (North Korea) in Russia”.

Refugees from In 2020, the Civic Assistance Committee wrote and sent to the Requiring Syria show what UN Human Rights Committee a report on the human rights situa- registration upon has become of their admission to schools home country. tion of refugees and migrants in Russia. The document was con- and kindergartens sidered at the 129th session on June 29 - July 24. is a violation of the Also in 2020, the Civic Assistance Committee took part in pre- Constitution. paring a large-scale international report on the situation of Syrian refugees in the world. Committee staff prepared interviews with Syrians for the report. Some of the interviews were conducted in Moscow and Moscow region, and some in North Caucasus.

29 CIVIC ASSISTANCE сommittee report2O2O THE COMMITTEE’S EVENTS IN 2020, WE MANAGED TO HOLD A NEW YEAR PARTY FOR CHILDREN IN PERSON, ORGANIZED TWO MEETINGS FOR VOLUNTEERS AND TOOK PART IN CINEMA ON THE WAY FESTIVAL WITH A DISCUSSION OF A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER TATYANA KOTLYAR. THE LARGE HACKATHON FOR JOURNALISTS PLANNED FOR MARCH WAS HELD ONLINE, AS Storytelling workshop for ALL SUBSEQUENT EVENTS. children from Syrian refugee families.

The project of the Committee for Integration Assistance to Children from Syrian Refugee Families closed in 2020 due to lack of funding. The photo shows children in the integration centre.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 30 2O2Othe committee’s events

Leaflet “Refugees e tried a hackathon format for the first time. It was a three-day immersion for as victims of human trafficking” on W journalists into the topic “The Institute of Asylum: Who Flees to Russia and situation in Russia Why,” with the subsequent preparation of materials. We were telling media work- and around the globe. ers about refugees’ problems, introduced people from different countries who had been forced to leave their home, conducted master classes on journalistic ethics for working with vulnerable groups.

31 CIVIC ASSISTANCE сommittee report2O2O FESTIVAL “WITHOUT BORDERS”

ON JUNE 20, WE CELEBRATED WORLD REFUGEE DAY WITH “WITHOUT BORDERS" ONLINE FESTIVAL. THE EVENT WAS ATTENDED BY PEOPLE WITH MIGRATION EXPERIENCE, THOSE WHO FACED XENOPHOBIA, RACISM AND ANTI-SEMITISM, ALSO RESEARCHERS AND PRACTICING PROFESSIONALS FROM NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP MIGRANTS IN RUSSIA.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 32 2O2Othe committee’s events / Festival “Without Borders”

FESTIVAL he Committee’s applicants participated in T the festival, refugees from Syria, Congo, and Afghanistan. They shared their experience as “WITHOUT BORDERS” refugees. Anthropologist Olga Reznikova also spoke at the event with the topic “Anti-Semitism and Criticism of Liberalism”, gender research- er Vanya Solovey with the story “Subordinate Empire: What Postcolonial Studies Help to Understand About Russia”, feminist and activist Bella Rapoport with the report “Me and the Other in the Mirror: How Everyday Anti-Semitism Affects the Inner Sense of Oneself”and many others.

33 CIVIC ASSISTANCE сommittee report2O2O FESTIVAL “LET ME KNOW”

EVERY CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION. THIS IS WRITTEN IN THE RF CONSTITUTION AND WE ALSO THINK SO. UNFORTUNATELY, IN RECENT YEARS, HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ENTER SCHOOLS AND KIN- DERGARTENS DUE TO BUREAUCRATIC REQUIREMENTS THAT CONTRADICT THE CONSTITUTION: PARENTS ARE TO SUBMIT REGISTRATION AT THE PLACE OF RESI- DENCE OR OTHER ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS, AND IF THEY DON’T HAVE THEM ACCESS TO EDUCATION IS DENIED FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THE COMMITTEE FIGHTS VERY HARD VIOLATIONS OF CHILDREN'S RIGHTS TO EDUCATION.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 34 2O2Othe committee’s events / Festival “Let Me Know” Lecture — role playing of the Committee “Hassan is not admitted to school” is about how difficult for children with migration background to get to Russian school.

o highlight the problem, from September 2020, we T were holding a large online festival “Let me know” with participation of Moscow’s prominent lecturers. Participants of the festival had an opportunity to meet with writers Lyudmila Ulitskaya and Dmitry Chernyshev, take part in the quest “Receive an education in Russia”, listen to lectures on history of art, history of religion, biol- ogy, anthropology, etc. The partners were Moscow lecture halls Level One and Arkhe.

35 CIVIC ASSISTANCE сommittee report2O2O OUR TEAM Laila Rogozina, the Head of the counseling office, the Civic Assistance Committee:

“During the pandemic, all the Committee forces were mobilized. We realized that on our activity depended many people’s life, who could not understand how to survive the entire horror of the catastrophe in conditions of complete insecurity in a foreign country, without state support. Office telephones and hotlines of the Committee were ringing from morning till late at night, people begged for help, stricken with terror from what was happening. For three months of self-isolation, the employees of Civic Assistance did a year-long work, without leaving telephones and computers; the team united, such exhausting work nevertheless was greatly satisfying since we could help everyone who approached us. It was great, and we gained much experience in helping people in extreme situations.”

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 36 2O2Oour team Elena Burtina, a project coordinator, “Despite the disasters that this year brought; “Assistance to the Stateless” regarding work with stateless people this year is the most successful for the last 5 years that I am in charge of this work: in 2020, with our help, 50 stateless people received documents, 35 of them obtained Russian passports. Besides, I was able, albeit remotely, to participate in a large-scale campaign to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants during the lockdown. My role was modest: I only answered calls on one of our hotlines. Nevertheless, I felt involved in a large important common cause of the Committee and experienced an emo- tional upsurge.”

Maria Krasova, a lawyer for the project “Access to Education”

“The year 2020 was the most unusual year in my entire career and, in fact, inspired a lot of optimism. Legal counseling was suspended, but migration lawyers and consultants have refocused on providing humanitarian assistance and online advice. We took calls on the hotline, responded to individual requests for help, and participated in food distribution. During this period, we saw incredible enthusiasm both of volunteers and people who had previously never taken part in the life of refugees, but now began to work hard helping them. And it was massive enthusiasm, when everyone took care of each other, everyone tried to help each other. It was at this moment, perhaps, that my desire to help and work for a human rights charitable organization strengthened even more.”

37 CIVIC ASSISTANCE сommittee report2O2O Evgeniya Lyozova, a migration consultant

“Online work turned out to be hell, non-stop working days without time off. I felt like throwing the phone out of the window, had a sore back from endless sit- ting in front of the computer. To get through helped realization that we could really help many people in a situation when they had nobody to count on. Besides, I learned how to workflow online. Very helpful if not in non-stop mode.”

Angelica Dobriyeva, a doctor: “I am somewhat grateful to 2020, which challenged me, giving the opportunity to Roza Magomedova, assess my professional skills in non-stan- a lawyer dard conditions, motivating development and moving forward, despite all the dif- “Life before and after. It ficulties due to the is very difficult to work pandemic.” online, as lawyers nor- mally used to provide counseling in person. Nevertheless, I had to adjust quickly.”

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 38 2O2Oour team Konstantin Troitskiy, an analyst, project coordinator, “Access to Education”

“As for benefits of online work, besides fighting against the spread of coronavirus, it should be noted that, according to our observations, much more children of the Committee’s applicants received access to free Russian language courses, because those organizations that previously helped with in-person teaching came up with high-quality online courses.”

Fatima Kokayeva, a migration consultant

“In 2020, I gained new valuable experience of interacting with colleagues and applicants. It was very difficult at times, as there were a lot of requests for help, but it was definitely inter- esting. The new format of online communication and assistance brought us clos- er together and showed new oppor- tunities.” Part of the Committee's staff at the organisation's office.

39 CIVIC ASSISTANCE сommittee report

OUR PARTNERS WITHOUT SUPPORT OF OUR PARTNERS OUR HELP WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO IS NOT INDIFFERENT TO PROBLEMS OF MIGRATION, AND WHO SHARE OUR BELIEF THAT MIGRATION IF PROPERLY MANAGED BENEFITS THE ENTIRE SOCIETY.

CIVIC ASSISTANCE 40 how you can help HOW YOU CAN HELP

We are always open for partnership, look forward to new volunteers and are happy to receive food, medicine, hygienic items, footwear and clothes for our applicants.

To support the Committee’s applicants you can at GlobalGiving platform, Planeta.ru, Help Needed.

You can also support Civic Assistance Committee’s applicants by signing up for a regular donation on the Committee’s website in How to Help section.

Or transfer money to the organization’s account.

Name of beneficiary: Regional Non-Governmental Charitable Organization for Help to Refugees and Migrants “Civic Assistance” TIN of the beneficiary: 7708037113 RRC of the beneficiary: 770201001 Account number of the beneficiary: 40703810338320100413 Bank Name: ПАО Сбербанк г. Москва BIC: 044525225 Corresponding bank account number: 30101810400000000225 Purpose of payment: Donation for charitable activity

41 CIVIC ASSISTANCE Варианты использования на белом фоне, Варианты использования на цветном/пестром фоне: Варианты использования на однородном без подложки под блоком лого есть белая общая подложка черном /темном фоне: подложки нет, текст белый

Regional Non-Governmental Charitable Organization for Help to Refugees and Migrants “Civic Assistance Committee”

129110, Moscow, Olimpiyskiy prospect, # 22 www.refugee.ru

Editor Lera Pavlova, Darya Manina Layout and design Ilya Diliago Illustrations Ezra W. Smith

Photos by Maria Muzalevskaya, Alisa Reykhtman, Vladimir Averin (Takiye dela), Denis Kamynev (RTVI), Semyon Kats (Meduza)

Many thanks to Svetlana Gannushkina, Elena Burtina and the whole team of Civic Assistance Committee for help with the report.

On April 20, 2015 Ministry of Justice put Civic Assistance Committee on the list of organizations “acting as a foreign agent”. REPORT