The following urgent appeal is from Vasily Starostin, secretary of the
Siberian Confederation of Labor:

"Today, on the 20th of August around 9:00 am, one hour before the
beginning of a rally of the city Confederation of Labor of
Anzhero-Sudzhensk against the communal dwelling reform and the sharp
decline in the standard of living of workers, the secretary of the
Siberian Confederation of Labor (SKT), Vladimir Prokhorovich Vorobyov
was arrested.

In the course of the last week, the officials of Anzhero-Sudzhensk and
of the Kemerov region, the bureaucrats from the city and regional
internal administration, and the State Security forces have strongly
pressured VP Vorobyov and other organizers of the rally, and demanded
that the rally be cancelled. They threatened prosecution according to
the new public disorder law and made reference to the lack of a permit
from the local authorities for the rally, disregarding the fact that
notice of the rally was delivered over a month in advance, and the
fact that the constitution provides that rallies have an announcement
character (that is, they must merely be announced, not approved). The
authorities were especially concerned with the connection with the
visit planned by president Putin on the 20th, but the protestors
declared that they did not intent to cancel the rally on that basis.

As a result the mayor of Anzhero-Suzhensk, V.A. Ivshin, declared a few
days ago his readiness, to meet the demands of the people, if the
rally were cancelled. The local confederation of labor of
Anzhero-Suzhensk submitted a list of demands for signature to the
regional administration. As of yesterday, it appeared that the
Kemerov regional administration did not intend to decide the issues.

On the 19th of August, about 6 pm, a decision was made by the
confederation to go forward with the rally, whether a permit was
granted or not.

The illegal arrest of V.P. Vorobyov BEFORE the beginning of the rally
had the goal of preventing the public demonstration of the people of
Anzhero, and to find a mechanism to eliminate protests by workers with
the stick of the new public disorder law, which contradicts the
constitution in its sections of the organization of rallies, protest
meetings and demonstrations.

All the same, the citizens of Anzhero-Sudzhensk have taken the rally
to the streets. We must support our comrades and not permit the
repression of V.P. Vorobyov. I appeal to all union and left activists
to direct urgent telegrams, faxes and emails, with the demand to end
the prosecution of V.P. Vorbyov, and to meet the legal demands of the
citizens of Anzhero-Sudzhensk.

Addresses for letters of protest:

Kemerovo Regional Administration, Governor Tuleev:
650027 Kemerovo, Sovietskii Prospect 58,
oblastnaya administratsiya
AG Tuleev
Tel +7-(3842) 36-34-09
Fax: +7-(3842) 23-31-56
e-mail: postmaster@ako.kemerovo.su

City administration of Anzhero-Sudzhensk, Mayor Ivshin:
65470, Anzhero-Sudzhensk, Lenin Ave 6
Gorodskaya Administratsiya
Mayor VA Ivshin
+7 (38453) 2-22-66
fax: +7(38453) 2-34-56
e-mail:  adm@asf.ru

I ask you to distribute this information about the repression by the
Kemerov authorities against the workers as broadly as possible.

Vasily Starostin


Siberian Confederation of Labor
--------------------------------------
Model letter of Protest

Please email this or your own letter to  adm@asf.ru,
 postmaster@ako.kemerovo.su
with copy to us at  ISWoR@aol.com Thank you for your support.
--------------
Dear Governor Tuleev and Mayor Ivshin,

We are extremely concerned at the news that the secretary of the
Siberian Confederation of Labor (SKT) in Anzhero-Sudzhensk, Vladimir
Prokhorovich Vorobyov, has been illegally arrested while leaving his
home yesterday.

We are equally concerned at the attempts to deny the people of
Anzhero-Sudzhensk their democratic rights to protest against new
Communal Dwelling Reform. This legislation will force local people,
including pensioners and others already living in deep poverty, into a
completely desperate and hopeless situation.

Illegal arrests and interference with the right to assembly contradict
the idea that "democracy" is prevailing in Russia. We demand the
immediate release of Vladimir Vorobiev and the restoration to local
people of their right to protest against these inhumane reforms.

Signed

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