STOP THE TWINNING BETWEEN MILAN AND ST. PETERSBURG
ASSOCIAZIONE RADICALE CERTI DIRITTI LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR THE SUSPENSION OF TWINNING BETWEEN MILAN AND ST. PETERSBURG ON THE OCCASION OF THE 45th ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING.
Press Release Associazione Radicale Certi Diritti
Milan, October 2, 2012
Associazione Radicale Certi Diritti , on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the signing of the twinning agreement between Milan and St. Petersburg, launched a video campaign in which various Milanese personalities are demanding the suspension of the twinning.
Last February 29, the St. Petersburg parliament passed a law that punishes so-called “homosexual propaganda.” The law, which went into effect in mid-March, criminalizes “public action directed at propagandizing sodomy, lesbianism, bisexualism, and transgenderism among minors,” in blatant violation of freedom of expression and association, as well as the commitments made by Russia when it ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. This absurd law, which has been condemned by the European Parliament, has already affected many Russian citizens who have attempted to demonstrate for the rights of LGBTI persons and have been subsequently arrested and fined.
In the face of this blatant violation of the most basic human rights, Associazione Radicale Certi Diritti has promoted a motion to the City Council, signed by all the leaders of the majority, to demand the revocation or suspension of the twinning agreement between Milan and the former Tsarist capital. The same motion has already been unanimously approved by the Council of Zone 2.
Yuri Guiana, Secretary of Associazione Radicale Certi Diritti, states: "The campaign begins with both a letter to all members of the Commission of Human Rights at the Italian Senate and to all Italian MPs at the Council of Europe and the airing of videos featuring Moni Ovadia, Lella Costa, Elio De Capitani, and the whole company of the Elfo. In the following days we will publish others, including those of Federica Fracassi, Danilo De Biasio, former director of Radio Popolare, Ferruccio Capelli, director of Casa della cultura, the historian Aldo Sabino Giannuli and Serena Sinigaglia of Teatro Ringhiera. We hope that the City Council will listen to the appeals of these personalities of Milanese culture and finally decide to discuss the motion, which has been lying in municipal drawers for the past six months, thereby giving a tangible sign in favor of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Today, this matter assumes a particular importance, not only because it is the anniversary of the signing of the pact, but also because of the recent approval by the United Nations Council for Human Rights of a Russian resolution by which human rights are to be interpreted in line with the cultural traditions of individual countries."

