"Voice of Beslan" leader elected co-chair of the All-Russian Civil Congress

Ella Kesaeva, co-chairperson of the All-Russian Public Organization "Voice of Beslan" from North Ossetia, was elected to co-chair the All-Russian Civil Congress (ARCC).

At the 5th Extraordinary Congress of the ARCC held in St-Petersburg, Ms Kesaeva was a runner-up after Harry Kasparov by the number of gained votes. Other elected co-chairpersons are human rights activists Lev Ponomaryov, Natalia Evdokimova and Yuri Samodurov.

"My nomination to the leadership of this major public entity was a surprise for me," Ella Kesaeva said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent at the congress. "The reason is not in the fact the All-Russian Civil Congress is oppositional to the authorities. We are ready to stretch our hand out to everyone who can help to defend the rights of Beslan mothers. The state still doesn't find itself obliged to provide any material compensation to us."

The 5th Extraordinary Congress of the ARCC was attended by 172 official delegates practically from all Russian regions. On June 28, its working sections discussed the state violence, violations of citizens' social rights, defence of the freedom of conscience and secular character of the state, problems of small and medium businesses, counteraction to racism and fascism, realization by citizens of their right to the freedom of speech and access to information.

The All-Russian Civil Congress was founded on December 12, 2004, by joint efforts of Russian human rights entities and other non-commercial organizations. The main objective of the ARCC was formulated as the progress of the Russian civil society under the general motto "For democracy against dictatorship".