Brighton, United Kingdom
Documentary Night
Date: Wednesday 15 Feb
Time: 7.45 - 9pm
Venue: Meeting House, University of Sussex
Documentaries Showing:
**Chechnya: The Dirty War**
Reporters Mariusz Pilis and Marcin Mamon travel to neighbouring Chechnya, one of the most dangerous places on earth, to report on what life is like after more than a decade of Chechen terrorism and Russian repression. Filmed over the course of nine months, the film reveals that what started as a separatist movement in 1994 has now become synonymous with terrorism.
**Assassination of Russia**
In September of 1999, a series of middle of the night explosions shook Russian cities destroying several apartment blocks. More than 300 people died as they slept. The attacks, attributed to the Chechen terrorists,
boosted the popularity of the hawkish would-be President Vladimir Putin. Then, a strange thing happened. A bomb was defused by the local police, the trail of evidence leading to the door of FSB, the Russian secret service. The FSB was forced to admit "an ill-conceived exercise". Ever since, a question has lingered over Mr. Putin's presidency: Who Done It? Why no one has been convicted of 9/99 attacks? Why the investigation was suppressed? Witnessess disappeared? Inquisitive journalists imtimidated? Critical TV stations closed down?
The film examines the September explosions, and focuses on the foiled bombing in Ryazan on September 22, 1999. It puts a human face onto the tragedy- you will hear from those who were there, saw it, and lived through it. The film vividly portrays the inconsistencies in government officials' reactions to Ryazan, and their later attempts to consistently blame the Chechens. Questions about the possible involvement of the Russian special services are raised.
The film is effectively banned in Russia but has been broadcast on state TV in the Baltic states.
World Chechnya Day
Date: Wednesday 22 Feb
Time: 7 - 9pm
Venue: Meeting House, University of Sussex
With Guest Speakers: Dr Tony Wood & Satanay Dorken
Dr Tony Wood studied French and Russian at Cambridge, and Russian at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, London. He is currently assistant editor at New Left Review, and he is working on a book entitled 'The Case for Chechnya'.
Satanay Dorken is a graduate from Birkbeck College, London. She is currently the Chief Executive of MARCCH, Medical Aid and Relief for the Children of Chechnya (www.marcch.org).
For further details of these events, please contact Ahmed Uddin on 07931103639 or aeu20@sussex.ac.uk
