The Finnish-Russian Civic Forum (www.finrosforum.fi) will organise a seminar, FINROSFORUM 2008, in the fortress of Sveaborg (Suomenlinna) in Helsinki on 9-10 June 2008. The conference venue is the Tenaille von Fersen.

This is the second annual seminar of its kind. The participants at this year's event include several members of the human rights and democracy movement in Russia as well as Russian experts from Finland, Estonia, and elsewhere.

The themes of the seminar include the economic costs of an authoritarian regime, the rule of law in Russia, the conflict in North Caucasus, the refugee problem in Russia, ethnic relations and nationalism, as well as censorship and self-censorship.

A detailed programme, together with short speaker biographies, is available. The programme is available in Finnish, Russian, and Swedish at www.finrosforum.fi. NB: Oleg Kozlovsky is scheduled to attend, stop by to meet him if you are in Finland!

The main languages at the seminar will be Finnish and Russian. Translation will be provided. The seminar is open to the public. Participation is free of charge, but we will charge the cost price for meals.

Ferry timetables to and detailed map of Sveaborg at www.suomenlinna.fi.

NB! Advance registration is required at www.finrosforum.fi/registration.

More information:

Heidi Hautala
Chair
Finnish-Russian Civic Forum
+358 50 511 3129

Iida Simes
Press Secretary
Finnish-Russian Civic Forum
+358 40 720 5985

Kerkko Paananen
Secretary
Finnish-Russian Civic Forum
+358 44 070 7710

The Finnish-Russian Civic Forum was established in January 2007 by a group of people concerned about the erosion of democracy and human rights in Russia.

The organisation strives to promote cooperation between the peoples of Finland and Russia by supporting civic initiatives for democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech in Russia.

Finnish-Russian Civic Forum
http://www.finrosforum.fi/