Discussion on HR and peculiarities of “sovereign democracy” took place in the Buryat State University on August, 28. Students of the History department and volunteers of the international workcamp “Nukher gathers friends” took part in the discussion. A Documentary “Ploshcha” (“Square”) by Belarusian director Yury Khashchevatsky devoted to the Minsk maidan after the presidential elections in spring 2006, that was shown before the discussion, aroused a lot of contradictory opinions. According to the students from Ulan-Ude, the film was too propagandistic. At the same time international volunteers, students from Germany, Netherlands and Poland admitted that the film, though polemic enough, provided them with new and interesting information. Discussion of the political situation in Belarus had inevitably turned to Russia. European volunteers were sincerely surprised to find out that some students from Buryatia talked in support of the Kremlin concept of “sovereign” democracy, thinking that Russia does not need “European” democracy, and that for the sake of future might of Russia it is sufficing today to have manageable democracy with limited rights and freedoms. The hottest topic of all conversations about politics today is undoubtedly Russian-Georgian conflict. Absence of free press in our country and a lack of awareness of an alternative view on what is going on in Trans-Caucasian region, resulted in the students’ firm belief in the unquestionable righteousness of the Russian side in the conflict. Despite all differences the participants were united in the opinion that such discussions and round tables are very useful and important for raising political culture in the society. According to the organizers – representatives of SCG, HR movement “Erkhe” and the United Civil Front, th fact that students of the Buryat University often reacted quite ????? at their opponents’ views showed that the topic of the discussion really touched them, which means that the goal of the meeting was reached. It was decided to organize such discussions with students onward.

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