Some questions of resistance to G8 summit in Petersburg - as discussed in Otradny protest camp and in Petersburg (August-September 2005) (updated version - 19th of September 2005)
Please note that we are just in the beginning of our discussions so nothing is decided clearly yet!
1. It was proposed to create a Russian-language e-mail list, moderated and not open for just everyone.
There already exists an international English-language list - http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/g8-2006 - but nothing much has happened there yet - as you can see (as of mid-September).
2. There is a proposal to start a campaign against Russia's entry into WTO (which might happen already in December 2005 in Hong Kong) and then "transform" this campaign into anti-G8 one.
3. We should think of the goal of protests - should we try to disrupt the summit or just express our disagreement with G8 authorities' policies? There is also a proposal to demand Russia's exclusion from G8.
4. We should also think how to mobilise local (Petersburg) people for the actions.
5. Technical question - we will need our own printing facilities. We also suffer from lack of space for our meetings (there is now a new small squat, but it doesn't solve the problem).
6. Most probably some DISSENT-like network will be created in Russia. Most of the people who participated in the discussions are in favor of autonomous antiauthoritarian organising and are against cooperation with political parties like communists of all sorts or National-Bolshevik Party, who are sure to plan some anti-G8 actions by themselves. We need to come up with some name for this network, not necesarily copying something like DISSENT. (Comment from compilator: anyway, most people are not very familiar with practice of DISSENT and PGA due to language barrier etc.) This year we plan to organise again a festival called "Black Petrograd" (on November 11-13th), and not later than this date this "national" network should be created.
7. While we have no plans to cooperate with political parties etc., we should somehow be in contact ith them and exchange informations on what's going on. E.g. if our actions take place simultaneously, they should be in different locations or we shall somehow discuss such things with them (communists etc.) in advance.
8. An idea for international networking - as Ukraine canceled visas for EU and US citizens, there is a proposal to organize some sort of international netorking meeting(s) there (Russians need no visas as well).
9. Information for the activists from other countries who need a visa to Russia and would like to come to
the protests. Making invitations, visas and registrations through commercial touristic firms is recommended. E.g. personal invitations from Russian citizens are processed NOT LESS than one month, if not done through touristic firm. Invitations from organisations like NGOs etc. could worsen their relationship with Russian authorities if things go wrong.
10. During the summit in Petersburg any street actions most probably WILL NOT not be permitted / sanctioned by the city authorities. We shall be ready to make non-sanctioned demostrations, small-scale (simultaneous) actions in different parts of the city, maybe some conference etc. Being repressed and detained by the police will be very possible for the protesters in most cases.
11. During the summit itself we will probably need the following groups to be active: human rights / legal advice group (this is probably the most difficult task); street medics group (there are already some people ready to deal with this question); public relations group; informaton work group.
12. Most probably there will be no centralised convergence center or a camp, because such things are easily controlled and blocked by cops.