In my email
contacts list, a
"green circle"
next to the name of Natalya Gorbanevskaya is no longer illuminated.
 |
| Natalya Gorbanevskaya |
Natalya
Yevgenyevna Gorbanevskaya died on 29 November 2013.
In Wikipedia it
says about her: Russian poet, translator, human rights activist,
member of the dissident movement in the USSR.
I was introduced to Natalya
Yevgenyevna by
her son Yaroslav Gorbanevsky,
a Russian correspondent of Radio France International
service. In 2007, our Association for Human Rights in
Central Asia issued a
petition for collection of
signatures in support of the Uzbek human rights activist Umida Niazova .
Everyone who learned this story was
shocked that Umida was sent
to jail in Uzbekistan using a
provocateur and her infant
son ended up in Kyrgyzstan. Umida was under a threat of a
long-term imprisonment, her
son was constantly crying and called for his
mother. Soon after this
petition was issued, Natalya
Gorbanevskaya sent us a short message: "Please put
my signature on the petition in defense of Umida Niazova and keep me informed
on the news on this case". A
few hours later we received
the signature of the writer
and former political prisoner Vladimir Bukovsky. He explained that he had received
the petition from Natalya Gorbanevskaya. Then we received a few more signatures of people who were referred by Natalya Yevgenyevna.
Natalya
Yevgenyevna took a very close interest in her story until Umida Niyazova was
freed and she was very glad when Umida and her son were reunited.
In February of this
year, I sent her another petition "No second Andijan tragedy!". We
had some time discussing this topic in the chat online,
and then she helped us to
collect signatures of dissidents.
Each time,
turning to her for support, I knew that I would have to explain the reasons for
making the petition and who
it was aimed at. She did not
always agree with our wording
and offerred
her constructive criticism. For me personally and for many
members of the Board of our Association,
Natal Yevgenyevna’s support was very important, her confidence was passed
on to us. She knew how to defend a position, and was a person of
principle.
I often read
Natalia Gorbanevskaya’s blog to learn her opinion
about various events. In my library, I have a collections of her poetry, a few of her poems
I know by heart.
I will remember
her with gratitude. Natalia Yevgenyevna supported us in our work
and struggle for the liberation of Uzbek political prisoners. She helped us,
the citizens of Uzbekistan, to
feel the power of social
influence on the regime for
which human life has
no value.
Natalia
Gorbanevskaya lived a difficult and legendary life.
We cherish her
memory.
