One of the biggest regional Human Rights centres in Russia may become “homeless” in some months to come.

Voronezh House of Human Rights – a union of regional and inter-regional human rights and civil organizations – was founded at the beginning of 2009 to strengthen the positions of the human rights organizations in the region, building dialogue with the authorities, joining the efforts in defending and promoting Human Rights.

Most organizations that “inhabit” the House used to being neighbours in this building for years, that enabled them to work together, share costs and support activity in defending citizens’ rights. It was here where the Public reception of the Ombudsman of the Russian Federation (in Voronezh region) had a grand opening 4 years ago. All the consultations for citizens are free, most lawyers work as volunteers, the organizations participating in the Voronezh House of Human Rights have never got significant financial support from the authorities. That is the reason explaining the lack of resources necessary for paying the rent according to commercial prices.

The recent news for the human rights activists has stated that due to the city Duma’s decision dated by February 2, 2009, the municipal building that hosts the Voronezh House of Human Rights at present is to be put up for sale, and the planned commercial price is 10-11 million roubles.

Most non-governmental organizations that work in the Voronezh House of Human Rights don’t limit their activity to Voronezh only; they represent a kind of international laboratory on human rights defence and promotion. It means that the Voronezh authorities’ thoughtless decision is not only to paralyse regional non-governmental organizations but to strike one more blow at civil society in Russia.

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