Nowadays, some countries are employing human rights rhetoric extensively, using it as an aggressive tool to undermine other countries’ security and authority and to provoke dissatisfaction in those countries.
This year's annual human rights conference's theme was war, dictatorship and human rights. Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise interviewed professor of international relations Nina L. Hrushtshova and Nobel Peace Prize laureate and editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta Dmitry Muratov in the discussion group "For the sake of Russia...". What could the future of Russia be like? Will the leaders of Russia of the future study in foreign or Russian universities? Is a citizen with the right to vote responsible for his or her country, must he or she do his or her best to ensure that the government acts correctly internally and externally? To stand up to lies; when elections are held, to vote thoughtfully, to convince those close to him or her, and to express his or her opinion. Unfortunately, this is a collective responsibility, the consequences - for example, sanctions, the general international attitude - affect everyone.
How does a citizen view his or her role in Russia? Every nation wants to be unique: it creates its narrative, a national myth. There is no point in resenting this, as long as it does not justify conquests on the other side of the border. However, the perception of borders differs among different nations. And about Russians, Peeter Volkonski stated in Ööülikool (Night University), recorded in 2007, that Russia has no borders. In the Russian mind, Russia is where the Russians are. Is this so? Why? Looking from the side, it seems that the imperialist worldview is very deeply embedded in culture and political history, even among opponents of power. Could a strong middle class emerge in Russia that empowers independent, self-aware citizens? The basis for this is the protection of private property from both bureaucracy and crime, the fact that relationships are not as important as land registries and business registers when it comes to achieving success.
The answers were summarized in the Kuku radio program "Olukorrast ajakirjanduses" (February 13, 2023) and an interview given to ETV's broadcast "Välisilm".
Human Rights Annual Conference 2023