Subject: Re: [CivilSoc] Report on Omsk Conference and Plight of Albert Decie
From: Al Decie (agdecie@hotmail.com)
Date: Fri Nov 10 2000 - 09:29:57 EST
Dear Holt:
Thank you for posting on your website the Daily News article about my 4
month illegal detention in Russia. Civilsoc readers who would like more
information can also find articles on the websites of the Moscow Times
(www.themoscowtimes.com) and the Boston Globe
(www.boston.com/globe/nation/worldreports/russia). CNN is working on a news
clip which should be out today. Russian newspaper (Kommersant) and
television (RenTV) are also starting to provide coverage.
I am forwarding to you my letter to the editors of the Daily News. It
contains contact information of RF officials which could be contacted if
your readers want to voice their opinion on my case. In addition to
contacting US elected officials, Americans in the States and Russia have
been emailing letters to Russian authorities, too.
Best regards,
Al Decie
agdecie@hotmail.com
===============================
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
I would like to thank Dan Hackett and the editors of the Newburyport Daily
News for publishing, on October 31, an article about my illegal detention in
Russia. It is most important that Russian authorities are aware of the
interest and concern of the US government, legislators and people.
Authorities here need to know that they are expected to adhere to their own
laws and to international agreements and that they cannot act with impunity.
I would also like to thank all the Daily News readers who have voiced their
concern and support to my father. I believe that this ordeal has been
hardest on my father and family in the US. So your support is most
appreciated.
As Mr. Hackett's article points out, my situation here was never a personal
income tax issue. If it was, then I would already be home -- poorer but
free. The illegal seizure of my visa and launching of a tax probe by
Krasnoyarsk Krai authorities was the culmination of 2 years of harassment by
a very few local individuals abusing their authority -- e.g., a city council
representative and a lawyer for a human rights group (the Krasnoyarsk branch
of the Glasnost Defense Foundation). Difficulties which I have faced in
Moscow since August have been largely due to the reluctance of the Russian
government to honor bilateral agreements between the USA and RF. Since
August, I have fallen into the middle of an eight year debate between the
Russian and American governments.
I would also like your readers to know that these two years of harassment
and my current ordeal are not indicative of the general attitude in Russia
about collaboration with Americans. For five years, I have worked with
people in cities, towns and villages throughout Siberia. These colleagues,
including many government officials, have always valued work with Americans
who are committed to long term equal partnership initiatives. I consider
myself very lucky to have been able to work with such dedicated caring
people and hope that the Russian authorities will not prevent me from
continuing my ties with my Siberian friends and colleagues.
After your article, many of your readers contacted my father and asked how
they could help. Some have suggested letter writing campaigns and an
all-city petition. I am grateful for these offers of help and would like to
encourage your readers to follow through with them. As I have already said,
Western attention to my situation will help expedite the resolution of it.
It is important that the American people express their belief that rule of
Russian and International law be applied in my case and that I be allowed to
return to the United States without further harm or delay.
In addition to voicing their concern and support to Congressman Tierney's
Peabody office, I would recommend that your readers contact the Russian
authorities themselves. Letters and petitions should be directed to the
following two individuals:
Mr. Gennadi Bukaev
Minister
Ministry of Taxes and Levies of the Russian Federation
23 Neglinnaya Street
Moscow 103381, K-381
Russia
Fax: 7-095-200-4901
E-mail: gns_rf@nalog.rospac.ru
Mr. Igor Ivanov
Minister
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
32/34 Smolenskaya-Sennaya Square
Moscow 121200
Russia
Fax: 7-095-244-3188
E-mail: ministry@mid.ru
Thank you again for publishing the article about my situation. I hope that
your article and the resonance that it is generating will expedite the
closure of this ordeal and allow me to return home to my friends and family
in Newburyport and celebrate with them the Thanksgiving holidays.
Sincerely,
Al Decie
agdecie@hotmail.com
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