Prague hosts cultural events aimed at helping people from Caucasus

Last week two cultural events took place in the center of Prague dedicated to Caucasians who either still live in their homeland under disturbing conditions, or left to seek shelter in the Czech Republic.

On Monday, the "Evening of Caucasian Culture" was held at the Rock Cafe Club. The event was sponsored by the Czech MP Svatopluk Karasek and organized by the civic associations "Souziti 21" (Coexistence 21) and "Caritas Czech Republic" in cooperation with the Ministries of Culture and Internal Affairs and several Czech-based NGOs.

The evening began with documentary films about Armenia and Chechnya, followed by a discussion about these regions.

Then "Ujezd", a group of musicians composed of asylum seekers living in the Cerveny Ujezd housing complex, appeared, introducing their first CD with Caucasian music that had just been released that day.

The highlight of the evening though was the eagerly awaited debut of the Chechen children's dance ensemble "Nokhcho".

On Wednesday, International Human Rights Day, the Roxy Club held the "Evening with Berkat", organized by the Berkat civic association. The event was principally a sale exhibit of paintings by Czech artists as well as Chechen artist Abu Pashayev. All proceeds from the sales went toward supporting Berkat's humanitarian projects in Chechnya and scholarships for the children of "Marsho", a Chechen dance group.

Petra Prochazkova, a well-known Czech war correspondent, and her Hungarian colleague, Kristina Satori, also made an appearance to briefly describe what was going on in Chechnya and Russia. It must be noted that both the women have been barred from entering any part of the Russian Federation for five years because of their news reports filed from Chechnya.

A short explanation was then given by the staff of "People in Need" and "Caritas Czech Republic", both of which provide humanitarian aid in Chechnya and Ingushetia.

"As long as Mr. Putin remains President of Russia, the stably wretched conditions in Chechnya won't be considerably changed, I think" said Ms. Prochazkova.

Editors note: See also the article: "Rally to protest arbitrary enforced actions against Chechen refugees took place in Brno".